6 Ways Businesses Can Boost Their Sustainability Efforts on Earth Day

Earth will likely cross a critical global warming threshold within the next decade. Failing to address climate change could lead to the United States facing economic damages equivalent to 1-3% of GDP per year by2100.

“To reverse our course, a fundamental change of financing and investment is needed to place sustainability at the core of the global economic and financial system,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres. “Private sector leadership will be more important than ever.”

Undoubtedly, the American private sector—the largest in the world—will be critical to the transition to a net-zero, resilient future.

April 22 is International Mother Earth Day. As the world celebrates our incredible planet, UN Global Compact Network USA participants can boost their sustainability efforts by taking action in the following ways:

1.     Apply to take part in the Climate Ambition Accelerator, a six-month program designed to help companies accelerate progress towards setting science-based emissions reduction targets aligned with the 1.5°C pathway. Interested participants must act soon; the deadline to apply is April 30.

2.     Register for “What the COP15 Global Biodiversity Framework Means for Your Company,” a webinar on May 18 from 1:00–2:00 pm ET. You will hear from industry thought leaders Laura Donnelly, Global Lead, Nature at Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), and Janelle Meyers, Chief Sustainability Officer at Kellogg Company.

3.     Take part in the CEO Water Mandate – a commitment from business leaders worldwide to address global water challenges.

4.     Join 50+ leading companies in the “Open Call for Water Action,” a unified commitment by the corporate sector to Water Action. 

5.     Make progress by completing the UNGC Academy training on environmental and climate-related courses.

6.     Access our past webinars and online events, such as “Exploring the Role of American Business in the Future of Water” and “The Business Case for Water Resilience," to hear from experts in the field.

It will take a coordinated effort to mitigate the effects of climate change and other environmental risks, with American businesses playing a crucial role in developing a more sustainable future.

For more information, contact mallory@globalcompactusa.org.

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