25 Years of the UN Global Compact: A Legacy of Impact and a Call for Bold Action
By UN Global Compact NL
26.03.2025, 11:02
At a time of global uncertainty and mounting pressure on companies to act responsibly, the UN Global Compact marks a historic milestone: 25 years of commitment to sustainable and responsible business.
What began as a bold call to action by then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 26 July 2000 — to unite businesses around the world in support of human rights, labor standards, environmental protection, and anti-corruption — has grown into the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative. Today, more than 20,000 companies in over 160 countries are part of this global movement.
The urgency is greater than ever. As new regulations like the CSRD reshape the business landscape and geopolitical tensions challenge global cooperation, the UN Global Compact remains a vital compass for companies navigating toward a just and resilient economy.
This anniversary is not only a moment to reflect on the progress made — it’s a renewed call for action to take the next essential steps toward a more sustainable and inclusive future.
A transformational journey
Over the past 25 years, the UN Global Compact has redefined corporate responsibility. The Global Compact ensures sustainability is a cornerstone of business strategies, facilitates collaboration across sectors and influences global policy and practice.
In 2004, the UN Global Compact coined the concept of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), which is now a global framework for evaluating business impact. Two years later, the launch of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) drove the integration of ESG factors into global capital markets, influencing over $100 trillion in assets. In 2007, the CEO Water Mandate brought corporate leadership to the forefront of global water stewardship, while the Women’s Empowerment Principles (2010) set a new standard for gender equality in the workplace.
Soon after, in 2011, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) established the minimum expectation for corporate responsibility, introducing the concept of human rights due diligence as the means for businesses to identify, prevent, mitigate, and account for their adverse human rights impacts in their own operations and throughout their value chains.
The Science-Based Targets Initiative (2015) helped companies align their climate commitments with the latest scientific data, and the CFO Coalition for the SDGs (2020) mobilized financial leaders to direct capital toward sustainable development. More recently, in 2023, the Forward Faster initiative was launched to accelerate corporate action on the SDGs, reinforcing the urgent need for businesses to lead the charge in addressing global challenges.
Through it all, the UN Global Compact remains unwavering in its commitment to support the private sector in advancing a safer and more prosperous future for all.
The work continues
We don’t stop here. Today, we face the grim reality that only 17% of the SDGs are on track. We need stronger corporate action to address climate change, inequality and financial gaps.
Now, more than ever is the time for businesses to step up as leaders in sustainability.
By strengthening collaboration between businesses, governments and UN entities, the UN Global Compact is helping to unlock the transformative potential of public-private partnerships (PPPs), technology, AI, food systems and more. These partnerships are crucial for scaling innovation, mobilizing financing and driving systemic change for a more sustainable world.
Looking towards the future
What is the way forward in times of geopolitical tension, an uncertain trade climate, and shifting regulations? As we look ahead, we continue to find new ways to strengthen sustainable business — from food systems to digital connectivity. The Ten Principles remain our guiding compass.
Through events, programs, and initiatives, the UN Global Compact demonstrates that companies are more than economic actors — they are also drivers of human rights, environmental stewardship, and social progress.
Our 25th anniversary is a call for deeper collaboration. Only by working together — with businesses, governments, academia, and civil society — can we build a sustainable future for all.