Global Compact Network India Newsletter April - June 2012

1. Vol. : 3 January - March, 2012Issue : 1
NewsletterNewsletter
The Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability
Forum,a precursor event to the Rio+20
United Nations Conference on
Sustainable Development, held from
June 15-18,2012,provided a platform to
members of the corporate world,
investors, governments, local authorities, civil society and
United Nations entities to meet and network.The theme of
this forum was “Innovation & Collaboration for the
FutureWeWant” that was discussed in nearly one
hundred sessions on six themes that mirrored the
seven critical issues that were discussed in the main
conference.The intent was to reach an understanding on
actions that need to be taken by Business entities and
Nations to address these critical issues in the context of
sustainable development.
The agenda discussed at the Rio + 20 conference has been
'work-in-progress' for the past twenty years during which
global temperatures have increased,disaster refugees have
increased, the immediacy of finding food for seven billion
earthlings has increased,the need for environment- friendly
energy solutions has increased, the need for eco-friendly
habitations has increased and the need to provide our
productive populace with dignified jobs has increased.To
address these issues, the Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability
Forum Overview and Outcome document, presented to
the UN Secretary-General during the main conference,
outlines the wide spectrum of ideas presented at the
Forum on innovations, collaborations and public policy
recommendations – as well as an appendix of
approximately 200 commitments to action announced by
corporate leaders.
With the culmination of Rio+20 United Nations
Sustainable Development Conference last month, I would
like to take this opportunity to urge members of GCN India
to study best sustainability practices, innovations
and collaborations adopted by industry leaders with a
view to implementing them within their spheres of
influence.We need to commit ourselves to the sustainable
development agenda to bequeath a more sustainable world
to future generations.
With best wishes,
SudhirVasudeva
President GCN-India
Rio+20-United Nations Conference on Sustainable
Development was held in Rio de Janeiro,Brazil on June 15-22,
2012.The conference marked the 20th anniversary of the 1992
United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development (UNCED). Rio+20 was attended by more than
40,000 people, which included 100 heads of states, mayors,
UN officials, CEOS and civil society leaders. The three
objectives of the Conference in Rio de Janeiro were to secure
renewed political commitment for sustainable development,
assess the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the
implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on
sustainable development and address new and emerging
challenges.The Conference focused on two themes:(a) a green
economy in the context of sustainable development and
poverty eradication; and (b) the institutional framework for
sustainable development.
In India, a pre Rio+20 curtain raiser event was organized at
Hotel Leela Palace,New Delhi on June 8,which was attended
by a delegation of members from Global Compact Network
and Confederation of Indian Industry.
Rio+20 provided opportunity to all actors - governments,
corporations, investors, citizens, consumers, workers and
educators - to foster a stronger sense of shared purpose and
collective responsibility and enable movement from the status
quo toward a more sustainable future.Through the realm of
corporate sustainability (defined as a company's delivery of
long-term value in financial, social, environmental and ethical
terms), responsible business can help advance sustainable
development in line with the Rio+20 agenda.
To that end, the Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum was
organized before the Rio+20 Conference from June 15 - 18,
2012. The Forum was attended by over 2,700 participants
from the business community, civil society, academia,
Government and the United Nations. It comprised over 120
sessions that focused along six thematic tracks aligned with
HIGHLIGHTS :
Corporate Sustainability Forum Rio+20,Brazil
President's Desk

2. top priorities of the Rio+20 conference: Energy & Climate,
Water & Ecosystems, Agriculture & Food, Economics &
Finance of Sustainable Development, Social Development,
and Urbanization & Cities.The sessions were organized by
the UN Global Compact Office, over 35 UN and strategic
partners, and more than 20 Global Compact Local
Networks.
The Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum provided a
launching ground for greater private sector and investor
involvement in sustainable development, and to call on
Governments to take steps that would support corporate
sustainability globally. At the Forum Global Compact
Network India committed to work with participants to help
them embed sustainability in their operations and strategies.
By 2015, the network will undertake training activities to
help companies to comply with national and global standards
in sustainability,and engage with the Government to develop
enabling policies.
The primary outcome of the conference was the nonbinding
document, "The Future We Want," in which the heads of
State and Government and high level representatives
renewed their commitment to ensure the promotion of an
economically, socially and environmentally sustainable
future for our planet and for present and future
generations.
