UN Global Research Articles

ФИНАНСИРОВАНИЕ «СИНЕЙ» ЭКОНОМИКИ: МИРОВАЯ И РОССИЙСКАЯ ПРАКТИКА

The article briefly describes the prerequisites for the emergence of the blue economy concept. Characteristics are given of the international innovative business standards that have emerged on its basis (Practical guidance for implementing the Sustainable Ocean Principles of the UN Global Compact, Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Principles of the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative) and new types of financial instruments (blue bonds and debt-for-nature swap). Particular attention is paid to the development of the market for financing a sustainable development in the Russian Federation and the prospects for the emergence of blue bonds on it.

Empower to grow through higher education

IU International University of Applied Sciences with more than 120,000 enrolled students at present and more than 200 bachelor’s and master’s programmes in total is a member of the UN Global Compact and its higher education initiative. The principles of these two initiatives are the key factors which define the sustainability approach of the university. The university has defined several key areas in which it is working to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. Social aspects play a prominent role and are consistently pursued in the three key areas of students, employees, and community. The paper focuses on the key area of students and sets out the starting points for implementing the university’s mission ‘Everybody can access education to grow’ in relation to the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals. Aspects like opening up access for non-traditional students, facilitating access for students facing barriers, and implications for academic teaching will be addressed, and the paper illustrates close and multiple relationships between higher education and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. For the necessary trans-sectoral and transdisciplinary effort, the development, consistent implementation, and evaluation of a sustainability-oriented strategy is key.

Multinational Corporations and Their Corporate Citizenships: Exploring Their Effects on Corporate Performance Under Different Legal Traditions

ABSTRACTIn this paper, we focus on the conceptualization of corporate citizenship and examine the effects of its tangible manifestation, in the form of corporate philanthropy, on company performance recognizing the importance of the institutional contexts where companies are embedded. Based on a sample of 752 multinational companies that have joined the UN Global Compact, we explore the derived benefits, using as a moderator the legal environment where companies operate. The results of the random‐effect regression analysis show the existence of a positive relationship between corporate citizenship and corporate market valuation over the study period (2016–2022). Findings on corporate citizenship are consistent with previous studies, and the role of the legal tradition emerges as a salient avenue for future investigation. Companies that highly leverage the philanthropic dimension of corporate citizenship and are primarily embedded in a common‐law tradition benefit more than those operating in a civil‐law system.

Ivan Illich의 교육개발협력 사상에 근거한 UN 글로벌 교육의제의 비판적 고찰

Objectives The purpose of this study was to critically analyze issues related to educational development cooperation in the UN global education agenda based on Illich's educational development cooperation ideas to explore the direction and implications of the UN global education agenda. Methods In order to examine critical issues related to the UN Global Education Agenda, 29 relevant prior studies selected by the RISS were analyzed and to organize philosophies and ideas related to Illich's educational development cooperation, seven books at a time when Illich's educational development cooperation activities were active were examined. Based on this analysis, the UN global education agenda was re-analyzed to derive alternative implications. Results The issues pointed out in the relevant prior studies are summarized as follows (1) Issues related to the background of the educational agenda, 2) Issues related to the establishment process of the educational agenda, 3) Issues related to the logic of the educational agenda itself, 4) Issues related to the application of the educational agenda. Illich's Ideas on educational development cooperation through analysis of his 7 books are briefly summarized into three areas about society and international development: (1) criticism(industrial society criticism, misuse of ‘improvement’ and ‘development’ concept, school education criticism) 2) goals(the directions related society, life, and education) 3) alternative(Conviviality). Conclusions The conclusion from this study is as follows : 1) The UN Global Education Agenda requires macro paradigm shift of development cooperation or the ODA system itself, rather than internal modification and micro supplementation. 2) It is necessary to change the overall form of education away from standardized school education, universal education, and compulsory education to education that respects the autonomous and voluntary learning of individuals and reflects the alternative paradigm of modern education. 3) It is necessary to change direction to ‘regional customized’ support to realize a vibrant autonomous symbiotic ‘Conviviality’ in indigenous life considering the social and cultural environment of each country, not the needs and growth from the perspective of capitalism and industrial society.

