On June 15 and 16, a delegation of 10 GAD students and two Assistant Instructors (Ms. Helen He Xi and Ms. Cinnamon sun Yuan), headed by Dr. Edoardo Monaco, Director of the GAD Programme, attended the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) “Leaders’ Summit 2021”.

The UNGC platform – the largest of its kind, involving currently more than 12,000 firms worldwide – gathers businesses (from small and medium enterprises to big multinational corporations) who are committed to align their operations and management approaches to criteria of sustainability, so as to actively contribute to the fulfillment of the United Nations Agenda 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement.

The prestigious Leader’s Summit 2021 – organized online over two days – was rich in insightful and inspiring debates on a variety of aspects ranging from economic growth to social inclusion, from business development strategies to optimal environmental management.  The event saw the participation of, among others, the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, CEOs of prestigious corporations, government ministers and NGO representatives from across the globe.

The GAD delegation took part in the event on behalf of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF), where the GAD students are undergoing various forms of practical training in the context of the “GAD-CBCGDF Sustainability Leadership Platform” (for more please visit: https://dhss.uic.edu.cn/en/Programmes/Globalisation/GAD_CBCGDF_Sustainability_Leadership_Platform.htm).

Dr. Monaco’s op-ed on the UNGC Leaders Summit 2021 is available at http://www.cbcgdf.org/English/NewsShow/5010/16325.html