Global compact gathering brings together business leaders

As part of the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Global Compact, the Chilean Network held the High-Level Meeting: Transformative Challenges for a Sustainable Future, an event that brought together business leaders, UN representatives in Chile, and strategic partners to discuss how to advance more effectively toward sustainable development.

“The mission of the Global Compact stems from an idea as simple as it is challenging: to drive sustainable development. The private sector, when strategically organized, can play a decisive role, as we saw during the pandemic and again today in the face of the climate crisis, where its leadership is key to accelerate progress. We still face major challenges such as demographic transition, the demands of digital connectivity, gender equity, and decentralization but it is precisely through collaboration that the true value of the Global Compact Network emerges. Together with the United Nations team, we work actively to build partnerships that go beyond statements and translate into tangible actions,” said María José Torres, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Chile, at the opening of the event.
For her part, Margarita Ducci, Executive Director of Global Compact Chile, reflected on the organization’s history, highlighting its contribution to various areas of corporate sustainability across the more than 160 countries where the network operates. She called for renewing with greater strength the commitment that has guided its work.

“Commemorating 25 years of the Global Compact also means renewing our call for companies to accelerate their progress toward sustainability. In Chile, we have built a solid network of more than 220 member companies that actively participate in international programs, in the 10 Leading Companies Groups for the SDGs, in our regional councils, and through tools such as the CONECTA platform, which showcases more than 470 corporate initiatives. All of this has been achieved under a collaborative approach because if there’s one thing we have learned along the way, it’s that no actor can achieve these goals alone. We need stronger public–private partnerships, more innovation, and greater coherence between words and action,” she said.

Challenges for promoting sustainability with impact
The panel “Challenges for promoting sustainability with impact” featured Francisco Villalón, Manager of Corporate Affairs and Sustainable Development at Andes Iron; Juan Pablo Schaeffer, Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Anglo American; Pilar Romaguera, Rector of the University of the Americas; and Andrés Eyzaguirre, Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Nestlé Chile.
The discussion focused on how to overcome barriers in projects under scrutiny through strategic partnerships, advances in circularity, and greater engagement of suppliers and allies. Panelists also discussed how to scale initiatives that deliver tangible impact across multinational contexts. From the academic perspective, the debate addressed the educational challenges and ethical dilemmas posed by artificial intelligence, particularly regarding equity and data protection, within the framework of SDG 8. Participants also examined strategies to reconcile regulatory demands with community expectations, integrate sustainability from the design stage to strengthen innovation, and define criteria for selecting strategic partners while identifying lessons transferable to other companies.
The event concluded with the official photo of the Business Commitment to Sustainable Development, symbolizing the member companies’ adherence to a shared vision of a more inclusive and environmentally respectful future.

Source: El Mercurio