HYDROGEN POWER AND NOT ONLY: "PRO" AND "CONTRA"

The increase in global temperature caused by global climate warming is considered. Open data on Ukraine’s energy strategy until 2050, in particular on the production and use of natural gas and hydrogen, are provided. The results of the energy efficiency of the production of primary energy resources are presented, including main renewable energy sources. The relevance of the problem of production and use of hydrogen as a significant renewable source of reducing greenhouse emissions and increasing energy security is presented. The indicators and their critical indicators for the stability and stability of the terrestrial system of the socio-ecological state of the planet Earth are presented — the so-called planetary boundaries of sustainability, it is emphasized that not only climate change, but also the extinction of biodiversity is critical for life. In response to the latter, the main points of the Kunming-Montreal UN Global Framework Program until 2030 in the field of biodiversity are outlined, the main goal of which is to return the biosphere to recovery. Based on this year’s materials of the International Energy Agency, we will generally consider the global state of hydrogen issues from the point of view of the strategy for the development of production, distribution and final use of renewable hydrogen. Some environmental and energy characteristics of electrolytic hydrogen production are presented. Recommendations for the prospects of hydrogen use are given. Bibl. 34, Fig. 7, Tab. 2.

Evaluating the UN Global Compact Communication on Progress as a CSR Benchmarking Tool

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) extends beyond mere profit-seeking to encompass the ethical behavior of a company toward society, mitigating negative and generating positive impacts on the environment, consumers, employees, communities, and all stakeholders. The UN Global Compact (UNGC) is the world’s largest voluntary CSR initiative, and its Communication on Progress (CoP) requirement is a key reporting mechanism that allows participating companies to transparently showcase their progress and efforts regarding CSR. As more and more companies are reporting CSR practices, it is crucial to establish a global, standardized, trusted, accessible, and useful database that can be used by different stakeholders, including the companies themselves in the benchmarking process. This paper examines whether the UNGC CoP can be used as a sustainability benchmarking tool, based on well-established criteria, and compares it with other existing reporting frameworks. Results indicate that the UNGC CoP can be considered a benchmarking tool, being applicable to nearly all phases of the benchmarking process. The study also shows that the CoP stands out regarding other frameworks due to ample coverage of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), number of reporting companies, accessibility to all stakeholders, and consolidation of the information into one platform.

Bioethics-CSR Divide

Bioethics-CSR Divide

Corporate ESG Information Disclosures

the purpose of the study was to assess the compliance of modern ESG reporting with the expectations formulated in the UN Global Compact (UNGC) report “Who Cares Wins”, and its subject is corporate ESG information as an element of improving the functioning of financial markets and society as a whole. The work used such general scientific research methods as analysis, abstraction, generalization, induction, and analogy. The author shows that despite the quantitative growth of ESG reports and the development of guidelines for the disclosure of ESG information, there are still difficulties and challenges in measuring the effectiveness of E&S activities and corporate ESG sustainability, and the interest in establishing and defining the connection between ESG and financial indicators continues; the concept of materiality in ESG reporting is characterized by a different and uneven ranking of priorities of ESG activities, as well as the distinction between financially material and financially non-material sustainability issues; currently, increasing the disclosure of corporate ESG information does not improve public confidence in sustainability efforts and results. In the course of the work, a review of publications on the measurement and disclosure of corporate ESG indicators was carried out. the conclusions drawn indicate that modern ESG reporting has partially overcome the shortcomings formulated in the UN Global Compact “Who Cares Wins”. Progress has been made in standardizing, measuring, disclosing, and publishing ESG information, but it is still considered to lack consistency and reliability. Moreover, it does not make a convincing case for its impact on company value. the results of the study — an analysis of the concept of strengthening the sustainability of financial markets and the role of ESG reporting — can be useful in theoretical research in the field of non-financial reporting.

NGOs and Global Business Regulation of Transnational Alcohol and Ultra-Processed Food Industries

Abstract The intensification of efforts by state and nonstate actors to address issues affecting global health has produced a patchwork of transnational regulatory governance. Within this field, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are expected to perform authoritative roles in holding business actors to account and enhance the democratic legitimacy of institutions via their participation in governance processes. While there exists a large body of conceptual and empirical research on global business regulation and private authority, we surprisingly know little about the governance functions of NGOs engaged in influencing the practices of corporations that produce health-harming commodities. This knowledge gap is especially pronounced in the issue area of noncommunicable diseases. This article begins to address this gap by mapping the networks of NGOs that engage in regulatory activities (rule-setting, monitoring, and enforcement) related to the (ultra)processed food and alcohol industries. We identify the networks of NGOs involved in global policy making across health, regulatory standards, and multistakeholder initiatives using nonstate actor submissions to consultations held by World Health Organization, UN Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), and the UN Global Compact. This paper examines NGO governance functions and their patterns of engagement and participation across institutional spheres. Overall, the article makes a twofold contribution to existing debates. First, we identify the governance functions through which NGOs attempt to hold corporations to account, contrasting their “watchdog” function with other governance functions. Second, we examine the representation of NGOs, highlighting asymmetries in participation of NGOs in the Global North and South.

