Making Global Goals Local Business – Canada

Catalyzing a resilient future in the Decade of Action

October 5th-6th, 2021

Mobilize ambitious and responsible business conduct in Canada to drive progress, enhance resiliency, and generate impactful solutions for global challenges during the Decade of Action.

On October 5-6th, Global Compact Network Canada, in collaboration with the UN Global Compact, hosted the Making Global Goals Local Business – Canada, a two-day virtual conference that brought together local and global leaders from business, civil society, government, Global Compact Local Networks and the United Nations to inform, inspire, and catalyze collective approaches in Canada.

This year’s theme was “Catalyzing a resilient future in the Decade of Action” and looked at how businesses are working to embed sustainable development across Canada and around the world. While progress has been made towards the Global Goals, the world is currently not on track to achieve them. Ongoing obstacles including entrenched racial discrimination, widening gender gaps, and inadequate climate action that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic pose significant challenges and threaten to stall progress during the critical final ten years of the 2030 Agenda. More than ever, we need collective action, inspiring role models, and increased accountability to move the dial forward and forge a better world for all.

This conference provided a platform for Canadian companies and individuals to share impactful solutions, strengthen cross-sector partnerships, and resolve to meet the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to bring about momentous progress during the Decade of Action.

Opening Remarks: Marie-Claude Landry, Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission
Keynote addresses from recognized leaders will inspire attendees to drive progress, build back more resilient, and generate impactful solutions for global challenges during the Decade of Action.

Opening Remarks: Kevin Moss, Global Director Center for Sustainable Business, World Resources Institute
Keynote addresses from recognized leaders will inspire attendees to drive progress, build back more resilient, and generate impactful solutions for global challenges during the Decade of Action.

Opening Remarks: Rumina Dhalla, Associate Professor, Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics
Keynote addresses from recognized leaders will inspire attendees to drive progress, build back more resilient, and generate impactful solutions for global challenges during the Decade of Action.

Fireside Chat: Building Resilience – Canada’s Roadmap to 2030
Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy demonstrates a commitment to addressing the sustainability challenges of our time including the broader implications brought about by COVID19. This session will explore how the Strategy will help scale corporate sustainability efforts needed to build back better and meet the Global Goals.

Environmental Sustainability as a Catalyst of Economic Growth
“A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy” is a cornerstone of the Government of Canada’s commitment to improve employment rates while building a cleaner economy. Join this panel discussion to learn how environmental sustainability can catalyze economic growth and the ways that businesses can benefit from this opportunity.

Upholding Human Rights to Leave No One Behind
Leaving no one behind is central for the success of the 2030 Agenda. This panel will delineate how businesses can strengthen the integration of human rights into their operations and across the value chain.

Masterclass: How to Set a Net-Zero Target in Line with a 1.5°C Future
Business Ambition for 1.5°C is a call to action from a global coalition for companies to set science-based targets aligned to limit rising global temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This masterclass will break down complexities around science-based targets, explore why they are crucial, and learn how Canadian companies are taking action towards this commitment.

Masterclass: Indigenous Rights and Business Reconciliation
This session will provide an overview of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and key actions for organizations to support the rights of Indigenous workers, businesses, and communities.

Generating Transformational Change Through Accelerators
Learn how businesses utilize Accelerators to deliver practical solutions to advance sustainability in their operations.

Closing Plenary: Riley Yesno, Writer / Researcher / Public Speaker, University of Toronto / Yellowhead Institute
Closing addresses that reflect on the first day of the summit, consider the forthcoming day’s sessions and emphasize how critical partnership is to achieving the 2030 Agenda.

Closing Plenary: Anjum Sultana, National Director of Public Policy, Advocacy & Strategic Communications, YWCA Canada
Closing addresses that reflect on the first day of the summit, consider the forthcoming day’s sessions and emphasize how critical partnership is to achieving the 2030 Agenda.

Closing Plenary: Steven Stone, Chief, Resources & Markets Branch, UNEP
Closing addresses that reflect on the first day of the summit, consider the forthcoming day’s sessions and emphasize how critical partnership is to achieving the 2030 Agenda.

Bâtir des partenariats multipartites pour accélérer l’atteinte des ODD : En pratique
Apprenez lors de cette session en français par où commencer pour développer des partenariats multipartites pour faire progresser les ODD. Les cas à l’étude seront le Groupe d’action plastiques circulaires (GAPC) et le Programme EVO2030.

Fast-Tracking Circular Economy in Canada
Transitioning to a circular economy must be integral to corporate strategy. This session will address key short- and medium-term actions items for businesses in order to foster collaboration, improve resource utilisation and mitigate risk that arises from regulatory, investor and societal pressure.

Future-Proof Strategies for Sustainable Procurement
What do larger corporations require from their suppliers and how do they reward SMEs for being more sustainable? Join this panel discussion to hear advice from experts and learn what leading Canadian corporations are doing to incentivize, encourage, and support, SMEs to become more sustainable.

Masterclass: Strengthening SMEs to Accelerate Impact in the Decade of Action
SMEs will play an essential role to drive post-pandemic recovery and achieve the SDGs. This session will discuss how SMEs can build resiliency, adopt digitalization and future-proof procurement to accelerate local and global collective impact.

Strengthening Integrity Measures and Corporate Governance
To proactively prevent reputational and financial risks and to enforce stronger corporate governance, a modern and efficient anti-fraud and regulatory system is an imperative. This panel will discuss what strong corporate governance looks like, the value of cross-sector partnership, and how data analytics can support risk or scoping assessments, and stronger control mechanisms.

Fireside Chat: Leveraging Digitalisation for Ambitious SDG Action
How can businesses leverage technology-driven changes to scale their sustainability efforts and accelerate action to keep up with digital innovations? This fireside chat will explore the ways that businesses can avoid the downsides of unchecked innovation while tapping into the limitless sustainability potential of digitalisation.