Caring for Climate was launched by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in July 2007. The initiative is jointly convened by the United Nations Global Compact, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Caring for Climate endeavors to help prevent a climate change crisis by mobilizing a critical mass of business leaders to implement and recommend climate change solutions and policies. The initiative helps companies to advance practical solutions, share experiences, inform public policy as well as shape public attitudes. Chief executive officers who support the Caring for Climate leadership statement are prepared to set goals, develop and expand strategies and practices, and publicly disclose emissions and report on progress through the Communication on Progress-Climate (COP-Climate).
Caring for Climate offers maximum value for signatories. Participation in the initiative affords signatory companies a multitude of benefits, including the ability to:
The UN Global Compact, the UN Environment Programme and the secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change invite all companies – learners and leaders with proven track record of commitment to climate action – to join the initiative. A company wishing to join Caring for Climate should indicate their endorsement of the initiative and its leadership statement by submitting a letter, signed by the Chief Executive Officer, to: caring4climate@un.org.
Companies that are not already participating in the UN Global Compact have a two year grace period subsequent to their endorsement of the initiative to become Global Compact signatories.
As Caring for Climate signatories, Chief Executive Officers commit their companies to implementing the Caring for Climate Statement – through individual and collective efforts. As part of this commitment, companies pledge to disclose annually by means of a Communication on Progress-Climate (COP-Climate) that describes the ways in which they are implementing the initiative’s core commitments. Learn more about Caring for Climate’s reporting policy.
As important stakeholders, civil society and other non-business organizations can participate through a number of Caring for Climate engagement opportunities and provide input to ongoing workstreams or be invited to partake in the initiative’s annual signatories meetings and events.
Non-business participants are welcome to sign up for Caring for Climate’s mailing list to receive updates on the initiative, its workstreams and research, and its meetings. Please send an email to caring4climate@un.org.
Caring for Climate is governed by a Steering Committee charged with advising the strategic, operational and financial developments of the initiative. The Steering Committee is composed of 14 corporate representatives – from a variety of business sectors and from five different geographic regions – including ex officio representation from the Global Compact, UNEP and UNFCCC. Each member serves a two-year term.
Many of the initiative’s decisions are also taken at signatories meeting, and signatories are provided with questionnaires and other consultation opportunities to provide input to the workplan and strategic priorities. Caring for Climate is also guided by working groups associated with each ongoing workstreams. Learn more about the governance of the initiative.
See the list of Caring for Climate signatories.
Yes. Caring for Climate will delist signatories if they have failed to fulfill the initiative’s annual Communication on Progress-Climate reporting requirements. With respect to accountability, Caring for Climate is governed by the UN Global Compact’s Integrity Measures, which include: i) misuse of the UN and Caring for Climate brands and logos; ii) failure to communicate progress; and iii) allegations of systematic or egregious abuses with respect to the Global Compact’s principles and related commitments.
Caring for Climate Reporting Guidance
Caring for Climate offers signatories on-going engagement opportunities to develop thought leadership and best practice recommendations on priority areas such as (i) climate change and development, (ii) low-carbon innovative solutions and technology and (iii) disclosure and transparency; inform the international climate change policy agenda in the context of UN Conference of the Parties (COP) meetings, SG High-Level Panels and UN Conference on Sustainable Development (CSD) meetings; participate in the annual meeting of signatories, a learning forum to discuss strategies, showcase practices and analyze actions; Engage in regional and national multi-stakeholder dialogues in cooperation with Global Compact Local Networks; contribute to Caring for Climate annual progress reports and publications.