In his address to the Rio+20 Conference as a head of State,
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asserted that India's top
priority was to eradicate poverty and called for setting up a
global system that allows each country to develop according
to its own priorities (as reported byTOI).
As a precursor event to Rio+20, a workshop titled 'New
Geographies of Corporate Sustainability : Indian
Perspectives for Rio+20' was organized in Mumbai on April
19, 2012 by Global Compact LEAD and GCNI. The
workshop explored how corporate sustainability is defined
in India and identified opportunities for business to advance
sustainable development.The workshop was organized to
ensure that Indian perspectives are firmly integrated into the
UN Rio+20 Conference.
LEAD Workshop in Mumbai : New Geographies of
Corporate Sustainability : Indian Perspectives for
Rio+20
National Consultation on Transparency and Anti-
Corruption Measures in Procurement
Third Seminar on 'Transparency and Ethics in
Business',Kolkata
The National Consultation on Transparency and Anti-
Corruption Measures in Procurement was held in New
Delhi onApril 18 & 19, April 2012.It was organised by Global
Compact Network India, under the Collective Action
Project in partnership with the United Nations Office on
Drugs and Crime (UNODC) at Claridges, New Delhi.The
Consultation was attended by high profile representatives
from the Central Vigilance Commission, Comptroller&
Auditor General's Office,Chief Vigilance Commissioners of
PSUs, industry associations, private companies and civil
society to deliberate on the challenges in procurement
processes in India and also to reflect upon the opportunities
for enhancing transparency and strengthening anti-
corruption measures in procurement processes.
The Collective Action Project of the Global Compact
Network India also organised a seminar on 'Transparency in
Ethical Business for Profitability' in partnership with IBLF on
May 10,2012 at Bengal Club,Kolkata.The local hosts for the
seminar were ITC [GCN Member Company], Junction,
Apeejay Surrendra and the knowledge partner was Indian
Institute of Corporate Affairs. In this seminar, delegates
representing public and private business, NGOs and media
participated and deliberated on relevance of collective
action in ensuring transparency and profitability for
businesses.The seminar served as an important platform for
GCNI to connect with its eastern chapter and bring to the
spotlight and deliberate upon issues which are central to
business ethics and transparency inWest Bengal.

3. This was the 3rd Seminar of the Seminar Series titled
'Transparency and Ethics in Business 2011-2012'.
April 2012
The April monthly meeting was held on April 27, 2012 at
Foundation of MSME Clusters.The meeting was chaired by
Mr. Satish Rao, GCNI Secretary, and Mr. Mukesh Gulati,
Executive Director of Foundation of MSME Clusters. It was
attended by 37 members.The presentations were made by
Foundation of MSME Clusters about MSME's objectives and
outreach.The second presentation by the Global Compact
Network-Collective Action Project (CAP) provided
listeners with valuable insights on their objectives,
operations, and future events to help develop a collective
action platform, with a unique focus on environment
sustainability and anti-corruption interventions.
May 2012
The May monthly meeting, which was attended by 32
members,was hosted byArcelorMittal on May 25,2012.The
theme meeting of the meeting was sustainable development
in view of the Rio+20 Conference and was chaired by Mr.
Uddesh Kohli, Senior Advisor-UN Global Compact, and Mr.
Sudhir Sinha,Country Head - CSR and R & R-ArcelorMittal.
The presentation by ArcelorMittal outlined the company's
CSR initiatives on the issue of education and environment
sustainability initiative - The Pariyavaran Mitra. The second
presentation by Tara (Development Alternatives) discussed
its sustainable development projects in the fields of
environment,human rights,education,and employment.
Knowledge Sharing and Networking
GCN Monthly meetings
June 2012
The June monthly meeting hosted by Engineering Projects
(India) Limited (EPIL) on June 29, 2012 was attended by 36
members. The meeting was chaired by Mr. S. P. S. Bakshi,
Chairman and Managing Director,EPIL and Dr.Uddesh Kohli,
Senior Advisor, UN Global Compact. Presentations were
done by EPIL and CAIRN India Limited.Discussing about the
companies CSR initiatives, EPIL shared information about
their interventions at the grass root level on some of their
project sites on the issues of use of alternate/ green energy,
and the Abhoy Mission- a project to increase availability of
potable water. CAIRN India discussed its CSR initiatives in
the fields of dairy,employment,health and infrastructure.
