The statement reads:
“The 75th anniversary of the United Nations comes at a time of unprecedented disruption and global transformation, serving as a stark reminder that international cooperation must be mobilized across borders, sectors and generations to adapt to changing circumstances. This message emerged loud and clear from the hundreds of thousands of people who participated in global dialogues initiated by the UN this year.
In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and converging crises — including climate change, economic uncertainty, social inequality and rising disinformation — public and private institutions need to show they are accountable, ethical, inclusive and transparent. This is the only way to strengthen public trust and achieve a more sustainable future for all.
Over time, the UN has sought to unite stakeholders everywhere to tackle the world’s greatest challenges. Yet our multilateral system is being threatened by those who want to go it alone rather than work together.
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 UN Global Compact and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In the spirit of renewed global cooperation, we commit to:
- Demonstrate ethical leadership and good governance through values-based strategies, policies, operations and relationships when engaging with all stakeholders
- Invest in addressing systemic inequalities and injustices through inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels of our business
- 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
In making that commitment, we also call on Governments to:
- Protect human rights, ensure peace and security, and uphold the rule of law so that businesses, individuals and societies can flourish
- Create an enabling environment to serve the interests of people and planet, prosperity and purpose, through strengthened international cooperation and national legal frameworks
- Enhance multilateralism and global governance to combat corruption, build resilience and achieve 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.”
Among the other supporting companies are The Coca-Cola Company, Deloitte, Electrolux, Equinor, GlaxoSmithKline, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Hitachi, Mastercard, Merck, Microsoft, Nestlé, Nokia, PWC, Santander Group, Thomson Reuters, Unilever. Read the statement and see the complete list of companies here.
The statement adds to Odfjell’s already firm commitment within Environmental, Social and Governance matters (ESG). The work has been ongoing for years, and has taken the front seat with recent initiatives such as the appointment of a dedicated Chief Sustainability Officer position, active membership in several global sustainability initiatives, and clear support of the 2030 Agenda, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
