Global Compact Sustainability Knowledge Hub to tackle environmental sustainability in industry

The quarterly Sustainability Knowledge Hub organised by the Global Compact Network Ceylon will address environmental sustainability in industry, which will be held on 11 May from 5 p.m. onwards at the Cat’s Eye Ballroom of the Ceylon Continental Hotel.

J.C.G. Weeramantry	Kapila Jayawardena	Rajitha Kariyawasan

It will include a panel discussion featuring Kapila Jayawardena (Group MD/CEO, LOLC Group) and Rajitha Kariyawasan (Managing Director, Haycarb Plc) who will share their experience, views and ideas on promoting, establishing and maintaining environmental sustainability in industry.

The two industry leaders will be joined in the panel discussion by the Founder/Trustee of the Weeramantry International Centre for Peace Education and Research and Former Vice President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Judge Christopher G. Weeramantry.  Judge Weeramantry will make the keynote address at the event on the topic of “The need for environmental trusteeship as pre-requisite to sustainability.”

Global challenges such as climate change, increasing resource scarcity and impending water crises coupled with the relative inability of the global inter-governmental mechanisms to effectively address these issues comprehensively has ensured environmental sustainability remains in the forefront of the global agenda.

Global studies that escalating extreme weather could reduce global gross domestic product (GDP) by up to 1 per cent, largely affecting developing countries. Today almost 25% of the world’s farm land is affected by serious environmental degradation.

These issues have not only significantly challenged the way industries and businesses are being run, but it has also created a greater debate on the responsibility of industry in managing their environmental footprint.

How businesses, countries and the world address the challenge of environmental sustainability will greatly determine how sustainable, economic progress would be.

Global Compact Sustainability Knowledge Hub events which aim to “Drive Economic Growth Sustainably” by equipping the Sri Lankan corporate sector with the necessary knowledge and skills required to practice corporate sustainability.

It is organised by Global Compact Network Ceylon, the local network of the world’s largest corporate citizenship initiative, the Global Compact. The event is open for senior management, sustainability champions, the corporate and public sector.

The Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with 10 universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.  Global Compact counts over 8700 corporate participants and stakeholders from over 130 countries.