Initiatives and Events Archives - Page 4 of 6 - Business for Peace Foundation

H.E. Ms. Amina J Mohammed of United Nations to give address at 2018 Award Ceremony

Sunday, 13 May 2018 20:53

We are pleased to share that our 2018 Award Ceremony will now feature an address from the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, H.E. Ms. Amina J Mohammed.

In addition to her esteemed presence, the award ceremony will feature other special guests, a curated programme of live musical performances, an interactive installation prior to the ceremony, and the annual State of the Union address, given this year by Nobel Peace Laureate, Ms. Leymah Gbowee. Join us as we recognise this year’s Business for Peace Award Honourees at Oslo City Hall, Wednesday May 16.

Were you unable to join us in Oslo? Watch the recording of the Award Ceremony here.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon to attend this year’s Award Ceremony

Friday, 20 April 2018 12:42

Business for Peace is proud to announce that His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon will attend this year’s Oslo Business for Peace Award Ceremony on May 16 at Oslo City Hall. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon has previously attended Business for Peace events and we are honoured to welcome him back again this year.

The Award Ceremony is the highlight of the annual Business for Peace Summit, celebrating the Oslo Business for Peace Award Honourees. This year’s Oslo Business for Peace Award Honourees are: Lori Blaker, CEO of TTi Global, Edgar Montenegro, Founder and CEO of Corpocampo, and Martin Naughton, Founder of Glen Dimplex Group.

Leymah Gbowee, Peace Activist and winner of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, will give the annual State of the Union Address on the relationship between business and society. Shirin Ebadi, Human Rights Advocate and winner of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize, will join Ms Gbowee to hand out the prize. Both are members of the Oslo Business for Peace Award Committee that selects the Honourees for the annual Award.

The Award Ceremony will take place on May 16 at 17:00 in Oslo City Hall. The public is invited to attend but advance registration is required as space is limited.

Dr. Alessandro Demaio in conversation with Jamie Oliver

Wednesday, 11 April 2018 18:09

Join us!

Last month we announced that chef and business leader Jamie Oliver would be giving the annual Business for Peace lecture this May. Now, we’re pleased to share that Alessandro Demaio, the new CEO of EAT Foundation, will be joining him on stage.

It’s sure to be an engaging conversation about nutrition, trust, and how businesses can take the lead.

Business for Peace Lecture with Jamie Oliver & Dr. Alessandro Demaio
May 15, 14:00
Aula at the University of Oslo

Oslo Climate Leadership Declaration

Thursday, 05 April 2018 09:25

The Declaration aimed to accelerate climate action by the private sector, in support of the Paris Agreement. It called on businesses to set greenhouse gas reduction targets in line with climate science.

Watch the launch here

“Setting science-based targets is a great way for businesses to future-proof growth and boost their competitive advantage in the transition to a low-carbon economy. It also sends a powerful signal to global governments that business is aligning strategy with the Paris Agreement, opening the way for us all to move further, faster on the ambition of the Agreement,” says Paul Simpson, CEO of CDP, one of the partners of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

Signatories committed to engaging with the SBTi, and to promote the adaptation of this process in their value chain and sector. The Declaration raised awareness of the considerable effort already undertaken by many businesses, while also recruiting new SBTi participants.

The launch of the Declaration was the opening event of 2018’s Business for Peace Summit in Oslo. From 15-16 May, participants examined the theme Building Trust – Accelerating Climate Leadership. Globally recognised thought and business leaders shared their experiences and ideas for advancing climate action.

Christiana Figueres, considered one of the key architects of the Paris Agreement, delivered the Keynote address at the launch. In her role as Convener for Mission 2020, Figueres worked to rally the world to meeting the ‘peak emissions by 2020’ goal. “There is no doubt that the private sector is going to play a huge role … It is the private sector that has the technology, the capital, the know-how, the ingenuity to actually get us there,” Figueres says.

The Foundation partnered with We Mean Business in developing the Declaration. The text is the result of consultations with stakeholders, including the foundation’s nominating partners.

Text of the Oslo Climate Leadership Declaration

I agree that business and investors must take action now to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.

To prevent the worst effects of climate change, I understand we need to move to peak global emissions by 2020 and towards net zero emissions by 2050.

I am committed to setting and implementing science-based targets in my business, in alignment with the Paris Agreement, and to ensuring a just transition for communities and workers affected by the move to a low carbon world. I call on my peers within our sector and our value chain to do the same. I commit to working actively with other businesses, as well as city governments, investors and policy makers, to bring about the businessworthy changes needed, and to use my leadership voice to advocate the public policy required to make this a reality.

