Norway
Mr Chairman,
Yesterday the Norwegian delegation reported on the outcome of the conference ?Partnerships
for Sustainable Development: the Oslo conference on good governance, and social and
environmental responsibility? and presented some of the key elements in the Oslo Agenda for
Change.
Chair; let me expand on some of the messages included in the Oslo Agenda for Change:
In Norway?s view, CSD-15 should recommend that countries adopt international corporate
social responsibility norms as expressed in multilateral initiatives, such as the principles of
the UN Global Compact, and encourage regional adaptation of other types of
intergovernmental initiatives, such as the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.
The industrialised countries should provide technical, administrative and financial assistance
for the establishment of such initiatives. Guidelines and principles for CSR should be
integrated into national development plans, economic growth and industrial development. All
countries should encourage the business sector to take greater responsibility for its economic,
social and environmental impacts and to accept monitoring of their efforts and performance.
The Global Reporting Initiative will become an important tool for more sustainable operation,
purchasing and investment as it is further developed.
We need to advance corporate responsibility by respecting human rights and decent work
standards. The reference in the Chairman? text on the International Labour Organization?s
core labour standards should be strengthened. Governments should ratify the ILO core
conventions and implement them. When government implementation fails, companies are
encouraged to establish and implement corporate standards in line with the ILO core
conventions.
CSR should be advanced through improving transparency and accountability. Hence good
governance is crucial. Companies should ensure that international recognized standards on
human rights, labour rights, corruption, and environment are implemented in the company and
that implementation of such standards is demanded for suppliers.
And finally Chair, corporate responsibility needs to be advanced by environmentally
and climate-change friendly practices. There is a need for a shift towards low carbon
technologies, focusing on energy efficiency and renewable energy. This should not deprive
developing countries of their prospects of economic growth. Business needs predictability to
make the necessary investments to mitigate climate change. Technological leapfrogging and
innovation should be stimulated and environmentally harmful and distorting subsidies should
be eliminated globally.
Thank you.
Yesterday the Norwegian delegation reported on the outcome of the conference ?Partnerships
for Sustainable Development: the Oslo conference on good governance, and social and
environmental responsibility? and presented some of the key elements in the Oslo Agenda for
Change.
Chair; let me expand on some of the messages included in the Oslo Agenda for Change:
In Norway?s view, CSD-15 should recommend that countries adopt international corporate
social responsibility norms as expressed in multilateral initiatives, such as the principles of
the UN Global Compact, and encourage regional adaptation of other types of
intergovernmental initiatives, such as the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.
The industrialised countries should provide technical, administrative and financial assistance
for the establishment of such initiatives. Guidelines and principles for CSR should be
integrated into national development plans, economic growth and industrial development. All
countries should encourage the business sector to take greater responsibility for its economic,
social and environmental impacts and to accept monitoring of their efforts and performance.
The Global Reporting Initiative will become an important tool for more sustainable operation,
purchasing and investment as it is further developed.
We need to advance corporate responsibility by respecting human rights and decent work
standards. The reference in the Chairman? text on the International Labour Organization?s
core labour standards should be strengthened. Governments should ratify the ILO core
conventions and implement them. When government implementation fails, companies are
encouraged to establish and implement corporate standards in line with the ILO core
conventions.
CSR should be advanced through improving transparency and accountability. Hence good
governance is crucial. Companies should ensure that international recognized standards on
human rights, labour rights, corruption, and environment are implemented in the company and
that implementation of such standards is demanded for suppliers.
And finally Chair, corporate responsibility needs to be advanced by environmentally
and climate-change friendly practices. There is a need for a shift towards low carbon
technologies, focusing on energy efficiency and renewable energy. This should not deprive
developing countries of their prospects of economic growth. Business needs predictability to
make the necessary investments to mitigate climate change. Technological leapfrogging and
innovation should be stimulated and environmentally harmful and distorting subsidies should
be eliminated globally.
Thank you.
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