Environmental, Social. Governance (ESG) - Advancing the Global Alignment in Sustainability Reporting

This community gathering is a networking opportunity for ESG practitioners to meet senior leadership of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB). With the ISSB working to deliver a global baseline set of sustainability reporting standards, it is critical to ensure that the standards are straightforward and can be implemented throughout business supply chains and by subject matter specialists. What concrete steps can global organizations take to support the alignment of sustainability reporting standards on a global scale? 

On the agenda:

• Identify opportunities for companies to support the global alignment of sustainability reporting standards
• Discuss priorities to achieve stronger interoperability of standard setting and regulatory efforts internationally
• Explore steps needed to prepare key stakeholders and teams for reporting enhancement

Climate sessions

Accelerating Business Action on Climate, Air Quality and Health

Business leaders, special guests and select subject matter specialists convene to discuss how to accelerate the objectives of the Paris Agreement by establishing a stronger link between climate, air quality, and health. Air pollution is the number-one global environmental health risk, and many sources of air pollution are also drivers of climate change. What business action is needed to deliver a healthier and more sustainable future?

On the agenda:

• Spotlight how business action can contribute to the climate, air quality and health nexus
• Explore bold decisions and concrete examples of action to underpin intentions
• Discuss how businesses can effectively work with policymakers to have greater impact

Chief Sustainability Leaders: Driving the Future of Nature and Climate

As the need for tackling interconnected environmental challenges is becoming increasingly complex, how can Chief Sustainability Leaders (CSL) help support their organizations in shifting priorities from meeting regulatory demands to drive organizational transformation towards sustainability? What actions are needed to drive systemic change? Join this roundtable and connect with global and regional Chief Sustainability Leaders to identify common roadblocks and risks to deliver bold corporate action in driving the future of nature and climate. The meeting will facilitate system thinking and offer participants the opportunity to assess and validate the priorities associated with the CSL role and share input to determine a common action plan for the community for 2024.

On the agenda:

• Navigating nature and climate risk that inform business implications and opportunities
• Facilitate peer exchange and shared knowledge across industries and across regions
• Validate community priorities and the roadmap that will guide the CSL community’s approach in 2024

Earth Decides: The Elephants in the Room of the Nature and Climate Crisis

The Earth Decides community meets with nature and climate business, policy and philanthropy leaders, innovators and youth to unpack the “elephants in the room” holding us back from the quality, speed and scale of action needed to avoid cascading climate tipping points.

During an El Niño year, how do current and future leaders overcome innate trauma responses to the signals of failing Earth systems and mobilize stakeholders to respond appropriately?

On the agenda:

• Explore the barriers to faster, quality action at the scale needed today
• Learn from examples of positive tipping points that cascade desired change
• Offer real-time feedback on cartoons developed by artists during the session to visualize the “elephants in the room” of the nature and climate crisis

Earth Observation Opportunity: Data-Driven Decisions

The global community of Earth Observation (EO) data users and providers convene to unlock the full potential of EO data in shaping a more sustainable and resilient future for the planet.

In this first interactive session of the EO Dialogue Series, leaders participate in a roundtable discussion to align on system-level pathways between EO market value and climate impact and examine how high-value EO use cases for the commercial sector can drive sustainability goals.

On the agenda:

• Set the stage with brief remarks and group responses on the value and use of EO across industries and sectors
• Exchange perspectives with peers on how EO has proven effective in augmenting ESG monitoring and reporting to date, and the role it will play in the future
• Explore how organizations across different industries and sectors are capturing additional value when using EO to drive better environmental outcomes
• Discuss common challenges for adopting EO and share practical approaches to successfully deploy EO within an organization

Fostering Innovation for Sustainable Aviation

In support of the First Movers Coalition-UpLink Sustainable Aviation Challenge, this session explores how aviation leaders and investors can partner with tech innovators to fast-track the net-zero transition.

Participants will discuss collaboration strategies and contribute to propelling sustainable aviation

Meeting of the Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders

As the need for bold climate action resulting in tangible emission reductions is becoming increasingly important, how can the Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders show leadership in decarbonizing its Scope 3 upstream emissions and push for policy interventions with an outsized emissions impact? What interventions are needed to drive systemic change? Members of the Alliance will gather to forge ahead on their 2023 strategic priorities in the decarbonization of 1 GT of Scope 3 upstream emissions, and the accelerated decarbonization of Scope 2 emissions.