Human Resource Management Practices and Decent Work in UN Global Compact: A Qualitative Analysis of Participants’ Reports

This study aims at describing and characterizing the Human Resources practices (HRPs), as reported by organizations within the framework of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). That endeavor was undertaken considering the concept of decent work (DW). Specifically, we intended to analyze and verify to what extent those practices translate and incorporate the concept of DW to build a typology of commitment levels by organizations regarding the values behind UNGC. We conducted a documentary analysis on 40 annual reports of Portuguese organizations’ participants of the UNGC. A qualitative content analysis using NVivo and a descriptive and cluster analysis based on coding similarity were performed. One output of this research is the design of a maturity typology of adhesion to the UNCG. Four levels were identified, reflecting expressed concerns with DW concepts and the UNGC Ten Principles and its integration into HRP. This research reflects the concerns of Human Resources Management (HRM) with the wellbeing, development, and conditions of employees and may support the design of future research and interventions, leading to more responsible and ethical HRM practices.

Uniting hearts and lands: advancing conservation and restoration across the Yellowstone to Yukon region

In view of the escalating anthropogenic impacts of climate change, habitat loss, and fragmentation, a broad consensus within the science community has identified large landscape conservation as critical to the future of nature and humanity. Recent commitments made at a global level offer an unprecedented opportunity for the conservation of biodiversity, particularly inasmuch as Canadian and US policies are aligned, ambitious, and clearly focused on ensuring that conservation work respects and supports the rights of Indigenous Peoples. These commitments align with and support the Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y) mission of connecting and protecting the 2,100-mile-long Yellowstone to Yukon region for people and nature to thrive, with the predominant approach of working with local communities and Indigenous Peoples to advance enduring conservation. Since the inception of the vision in 1993, significant progress has been made as indicated by the expansion of protected areas by more than 80 percent, the recovery of some species such as grizzly bears and wolves, and the ecological restoration of key lands across the region. While 25 percent of the Yellowstone to Yukon region is already managed or co-managed by Indigenous Peoples, today Indigenous Peoples are increasingly asserting their leadership and driving forward new restoration and conservation. New Indigenous-led conservation brings critical energy and visions that advance the Y2Y mission and arguably is a model for other parts of the world committed to achieving the 2030 UN Global Biodiversity Framework.

Building a sustainable peace and development model through data-driven Chinese peacekeeping actions based on UN Global Pulse

This paper aims to explore how to build a sustainable peace and development model for China’s peacekeeping efforts through the application of data-driven methods from UN Global Pulse. UN Global Pulse is a United Nations agency dedicated to using big data and artificial intelligence technologies to address global challenges. In this paper, we will introduce the working principles of UN Global Pulse and its application in the fields of peacekeeping and development. Then, we will discuss the current situation of China’s participation in peacekeeping operations and how data-driven methods can help China play a greater role in peacekeeping tasks. Finally, we will propose a sustainable peace and development model that combines data-driven methods with the advantages of China’s peacekeeping efforts to achieve long-term peace and development goals.

СУЧАСНІ ТЕНДЕНЦІЇ ВИЗНАЧЕННЯ ПРИНЦИПІВ ESG У КОРПОРАТИВНОМУ СТАЛОМУ РОЗВИТКУ

The adoption of environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles requires organisations to change their operations to meet sustainability standards. In many countries, environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting has recently moved from voluntary to mandatory, which makes this study relevant. European Union legislation, Directive 2022/2464, stipulates that large enterprises, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises, with the exception of microenterprises that are public interest entities, must include in their management report the information necessary to understand the impact of the enterprise on sustainability issues, as well as the information necessary to understand how sustainability issues affect the development, performance and position of the enterprise. These regulatory changes will help investors, civil society organisations, consumers and other stakeholders to assess the sustainability performance of companies in the context of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the European Green Deal. The article examines current trends in the definition, formation, and reporting of ESG principles in corporate governance. The regulatory framework and stages of implementation of ESG reporting are presented. The article describes 10 principles covering the aspects of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. It is emphasised that the ESG report, through the inclusion of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) factors, provides investors with information for making investment decisions. The general objectives of the report within the framework of the UN Global Compact, in accordance with the 10 principles are defined. The key recommendations to the report are summarised. The 3 key areas of ESG are researched and characterised: environmental sustainability, social sustainability and corporate governance. The bioeconomy is described as a new business model that is a paradigm and tool for achieving sustainable development goals that complies with ESG principles. Conclusions are drawn on the prospects for strengthening global cooperation on sustainable development.

