Global Compact 2.0

The Davos Forum was the setting for the launch of a new phase of the Global Compact aimed to establish

"a new constellation of international cooperation — governments, civil society and the private sector, working together for a collective global good."

It is time then for a Global Compact 2.0. What should we expect? When CSR practices are still in large part pr and greenwashing operations, the shift we are looking for is the same kind of change that we observed from the web 1.0 to the current web 2.0. At the beginning of the internet era, static isolated websites approached their users with a univocal interface. The rise of web 2.0 brought us blogs, social media, brought us inclusion, peer information and peer reviews. Businesses are aware of the change and are worried about it. Web reputation management services are on the rise and the sector experienced a multiplication of customers. Businesses will eventually need to adapt to the situation. People can communicate in so many different ways that greenwashing practices can easily discolour, struck by waves of uncontrolled information, pushing businesses to walk the talk. The Global Compact should make an effort to engage with this new category of users/contributors by building a civil society network that both monitors the situation and amplifies the discussion around businesses and their duties towards society.

Ban Ki Moon Speech Transcription

Tough times

It's going to be a tough time for CSR, as the economy is struggling and companies will have to cut funds. I was touched in person when a new CSR opening at Canon was closed right after I had applied. I guess not everybody understands and thinks in the long run. Customers want to be reassured, they are worried and they do not trust anybody. CSR is one of the keys to Trust and it can be the competitive advantage to help businesses out of the mud.

I see potential. I see an economy that needs to be rebuilt, reorganized and rethought.