Rio+20 demonstrates that we’re “headed in the right direction”

As more than a week of activities at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) concluded yesterday, I think everyone who contributed thought leadership, put their and their organization’s support behind conference goals, and supported the sessions should be happy with where the conference ended: that is, happy that change is happening and that we are headed in the right direction, but not, in my opinion, content to think the work is done.

As you know from our messages over the past week, Rio+20 set out to help shape new policies to promote global prosperity, reduce poverty, and advance social equity and environmental protection.  Along those lines, those of us who participated in a related conference over the past several days—the Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum (CSF)—had three specific goals in mind:

• Set the stage for further growth for companies engaged in sustainable development
• Demonstrate that many solutions for sustainable development already exist
• Demonstrate concrete, tangible action on a massive scale

We concluded Monday night with most attendees having the impression that the CSF has largely achieved those goals and raised the bar on innovation and collaboration.  A document outlining priorities in several key areas— including water, finance, energy and climate, etc.—will be delivered to the Secretary General of the UN this week. 

Throughout the week, hundreds of commitments have been posted by companies on the United Nations website. Personally, I am impressed with what has been achieved, however, I think all the participants would agree that this is not enough. We need to take the message of "scaling" what has been discussed here to companies that intend to make sustainability a priority. We must share these ideas, so that others have confidence in their own ideas and approaches, and to share leading practices that can be adapted. At the end of the day, we believe that business must drive this change. Government can and should play a role and provide help and support, but, ultimately, business has to get it done.

I believe the contingent of Deloitte member firms at Rio+20 contributed quite effectively to the conferencey— from participating in side events to moderating panels and presenting positions that facilitated round table discussions. The Deloitte brand in this area is strong and well respected. This is a good base upon which to build as Deloitte member firms develop their business and support sustainable development for clients.


Dave Pearson
Director, Internal Sustainability
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited



About Deloitte

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and its member firms. Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting.

Copyright © 2012 Deloitte Development LLC, All rights reserved.

Ready Set Go! Rio+20 starts

And so it starts!  What an especially exciting time to be in Rio de Janeiro!  I am here for some of the numerous events being held over the next few days in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the original Rio summit on the environment held here in 1993.  In fact, this week's much-anticipated event has been given the catchy name of "Rio+20," because of this milestone year.  The more formal name is the United Nations Global Compact Corporate Sustainability Forum and it kicks off this evening with an opening ceremony and reception.

Georg Kell, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, the world's largest, voluntary corporate sustainability initiative, told me last night that there will be close to 5,000 participants here for the three days of meetings and networking.  With nearly 100 sessions--and given the high quality of the various presenters--it is going to be difficult to choose which ones to attend.  One, of course, will be an easy choice, because I have been asked to moderate a panel on "The Case for Corporate Sustainability Management and Reporting in Developing Markets."  I am pleased to say that I have five great co-panelists, including Ernst Ligteringen the Executive Director of the Global Reporting Initiative.

Right now, I'm headed out to the main conference site of an associated event, the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, which will kick off next Wednesday. Need to pick up my credentials so I can gain access to activities at that location next week.

Unfortunately, between the events and the networking, there won't be much time to enjoy the sights of Rio, although the Rio+20 event is at a hotel facing the ocean, so occasional glimpses of blue skies and water are nice.


Eric Hespenheide
Partner
Deloitte & Touche LLP


About Deloitte

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and its member firms. Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting.

Copyright © 2012 Deloitte Development LLC, All rights reserved.

Rio+20: Deloitte + Me, Contributing to the global sustainability dialogue

The world is quite literally coming together in Rio for a few days 20-22 June to build consensus on a more sustainable course for our planet.  The unifying event is the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, which has a much more catchy title:Rio+20.

Organized by the United Nations, Rio+20 will enable thousands of government participants as well as many from the private sector—including Deloitte—to play a critical role in creating some innovative business solutions with long-lasting social and environmental impact. A related event being held in Brazil’s second largest city in the days leading up to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development is the Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum, which will focus more on the business contribution to sustainable development.  The number “20” is a reference to the years since the1992 Earth Summit in Rio where many countries rallied for the first time around a blueprint for economic growth that would consider social equity and environmental issues. 

Needless to say, a lot has changed in 20 years, and I am excited to play a role in these significant public policy and business discussions.  My “day job” with Deloitte is manager in the AERS Advisory Business Risk practice, serving Deloitte U.S. member firm clients in the Life Sciences industry through the Governance, Regulatory and Risk Strategies (GRRS) and Financial Operations and Controls Transformation (FOCT) market offerings.  However, my exposure to the Rio+20 Conference is through a pro bono secondment to the UN Global Compact.  The Global Compact helps businesses align their strategies and operations with key principles around human rights, the environment, poverty, and anti-corruption.

Deloitte’s role in Rio+20 comes as a result of our tradition of providing pro bono assistance to our long-time client, the UN, and more specifically in this case because of our firm’s commitment to our sustainability member firm clients.  Deloitte’s sustainability practices are focused on helping companies rethink business fundamentals around thoughtful growth, resource efficiency, and environmental impact.  I consider myself fortunate to have this opportunity early in my career to clear my head of “business as usual” thinking and instead to envision the possibility of helping  create a new way of thinking about responsible business practices—about the future; maybe even an entirely new paradigm.

In my advisory work at Deloitte LLP, the U.S. member firm, my team constantly challenges clients to consider new and better ways to think about their approaches to people, processes, and technologies.  Companies that wait, we caution, may find themselves spending more time and money later on playing catch up.  The same can be said about getting a leg up on sustainability issues.  Rio+20 aims to build more global agreement among public and private institutions about a sustainable future path for development, growth, and cost savings.  I’m learning a lot about the rewards to be found in the game-changing opportunities presented by our consulting work in the areas of water stewardship, climate change, supply chain efficiency, emissions reduction, and energy access, to name just a few. 

I’m proud that Deloitte is a major player—an increasingly well-recognized brand—in this space.  If I can help contribute to the dialogue that sustainability is a driver—not a constraint—for innovative thinking and growth then my work on Rio+20 planning and logistics will have been very professionally fulfilling on many levels.


Ryan Morgan
Manager, Advisory Business Risk
Deloitte LLP


About Deloitte

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and its member firms. Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting.

Copyright © 2012 Deloitte Development LLC, All rights reserved.