As a Signatory to this Declaration, I recognise that we can, we must, and we will tackle climate change in a sustainable manner.

2018 Summit: Building Trust- Accelerating Climate Leadership

Tuesday, 12 December 2017 11:24

Are the world’s institutions running up a trust deficit? Geopolitical tensions are rising and supranational alliances disintegrating. Popular unrest against elites is surging, the pace of change, globalisation and automation challenge employees across countries and industries, while climate change is testing the boundaries between politics and business.

Society’s trust in key institutions – with business sharing the fate of governments, NGOs and media – has declined markedly over the last years. CEOs have a low credibility among the broader population, and are short of a key currency. At the same time, technology is offering new capabilities to build but also distort trust, which may demand new ways for business leaders to relate to their stakeholders.

Trust is firmly embedded in the mission of the Business for Peace Foundation. With trust as the overarching theme for the 2018 Summit, we will look at how business leaders can address the trust deficit. To build trust in business, we believe that leaders need to step outside of their traditional roles and place sustainability and the opportunity to create value for society at the core of their strategy. We need businessworthy leaders.

Climate change is probably the most tangible global challenge requiring business to work diligently with society in search of solutions. We need to define and accelerate Climate Leadership in business. Can a renewed sense of trust enable us to speed up on climate leadership?

PROGRAM

MAY 15 – DAY 1

Launch of the Oslo Climate Leadership Declaration

08:00-10:00 (Breakfast from 07:15)

Grand Hotel

Keynote address by Christiana Figueres of Mission 2020 with Kristin Halvorsen, Director of CICERO, and Nigel Topping, CEO of We Mean Business.

Honouree Network Meeting (Honourees only)
11:30-13:30

Nobel Peace Centre
Former and new Business for Peace Honourees gather for a network meeting with lunch

Business for Peace Lecture (Open to the public)
14:00-15:00

University Aula, University of Oslo
Jamie Oliver, founder of Jamie’s Food Revolution, chef and business leader, will give the annual Business for Peace lecture at the University of Oslo

Welcome Reception (Invitation only)
17:30-19:00

Nobel Peace Centre
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs invites select guests to an intimate and informal gathering. Opening remarks by representative from the Ministry and a brief keynote dialogue with a few speakers

MAY 16 – DAY 2

Breakfast Seminar by BI (Open to the public)
08:00-10:00

BI Norwegian Business School
As part of the 2018 Summit, Business for Peace and the Norwegian Business School (BI) invites Summit guests and students for an interactive seminar with Professor David Sloan Wilson on The Competitive Advantage of Collaboration – Rebalancing the Darwinian Perspective

The Business for Peace Roundtable (Invitation only)
Building Trust: Accelerating Climate Leadership
11:00-15:00

Sentralen
CEOs and board chairs from leading companies, investors, civil society and politics are invited to listen, engage and discuss how society’s trust in key institutions – with business sharing the fate of governments, NGOs and media – has declined markedly over the last years. Can a renewed sense of trust enable us to speed up on climate leadership? Moderator: Mishal Husain, journalist and broadcaster

Oslo Business for Peace Award Ceremony (Open to the public)
17:00-18:30

Oslo City Hall
The breath-taking highlight of the Business for Peace Summit – the Award Ceremony held in the Oslo City Hall, the venue of the Nobel Peace Prize. This is the formal delivery and celebration of the Business for Peace Award to the 2018 Business for Peace Honourees: Lori Blaker, Edgar Montenegro, and Martin Naughton. Keynote on The State of the Union between Business and Society. Artistic performances

Award Dinner Reception (Invitation only)
18:30-20:30

Oslo City Hall
Held in the same venue as the Award Ceremony, a standing dinner reception to celebrate the 2018 Honourees.

More speakers and special guests will be announced soon. Stay tuned for details on how to register for the public Summit events.

The 2017 Summit Report is here!

Wednesday, 09 August 2017 13:08

Today the Foundation published the 2017 Summit report, presenting a summary of the discussions that took place at the 2017 Business for Peace Summit.

The Summit theme was “Brundtland +30: Breakthrough Ideas for Future-Proofing the Global Economy”, highlighting leadership, technology and finance as three essential tools. If you want to know more about what participants such as Gro Harlem Brundtland, Yngve Slyngstad and Marilyn Carlson Nelson consider as breakthrough ideas, read the full report here.

Missed 2017 Oslo Business for Peace Award Ceremony? Watch it here!

Thursday, 01 June 2017 14:47

The 2017 Oslo Business for Peace Award Ceremony took place at Oslo City Hall on May 16th. This year we welcomed Durreen Shahnaz, Harley Seyedin, Murad Al-Katib and Elon Musk to the Business for Peace Honourees family.