Розвиток науково-методичних під ходів до ОРГАНІЗАЦІЇ ESG-АКТИВНОСТІ ПІДПРИЄМСТВ

The article explores new models of the organization of the economy, called the circular economy – a model of production and consumption aimed at overcoming global challenges, such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, waste and environmental pollution. The participants were identified and the forms of participation in the process of achieving the SDGs (sustainable development goals) were defined. It was substantiated that the use of the principles of the UN Global Compact in the practical activities of enterprises should ensure that they comply with their basic duties to people and the planet, and would also create the foundations for long-term success. The types of ESG activity of enterprises were systematized according to certain criteria, followed by their classification and definition of the basic objects to which the ESG activity of the enterprise is directed. The standpoints of classical economics were analyzed, by studying the scientific works of specialists in this field of science. Based on the results of this analysis, it was established that ESG activity is a cost that with a doubtful probability can be compensated in the form of additional income. That is, by default it is a loss-making activity. At least, such a perception of ESG-activity can be when studying the issue superficially. The analysis of academic literature and corporate practice made it possible to highlight the key motives for enterprises to implement ESG activities. A study of ESG activity of Ukrainian enterprises was conducted and it was established that this process in Ukraine is at the stage of formation and the situation in this area has significantly worsened due to the war. According to the results of the study of the theoretical foundations of ESG activity of enterprises, the author’s interpretation of the term «ESG activity» was proposed, which should be understood as all types of enterprise activities aimed at achieving the goals of sustainable development through appropriate management decisions, which include measures to improve the environmental condition, social relations and corporate responsibility.

ESG 경영에서의 디자인 활용 방향성 제시

Since the 2004 UN Global Compact, ESG management has become crucial, notably emphasized in the 2006 UN Principles for Responsible Investment. This study explores design's active role in ESG, focusing on the social aspect, especially employee welfare, through a comparative analysis of Patagonia, Logitech, and Apple. While environmental concerns dominate ESG, this research zeros in on the social sector. Patagonia integrates design into its corporate philosophy, positively impacting employee health. Logitech and Apple strategically use design in product development but have limitations in addressing internal employee needs. To enhance design's role in ESG, it's crucial to guide both product development and shape corporate culture positively. Acknowledging limitations due to limited corporate information, this paper aims for more in-depth research in the future.

Role of Big Data Analytics Play in the Fields of Medicine, Hospital and Healthcare Industry

Every day, big data is produced through the interactions of enormous amounts of individuals with medical devices, sensors, mobile phones, GPS devices, and computers to come down, genome analysis, along with scientific research. The individuals that could successfully use huge data have enormous possibilities. With all the growing significance of big data, many businesses are actually focusing on locating concealed info within big data. The existing technical developments to gather and evaluate substantial data sets will likely lead to groundbreaking variations in society and business, based on online professionals. A lot of labor was carried out about the resources, up for this day. Big data: software program, analytics, platforms, and more. Big data analytics is a topic that many businesses are keen on. Advancement, disaster management, education, natural resources and health care management for the gain of modern society. Its thus attempted to record and compile the actual utilize instances, advantages, benefits, impact and impact. Big data creates its issues later on. Within cooperation with the public, UN Global Pulse has worked on many investigation tasks. To demonstrate the helpful impact of analytics via checking premature signs of unemployment hikes to monitoring variations within product charges just before they’re captured within recognized data. Big data has already been displaying the possibility for personalized genetic mapping and e-commerce, based on believed executives. “The unprecedented development within processing strength and CD solutions, for example Hadoop, is enabling businesses to generate choices that couldn’t be produced before,” she stated. Its impact could be experienced around product sales, business planning, research, production, as well as anywhere else. They’re known as the latest manufacturing revolution. Researchers used big data to decode man DNA of mins, locate remedies for cancers, anticipate man behavior, optimize advertising initiatives, stop health conditions, as well as foil terrorist strikes. Issues regarding secrecy elevated by professionals can’t be dismissed. Many organizations use personal info. This discussion will examine how big Data Analytics will influence society and health care.

