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 Future We Want” 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,

Sudhir Vasudeva

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, BrazilPresident's Desk

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 by TOI).

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 on April 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 in West Bengal.

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 by ArcelorMittal 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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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 Friendly Technologies.'

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 Core Advisory 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 India assists companies in preparing their COP report.

15 companies have uploaded their COP on the UNGC website in the quarter April - 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 Steel Works 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-110003Telefax : 011-24368269 Phone : 011-24306486 Email : gcnindia@gmail.com, gcni@gcnindia.orgWebsite : www.gcnindia.org