New Partnership between Realdania and UN Global Compact to Engage Philanthropy in the Corporate Sustainability Movement
Flemming Borreskov Appointed Special Advisor on Foundations
Copenhagen/New York, 30 May 2013 /3BL Media/ – Realdania and the United Nations Global Compact today announced their collaboration to accelerate the transition to global sustainability through mutual projects and network facilitation in the areas of social investment, catalytic philanthropy and private sustainability financing.
As part of the new partnership the UN Global Compact announced the appointment of Flemming Borreskov to the honorary role of Special Advisor on Foundations. Mr. Borreskov will work with the Global Compact to develop close relationships and opportunities for collaboration with foundations and other stakeholders in the philanthropic sector. He will help to make the case for sustainable development and advocate on behalf of relevant Global Compact platforms, in particular the Principles for Social Investment.
Flemming Borreskov is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Realdania in Denmark. He is President to the International Federation for Housing and Planning and the Danish Architecture Centre (DAC) and holds a number of Danish board positions (Chairman of the Board at Real-dania Byg, Realdania By and Carlsberg Byen Group.) Mr. Borreskov holds various international positions of trust including as Governing Council Member of the European Foundation Centre and as Founding Partner Board Member of Sustainia. UN Global Compact is partner to the Sustainia initiative launched at Rio+20 last year.
“Philanthropy can and should be a fundamental, proactive player in finding solutions to our world’s most pressing problems. Philanthropy and the UN Global Compact share many of the same values and goals and I believe the partnership will lead to greater collaboration and engagement to advance the sustainability agenda and drive sustainable development and corporate responsibility more into the mainstream,” states Realdania CEO Flemming Borreskov.
The two organizations will leverage their networks and matchmaking competencies to help ensure that philanthropic investments not only contribute to a specific cause but also take into account a wide range of sustainability issues. By providing philanthropic expertise, networks and resources to companies, philanthropists will have the opportunity to drive change in the private sector and ensure that globalization advances in ways that benefit economies and societies everywhere.
More than 7,000 business participants from 140 countries have now committed to the Global Compact and to embed sustainability throughout their operations. Yet corporate responsibility has not yet reached critical mass, and greater efforts are required to support the pioneers in scaling up and advancing the sustainability agenda. The new partnership will pave the way for increased cooperation and understanding between the UN Global Compact, philanthropy and the corporate world.
About Realdania
Realdania is a philanthropic association supporting projects in the built environment, striving to create value through development and change, dialogue and knowledge, partnerships and networks and by taking initiative and being proactive. Realdania became a signatory of the UN Global Compact in 2011, is a member of the Governing Council of the European Foundation Centre and is an associated member of the American Council on Foundations. www.realdania.dk
About the United Nations Global Compact
Launched in 2000, the United Nations Global Compact is both a policy platform and a practical framework for companies that are committed to sustainability and responsible business practices. As a multi-stakeholder leadership initiative, it seeks to align business operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, and to catalyze actions in support of broader UN goals. With more than 7,000 corporate signatories in over 135 countries, it is the world’s largest voluntary corporate sustainability initiative. www.unglobalcompact.org
