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ver Story
Q Do you think companies nowadays Q You gave a lecture about UN
Sustainable Development Goals
are doing enough in achieving
sustainability? What’s your (SDG) at the 2016 Oslo
Business for Peace
suggestion for them?
Summit. What inspired
you the most? Did you see any
A
I think there has been a real step- change the Summit has had along these years that
change by business to comprehensively
engage in sustainability and embrace impresses you?
the SDGs as a powerful roadmap for
long-term success. A I have always been immensely
impressed by the annual
According to the latest Responsible Summit, and in particular its
Business Trends Report, 69% of global respondents say their focus on advocacy. This has been
business is integrating the SDGs into their strategy. There a big change. More and more
is also a spike in the number of companies receiving B Corp
certification. At Unilever, many of our recent acquisitions are leaders are prepared to ‘speak up
B Corp brands.
and speak out’ about the issues
that matter most – and this is crucial.
The finance community is also making progress. Some We all know that the solutions to the world’s most
estimates put global ESG (environmental, social and pressing problems will be complex and difficult to
governance) assets under management as high as $22 trillion implement. But without continued advocacy and
dollars and growing. $82 trillion of money under management inspirational leaders who are prepared to ‘shine a
has signed up to the ‘Principles of Responsible Investment’, light’ on these challenges, momentum could be lost.
$34 trillion is asking for a price on carbon and the green bond
market is growing exponentially. And the list goes on. Take for example a recent setback, such as the
decision by the U.S. to withdraw from the Paris climate
With more and more companies focusing on delivering agreement. While disappointing, a number of CEOs,
sustainable and equitable growth, we are starting to see real mayors and many others reaffirmed their commitment
momentum. The direction is clear. Speed and scale is still to tackling climate change. Over 1,200 companies are
missing. We cannot be complacent, as we have no time to lose. now calling for a price on carbon and many, including
To achieve our ambitions, we must re-double our efforts. Unilever, are setting targets to be 100% powered by
renewable energy. So the pendulum can swing in the
Q right direction, provided brave advocates are prepared
to speak up.
What are the future goals Q What is your top career
advice for those from
for Paul Polman?
the young generation who
A My ambitions for the future are would like to be a leader of
very simple: I will continue to fight sustainability in business?
for the underprivileged and where
possible try to do this at impact A I would congratulate any young
and scale. We cannot stop until leaders that have chosen to work
on sustainability issues. Frankly
we truly leave no one behind. My that should become the norm as
it is every bodies business. And
best contribution perhaps is in even more important for the
young as it is their future.
galvanizing the private sector faster, and making not
only the moral case but also the economic one. That’s
why I became chair of the ICC, B Team and vice chair of
the UN Global Compact. Over 45 million companies are
associated with the ICC. What a tremendous opportunity
it would be if we could develop a new social contract and These are the most pressing issues of our time. Who would
not want to be part of this enormously exciting agenda?
focus on climate change and inequality.
10 AmCham South China
Q Do you think companies nowadays Q You gave a lecture about UN
Sustainable Development Goals
are doing enough in achieving
sustainability? What’s your (SDG) at the 2016 Oslo
Business for Peace
suggestion for them?
Summit. What inspired
you the most? Did you see any
A
I think there has been a real step- change the Summit has had along these years that
change by business to comprehensively
engage in sustainability and embrace impresses you?
the SDGs as a powerful roadmap for
long-term success. A I have always been immensely
impressed by the annual
According to the latest Responsible Summit, and in particular its
Business Trends Report, 69% of global respondents say their focus on advocacy. This has been
business is integrating the SDGs into their strategy. There a big change. More and more
is also a spike in the number of companies receiving B Corp
certification. At Unilever, many of our recent acquisitions are leaders are prepared to ‘speak up
B Corp brands.
and speak out’ about the issues
that matter most – and this is crucial.
The finance community is also making progress. Some We all know that the solutions to the world’s most
estimates put global ESG (environmental, social and pressing problems will be complex and difficult to
governance) assets under management as high as $22 trillion implement. But without continued advocacy and
dollars and growing. $82 trillion of money under management inspirational leaders who are prepared to ‘shine a
has signed up to the ‘Principles of Responsible Investment’, light’ on these challenges, momentum could be lost.
$34 trillion is asking for a price on carbon and the green bond
market is growing exponentially. And the list goes on. Take for example a recent setback, such as the
decision by the U.S. to withdraw from the Paris climate
With more and more companies focusing on delivering agreement. While disappointing, a number of CEOs,
sustainable and equitable growth, we are starting to see real mayors and many others reaffirmed their commitment
momentum. The direction is clear. Speed and scale is still to tackling climate change. Over 1,200 companies are
missing. We cannot be complacent, as we have no time to lose. now calling for a price on carbon and many, including
To achieve our ambitions, we must re-double our efforts. Unilever, are setting targets to be 100% powered by
renewable energy. So the pendulum can swing in the
Q right direction, provided brave advocates are prepared
to speak up.
What are the future goals Q What is your top career
advice for those from
for Paul Polman?
the young generation who
A My ambitions for the future are would like to be a leader of
very simple: I will continue to fight sustainability in business?
for the underprivileged and where
possible try to do this at impact A I would congratulate any young
and scale. We cannot stop until leaders that have chosen to work
on sustainability issues. Frankly
we truly leave no one behind. My that should become the norm as
it is every bodies business. And
best contribution perhaps is in even more important for the
young as it is their future.
galvanizing the private sector faster, and making not
only the moral case but also the economic one. That’s
why I became chair of the ICC, B Team and vice chair of
the UN Global Compact. Over 45 million companies are
associated with the ICC. What a tremendous opportunity
it would be if we could develop a new social contract and These are the most pressing issues of our time. Who would
not want to be part of this enormously exciting agenda?
focus on climate change and inequality.
10 AmCham South China