A half-day orientation on Embedding Global Compact and
Sustainability was co-organized for GAIL by Investors for
Development Project (14D) of UNESCAP and Global
Compact Network on April , 2012 in New Delhi. The
objective of the convention was to create greater awareness
about the Global Compact programme and help companies
to define actions towards translating ten principles into
practice.
The Mumbai Chapter meeting for the month of April was
hosted by Jindal Steel Works (JSW) on April 10, 2012.The
theme of the meeting was 'Corporate Social Responsibility
and Sustainable Community Initiatives.' The May meeting
Trainings
Orientation on Embedding Global Compact and
Sustainability for GAIL
GCN India Mumbai Chapter Meeting
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4. For suggestions and feedback, please mail us at gcnindia@gmail.com, gcni@gcnindia.org
was hosted on May 30, 2012 by Mahindra & Mahindra.The
theme of the meeting was 'Developing a Responsible Supply
Chain'.The June meeting was hosted on June 27, 2012 by
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited.The theme of the
meeting was 'Encourage the Development and Diffusion of
Environmentally FriendlyTechnologies.'
GCNI Subcommittees form an integral part of GCNI
Strategic Plan 2015.At present, three subcommittees have
been operationalized.
The HRSC Subcomittee met on May 4th,2012 and June 19th,
2012at Jindal Stainless Limited,New Delhi.The meeting was
attended by Brig. Rajiv Williams, Corporate Head, JSL
Stainless Limited, Convenor, HRSC, Mr. Sanjay Choudhry,
Associate Vice President - Corporate Affairs, Sesa Goa
Limited, Mr. Pooran Pandey, Executive Director, GCN India
and Ms.Mansi B.Bhatia,Programme Manager,GCN India.
It was decided that the CEO forum newsletter and reports
will be sent to invitees who attended the event as well as
those who could not make it.The inclusion of Jindal Steel
Works, ITC and Arcelor Mittal as members of HRSC was
also approved.The members were informed by Mr.Williams
of the conference call of the CoreAdvisory Group members
with Mr.Murthy's office.
The second meeting reviewed corporate commitments to
the CEO forum and decided to send out membership letters
to all the invitees of the CEO forum.
GCN members are requested to contribute best practices
within their organization in implementation of Global
Compact principles and also articles on emerging CSR
trends or on social issues for GCN newsletter.
UNGC signatories are encouraged to make use of UNGC
'we support' logo. For more information on this please
contact GCN secretariat.
GCN members are requested to send nominations for
GCN subcommittees. Nominations are open for the
following subcommittees:
Global Compact Network Subcommittee
Human Rights Subcommittee(HRSC) meeting
Inviting Best Practices /Articles
Use of UNGC 'we support' logo
Nominations for GCN subcommittees
GCN Subcommittee meetings
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Recently submitted COPs
New UNGCI Signatories
New GCN Members
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Environment Labour
Anticorruption PRME
Small and Medium Enterprises COP/Training
Strategic Partnership
You can send the nominations at gcnindia@gmail.com .
Global Compact Network is a registered society,functioning
within a globally recognized and established initiative with a
pan-India membership. GCN India plays a key role in
spreading awareness on Global Compact Principles within
India.It provides an excellent opportunity to its members to
deliberate on important emerging issues within the
framework of the 10 principles through monthly meetings
and other national events.
For more information, please visit our website
www.gcnindia.org .
Business participants are required to submit a COP report
on the UN Global Compact website annually and share it
with their stakeholders. The COP is an important
demonstration of a participant's commitment to the UN
Global Compact and its principles.Global Compact Network
IndiaassistscompaniesinpreparingtheirCOPreport.
15 companies have uploaded their COP on the UNGC
website in the quarterApril - June 2012.
Corporate : 1 Institution : 2
NGO : 8 SME : 4
NGO members
Vikas Sahyog Pratishthan
Save the Children- Bal Raksha Bharat
Institutional members
Confederation of Industry
EMPI Group of Institutions
Corporate members
Jindal SteelWorks Limited (Lifetime member)
Joining Global Compact Network India
Communication on Progress (COP)
SCOPE Complex, Core 5, 6th Floor (ONGC Office), 7, Institutional Area, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003
Telefax : 011-24368269 Phone : 011-24306486 Email : gcnindia@gmail.com, gcni@gcnindia.org
Website : www.gcnindia.org