2023 ESG Global Leaders Summit

A recording of these remarks can be found on YouTube and Tencent

Distinguished Guests, 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is an honour to join you today at the 3rd ESG Global Leaders Summit, a forum that has gained significance in the sphere of sustainability and responsible business practices. I express my gratitude to the China ESG Leaders Association Forum and Sina Finance for the invitation.

As we gather here in Shanghai, a city renowned for its dynamism, we find ourselves facing existential challenges. Our world faces a climate crisis that is spiralling out of control, rising conflicts, poverty and inequalities, as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) become further out of reach. These challenges are not isolated; they are interconnected and demand a holistic approach, one that embraces the principles of Environmental, Social, and Governance, or ESG.

ESG represents a paradigm shift in how we approach development from a multidimensional perspective. It’s a framework that recognizes the profound interdependencies between prosperity and our environmental, societal, and governance systems. 

China, as the world’s second-largest economy, is in the middle of a profound transition. The commitment to achieve a peak in carbon emissions before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060 will require an all-of-society approach. 

Yet, as we pursue a just transition, we remain keenly aware of the challenges that persist, including slowing economic growth, multidimensional poverty, persistent inequalities, natural disasters, biodiversity loss, pollution, and other environmental concerns. The urgency to address these challenges in sustainable development have never been more profound.

It is within this context that the concept of ESG has come to prominence. An increasing number of stakeholders recognize that economic growth must go hand-in-hand with the well-being of people and planet. For ESG to succeed, it requires the active participation and dialogue of stakeholders from all walks of life. The ESG Global Leaders Summit provides such a platform for exploring ESG solutions, bringing together government officials, entrepreneurs, leaders from the financial and service industries, and academia. This convergence enables us to deliberate on the most critical ESG topics, fostering a global vision for a low-carbon and sustainable future.

Our agenda is robust, encompassing discussions on China’s vision for sustainable development, emerging trends in ESG development, critical issues surrounding environment and climate change, and global progress toward the SDGs. The principles of ESG clearly fall within the broader objectives of the SDGs and I urge all businesses to align themselves not only with ESG principles, but with the 10 Principles of the UN Global Compact and, most importantly, with the SDGs to join our common path forward towards a more sustainable and equitable future.

Indeed, the SDGs lay out a blueprint for a more just, equitable, and sustainable world that leaves no one behind. However, at the midpoint to the deadline to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the SDGs are at risk. That is why we hope next week’s 2023 SDG Summit taking place in New York will mark the beginning of a new phase of accelerated progress towards the SDGs. Just as UN Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres has said, we need to advance “a more robust embrace of the Goals, by businesses, local authorities and other actors.” ESG, with its focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance principles, offers a pathway forward, one that aligns with the SDGs. While I commend you for your commitment to ESG, I urge you to go further and fully embrace the SDGs and actively pursue their realization.

The UN in China is committed in its support of China to achieve the SDGs through the implementation of our Cooperation Framework. The principles of the ESG align with the strategic priorities of the Framework, including the achievement of equitable economic and social development, the pursuit of green development for a sustainable and resilient environment, and support for China’s international engagements to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs globally. 

The UN in China has been promoting ESG principles in its programmes and operations. UN Women have developed guidelines on gender reporting in alignment with the ESG reporting framework, highlighting the importance of gender equality as fundamental for sustainability.

Furthermore, the UN in China has been actively engaged in advising enterprises, both state-owned and private, on incorporating ESG principles into their business models. The goal is to ensure that these enterprises align their investments, financing, and practices with the SDGs, thereby creating a positive ripple effect throughout the global business community.

In the pursuit of Responsible Business Conduct, the International Labour Organization, UN Development Programme, UN Global Compact, UN Children’s Fund, and UN Women have partnered with Chinese entities to incorporate the UN Guiding Principles on Business into Chinese overseas business operations and investments. This is a significant step toward fostering sustainable and ESG-oriented business practices on a global scale.

As we reflect on these accomplishments and the road ahead, it is clear that partnerships, collaboration, and shared knowledge will be the driving forces behind our progress. 

Here, the UN in China stands ready to share its technical expertise, including on ESG, engaging with national institutions, and facilitating innovative solutions for sustainable development.

I look forward to the insightful discussions and collaborations that will emerge from this summit.