On the agenda:

• Introduce the key outcomes of the Alliance’s Sustainable Value Chain Initiative and launch of the Scope 3 CEO Challenge
• Provide an overview of Alliance Members engagement at COP28
• Explore some of the biggest challenges for the Alliance Members to decarbonize their Scope 2 emissions and discuss ways to overcome identified challenges

Chief Sustainability Leaders: Driving the Future of Nature and Climate

As the need for tackling interconnected environmental challenges is becoming increasingly complex, how can Chief Sustainability Leaders (CSL) help support their organizations in shifting priorities from meeting regulatory demands to drive organizational transformation towards sustainability? What actions are needed to drive systemic change? Join this roundtable and connect with global and regional Chief Sustainability Leaders to identify common roadblocks and risks to deliver bold corporate action in driving the future of nature and climate. The meeting will facilitate system thinking and offer participants the opportunity to assess and validate the priorities associated with the CSL role and share input to determine a common action plan for the community for 2024.

On the agenda:

• Navigating nature and climate risk that inform business implications and opportunities
• Facilitate peer exchange and shared knowledge across industries and across regions
• Validate community priorities and the roadmap that will guide the CSL community’s approach in 2024

Transboundary Net-Zero Demand through First Mover Commitments

Demand for near-zero products and services has been rising while supply is scarce. The enabling environment of policy, finance and infrastructure needs to step up and be part of a systemic change.  

What role does demand aggregation play in bringing more near-zero products and services to market? What does the decarbonization of plastics mean? How can software support the decarbonization of infrastructure, especially ports, airports, and trucking depots? The First Movers Coalition meets to discuss these matters.

Climate Governance - Meeting of the Community of Experts

To have a chance of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, urgent action is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 43% by 2030.

How can corporate boards step up their role and governance strategies on climate and move beyond a sole focus on risk mitigation and see transition as a business opportunity? This meeting convenes eminent experts from WEF’s Climate Governance Experts community to discuss how to mobilize corporate boards on climate action. 

On the agenda: 

• Take stock of developments since the launch of the 2019 CGI Principles for Effective Governance
• Explore key trends shaping the future of climate governance (e.g., climate litigation, new corporate structures, disclosure requirements)
• Develop best practices on how to raise awareness and promote board ownership of climate action

Gender Parity - Achieving 50:50 by 2030

There is a need to reignite efforts and recover lost gender parity progress by helping scale proven solutions and mobilizing more ambitious action and models of public-private cooperation. This session brings together public, private sector and civil society leaders from the Global Parity Consortium, Gender Parity Accelerators, and the Global Future Council on the Care Economy to speed up the time to parity through public-private action. 

On the agenda:

• Present the Forum’s new multistakeholder coalition and country and business commitment framework for redoubling gender parity efforts between now and 2030
• Share what policies and interventions have proven impactful in closing gender gaps in economic participation and leadership
• Mobilize additional action, collaborations, and resources for gender parity by 2030

Health and Healthcare sessions

Centering Health and Well-being in ESG 

The Global Health Equity Network convenes leaders to discuss the need—and opportunity—to help accelerate cross-industry support for embedding human health and well-being within stakeholder capitalism and other emerging ESG reporting standards. With a gap in life expectancy of more than 30 years between the world’s richest and poorest countries, and similar numbers across marginalized groups within many countries, what opportunities exist within the growing ESG movement to prioritize health equity action in industries and regions?

On the agenda:

• Present the business case for investing in health equity across industries
• Review public commitments to advancing health equity through the Zero Health Gaps Pledge
• Align on opportunities for multistakeholder action on health equity through existing ESG frameworks
  

Meeting of the Regional Vaccine Manufacturing Collaborative (RVMC)

The Regionalized Vaccine Manufacturing Collaborative convenes to present a roadmap and business models for accelerating and enabling the scaling and establishment of vaccine manufacturing to ensure equitable vaccine access.

With global focus on the COVID-19 pandemic waning yet risk for future outbreaks and pandemics on the continuous uprise, what are concrete strategies and opportunities to unlock resources and create sustainable, operating businesses that can produce vaccines during peace time and surge during outbreaks?

On the agenda:

• Present a framework for how to create regional distributed vaccine manufacturing networks
• Discuss investment opportunities for scaling manufacturing

Promoting Health Equity by Prioritizing Oral Health

Colgate-Palmolive, Henry Schein and the World Economic Forum will unveil the Global Health Equity Network's first-ever Oral Health Affinity Group, which aims to place oral health on the global health agenda and center oral health action within the Sustainable Development Goals.

