Aboitiz, over 1,000 CEOs join UN call for ‘Renewed Global Cooperation’ in the face of COVID-19

The Aboitiz Group is one with the global business community in committing to ethical leadership and good governance in upholding the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It urges further collaboration with the public and private sectors in the face of the ongoing Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Aboitiz Group President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sabin M. Aboitiz joined over 1,000 CEOs from more than 100 countries in signing the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Statement for Renewed Global Cooperation.

The UNGC is a voluntary initiative based on CEO commitments to implement universal sustainability principles and to take steps to support the UN’s goals.

“We, the business peoples, recognize that peace, justice, and strong institutions are beneficial to the long-term viability of our organizations and are foundational for upholding the Ten Principles of the UNGC and achieving the SDGs. Now is our opportunity to learn from our collective experiences to realign behind the mission of the UN and steer our world onto a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable path. We are in this together — and we are united in the business of a better world,” the statement endorsed by CEOs stated.

Specifically, Aboitiz and the statement signatories have committed to demonstrate ethical leadership and good governance; invest in addressing systemic inequalities and injustices; and partner with the UN, government, and civil society to strengthen access to justice, ensure accountability and transparency, provide legal certainty, promote equality and respect human rights.

“We in Aboitiz believe that thriving in the ‘new normal’ requires a deep sense of commitment to sustainability and development across the board. Guided by our purpose of advancing business and communities, we will continue to support initiatives that will ensure a united and robust response to the challenges posed by the current pandemic and other crises that the world is facing,” Aboitiz said.

The Aboitiz Group fully supports the UNGC statement as manifested in its commitment to operate its businesses with a sustainability mindset that upholds best practices in environmental management, social responsibility, and good governance while ensuring long-term financial growth and business capability.

The UN Private Sector Forum where the UNGC statement was presented is the first in a series of three events on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly’s 75th session organized by the UNGC to promote principled business and the SDGs. This coincides with the 75th anniversary of the UN.

“The statement is a resounding endorsement of inclusive multilateralism. In no uncertain terms, it says that cooperation must cross borders, sectors and generations for us to adapt to changing circumstances,” said Sanda Ojiambo, UNGC CEO and Executive Director.

“In the course of just one month after we issued the statement, it has been signed by over 1,000 CEOs from large, medium and small enterprises in virtually every industry and region. We deeply appreciate their commitment to global cooperation at a pivotal time for the UN and the world at large,” said Ojiambo.

The CEO statement also supports the objectives of SDG: 16: to promote peace, justice, and strong institutions.

The Aboitiz Group is heeding the call of the UNGC on the UN SDG Ambition, an accelerator initiative that urges participating companies to “set ambitious targets” and accelerate the integration of identified UN SDGs into their business operations.

Aboitiz is looking at positive impacts to SDGs in terms of its business value chain such as SDG 7, by providing access to affordable and clean energy, by contributing to food security through food production and agricultural feeds (SDG 2 (zero hunger), SDG 6 (clean water), SDG 11 (sustainable communities), and SDG 9 (development of innovative infrastructure) while providing decent work (SDG 8) and managing its impacts to climate change (SDG 13), life below water (SDG 4), and life on land (SDG 15).

In 2019, the Aboitiz Group was a winner under the Workforce category at the Sustainable Business Awards, described as an award series “wholly committed to sustainability which comprehensively assess corporate sustainability programs.”

ADVT.