Living in harmony with nature is achievable only as a non-ideal vision

The UN Global Biodiversity Framework aligns with previous UN visions in equating human wellbeing with living in harmony with nature, setting goals for achieving it by 2050. The UN has yet to articulate fully what we can look forward to when we aspire to this vision. Living in harmony invokes an ideal state of being, yet nature embodies a perpetual struggle for existence. Here we argue that harmony with nature can engage only as a non-ideal vision, insofar as wellbeing requires an endlessly evolving relationship with nature. As an ideal model, the UN vision forces an unhelpful focus on current distance from the ideal state, which distracts from contemporary challenges. As a non-ideal progressive integration with nature’s processes and cycles, harmony serves as attribute not state. The non-ideal vision underpins engagement with restoring sustainable levels of natural capital, it accommodates a plurality of approaches to conserving nature, and it aligns with Earth-centred governance that embeds economies in nature, and with the principle of enforceable rights of nature. To date, this dynamic relationship with nature is a constitutional right for citizens of only four countries: Ecuador, Bolivia, São Tomé and Príncipe, and the Philippines. For other countries, essential elements of the relationship of people with nature remain bound to political ideologies. The eventual success of the UN in enabling collective action sufficient for planetary wellbeing depends on it having an achievable vision for harmony with nature’s processes and cycles, capable of functioning as a constitutional right.

Freshwater conservation: Lost in limnology?

Abstract Although scientific research has identified the causes of undesirable ecological changes in fresh waters, translating the results of research into practical conservation and management, and raising awareness of the need for action, is often inadequate. This Viewpoint considers the present coverage of conservation‐related freshwater research, the application of science to conservation, the extent of collaboration between international organizations, and the level of awareness of freshwater ecosystems and the need for their conservation. Far greater attention has been given to conservation in marine than freshwater areas. This is illustrated by the respective number of publications in the scientific literature, an imbalance in the UN Sustainable Development goals, and, until recently, the lack of an explicit reference to freshwater ecosystems in the UN Global Biodiversity Framework. Four case studies are presented as examples of how freshwater conservation can be made more effective: involving local communities in applying nature‐based solutions; bringing scientists and stakeholders together to discuss how to improve freshwater management; collaborating at a global scale in freshwater protection and restoration; and demonstrating how scientists and government can work together to reconcile the competing needs of nature and human society. Producing and implementing effective conservation and management plans needs a recognition of the extensive diversity of freshwater habitats and species, as well as a systematic evaluation of how scientific information can be translated into action at local, regional and global scales. Data on freshwater ecosystems need to be accessible, comprehensible, unambiguous and available to all those working on practical conservation projects. Many international organizations are already active in this field, but greater collaboration would make their work more effective. Raising awareness needs education and training, carefully targeted at a wide range of audiences, and communicated using the full range of media now available.

Organizational factors determining LGBT disclosure: an analysis of the Brazilian context

PurposeThis study investigated the impact of some determinant organizational factors on disseminating LGBT information in Brazilian companies in 2019.Design/methodology/approachThe study is exploratory and has a quantitative approach, which uses secondary data from the CSR Hub database 2019 of publicly traded Brazilian companies. For constructing the LGBT disclosure metric, the authors took the study by Parizek and Evangelinos (2021). The independent variables were the social responsibility, financial and governance characteristics of the companies. Analysis was conducted by combining a symmetric method (multiple linear regression analysis with econometric models) and an asymmetric approach (fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis).FindingsThe research findings showed that companies with higher performance in CSR have greater LGBT disclosure. Findings also show that companies with higher financial performance tend to have greater LGBT disclosure. This is because larger companies have more resources to invest in CSR practices and sexual diversity policies, as well as a greater number of stakeholders pressing them to act more responsibly. Additional results showed that companies that signed the UN Global Compact and publish an environmental report annually have greater engagement in LGBT disclosure.Originality/valueThis study's novelty emerges from applying the fsQCA technique, which helps to a broaden understanding of the conditions necessary to achieve greater LGBT disclosure. Furthermore, this study initiates the debate on LGBT disclosure in emerging economies, a recent topic and still little explored empirically.

Sustainable Service

This special issue delves deeply into the pivotal challenge of sustainability, using the lens of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Global Compact as its foundation. Emphasizing the multifaceted nature of sustainability, the discussion spotlights its interdisciplinary and multistakeholder character, making a strong case that services research should be the epicenter of sustainability research and action. We introduce a new definition of “service sustainability” that brings together diverse fields such as policymaking, engineering, resource management, and education. This definition is not just an academic construct; it carries important managerial and policy implications. Organizations, both in the corporate and governmental sectors, are urged to adapt services that cater to present-day demands with a foresight that ensures the flourishing of future generations. At its heart, this updated approach emphasizes improving services while being aware of the social, environmental, and economic aspects of our connected world.