The session will introduce a new white paper concept that makes the case for businesses, governments and communities to unlock serious economic benefits and create positive social impact by prioritizing preventative oral health strategies as part of their wider health agendas.

Racial Justice - Amplifying External Impact in the Journey Toward Racial and Ethnic Inclusion

Communications, marketing, and branding are powerful levers for helping accelerate racial and ethnic equity across a business. How can organizations leverage their brands to promote racial equity? This is the fourth session in the Partnering for Racial Justice in Business Initiative's Dialogue Series on Implementing Racial and Ethnic Equity in Business. 

On the agenda:

• Discuss best practices for applying racial and ethnic equity to branding, marketing, and communications
• Incorporate a racially equitable lens to external stakeholders such as suppliers
• Effectively collaborate with racially and ethnically marginalized communities and government leaders to help advance racial and ethnic equity

UpLink sessions

UpLink Welcome: Accelerating Impact for People and Planet

The UpLink Innovation Network will come together for UpLink Day at SDIM 2023. In an informal setting, stakeholders across the network will connect and explore ambitions for the forthcoming year.

On the agenda:

• Convene the innovation ecosystem for the UpLink Day
• Review the UpLink program for the week
• Explore aspirations and identify areas for mutual support

UpLink Workshop: Scaling Impact Ventures

This session will support the development of practical knowledge, essential skills, and insights which can help scale-up entrepreneurial ventures. Learn from industry subject matter specialists, explore innovative strategies, and acquire the tools necessary to scale ventures.

On the agenda:

• Learn from a subject matter specialist
• Gain invaluable knowledge to scale ventures
• Implement skills with relevant stakeholders

UpLink Community Lunch: Scaling an Entrepreneurial Revolution for People and Planet

This UpLink Innovation Network will convene its community of purpose-driven ventures, investors, collaborators, and subject matter specialists for a lunch to connect and share knowledge across the innovation ecosystem. It is an opportunity to gain insights from the entrepreneurs and funds who are helping to accelerate positive change for people and the planet.

On the agenda:

• Spotlight inspiring Top Innovators and announce the newly recognized winning cohorts
• Build meaningful connections across key network stakeholders
• Energize and grow the UpLink innovation ecosystem

UpLink Innovation Nexus

This session will convene members to identify and address chokepoints for investment in impact ventures, and how to leverage opportunities within the wider network. During turbulent times across the venture funding and start-up landscape, how can we globally together to finance an entrepreneurial revolution for people and planet?

On the agenda:

• Explore the funding landscape for purpose-driven start-ups
• Identify leverage points within the UpLink Innovation Network to help accelerate positive change
• Build connections between UpLink’s Top innovators, investors, subject matter specialists, and collaborators

UpLink Closing: Leveraging a Purpose-Driven Network to Scale Innovation for Impact

The UpLink Innovation Network will close UpLink Day at the SDIM with a session to share ideas, plans and next steps. How can we globally build upon the ideas explored, connections that have been made throughout the day, and help support future collaborations?

On the agenda:

• Bring together the UpLink innovation ecosystem to help share ideas and feedback for UpLink's activities
• Plan for future collaborations across the UpLink innovation ecosystem and with UpLink founding partners Salesforce and Deloitte
• Share takeaways and aspirations for the future

Social Entrepreneurship sessions

Charting the Course: Social Innovation’s Journey within the Private Sector

Demand for near-zero products and services has been rising while supply is scarce. The enabling environment of policy, finance and infrastructure needs to step up and be part of a systemic change.

What role does demand aggregation play in bringing more near-zero products and services to market? What does the decarbonization of plastics mean? How can software support the decarbonization of infrastructure, especially ports, airports and trucking depots? The First Movers Coalition meets to discuss these issues.

The Business of Impact: Private Sector Responses to UN Resolution on Social Economy

Leading members of the Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship highlight the private sector opportunities that the recent passing of the UN Resolution on the Social Economy presents.

With 7% of global GDP driven by the social economy, the resolution will create new incentives and imperatives for companies to combine impact and business success through social innovation partnerships.

On the agenda:

• Highlight the role of the private sector in implementing the resolution
• Evaluate preconditions for corporate engagement to the public sector
• Set goals for 2024, at which point the UN will report progress on the resolution