Raymond Johansen, Governing Mayor of Oslo, opened the Award Ceremony followed by welcome speech by Per L. Saxegaard, Founder and Board Chair of Business for Peace Foundation. A keynote speech “2017 State of the Union between Business and Society” was given by Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland who is a former Prime Minister of Norway and Chair of the Brundtland Commission (´Our Common Future´). As a part of the Award Ceremony the dialogue with Aurore Belfrage (Entrepreneur, startup advisor and part of EQT Ventures) and Vaibhav Lodha (Co-Founder of ftcash) was facilitated by the moderator, Henrik Syse (Philosopher and researcher at PRIO).

The arrangement was accompanied by the music performances curated by Artistic Director, Maren Selvaag. Artists that performed at the Award Ceremony included Aliya Cycon (oud, vocals), Maren Selvaag (piano), Hans Kjorstad (Violin), Rasmus Kjorstad (Harding Fiddle), Jonas Barsten (drums, electronics), Kristian B. Jacobsen (bass), Bygdøy School Choir Stella Vitae.

We would like to thank everyone who made this event happen and share a full footage of the Award Ceremony with you here.

Business leaders mobilize for sustainability

Thursday, 18 May 2017 13:55

40 executives from the Norwegian business sector, recently in China, have given promise to work to meet the UN’s sustainability goals in recent days.

Last year, the Oslo-based foundation, Business for Peace went on to ensure that business leaders across the world promised to lead their companies so that sustainability goals could be met.

During the roundtable conference at Business for Peace on May 16th, Prime Minister Erna Solberg emphasized that business is the “muscle” in the cooperation to achieve the UN’s sustainability goals.

Prime Minister Erna Solberg leads the UN’s Advocates group to promote sustainability goals. The targets will be redeemed by 2030.

Famous names

The Virgin boss Richard Branson and the top manager of Unilever Paul Polman declared their promise in 2016 and in the past year several hundred new leaders, both international and Norwegian, have followed up. Among them are Statoil Eldar Sætre, Egil Hogna in Sapa and Svein Tore Holsether in Yara.

The business leaders who have signed up to now represent companies that have a total turnover of over NOK 5700 billion, with more than 2 201 000 employees.

China Support

Following Erna Solberg’s visit to China, along with a large business delegation, last week, alongside with Head of Innovation Norway, Anita Krohn-Traaseth, took an initiative to gather support for the sustainability promise from the around 300 leaders who participated on the trip. So far, 40 leaders have given the promise.

Gro speak

In her speech at the opening of the Business for Peace Round Table Conference, Erna Solberg highlighted the Brundtland Commission’s report “Our Common Future”, which celebrates 30 years in 2017. The theme of this year’s conference is the Brundtland report. Gro Harlem Brundtland helds the speech “State of the Union between Business and Society” at Oslo Business for Peace Award Ceremony in Oslo City Hall. This year’s prize winners are Elon Musk, Durreen Shahnaz, Harley Seyedin and Murad Al-Katib. The award winners are selected by an independent committee of Nobel winners in both peace and economics.

How are Norwegian companies affected internationally by increasing geopolitical tensions ?

Friday, 28 April 2017 17:24

Thursday April 27^th, Business for Peace Foundation hosted a panel debate together with the Nobel Peace Center as a run-up to the 2017 Business for Peace Summit.

An increasing number of Norwegian business leaders are, together with the Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global, emphasising the importance of setting requirements for companies in which they choose to deal with or invest in, said moderator Elisabeth Skarsbø Moen when introducing the topic.

The panel, consisting of Kiran Aziz, Anniken Huitfeldt, Johan H. Andresen and Matts Johansen offered interesting perspectives on the effects of setting such requirements, in a world experiencing growing unrest.

n his capacity as chairman of the Council on Ethics for the Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global, Andresen emphasised that the fund’s impact is significant and increasingly so. This process is reinforced by international companies becoming more and more interested in following the council’s ethical guidelines in order not to be excluded from the fund’s portfolio.

Huitfeldt, Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence at the Norwegian Parliament, could confirm that the awareness of the ethical guidelines is increasing also among state leaders and government authorities across the globe.

When being asked whether companies can exert significant influence in an area like human rights, Kiran Aziz, Lecturer at the Norwegian Business School’s Department of Law and Governance, shared the following reflections:

– Human rights are a responsibility of the state and so other state authorities should be the ones following up. However, not all states succeed in their work on this, thus the presence, by for instance foreign companies, becomes an alternative way to exercise this influence, said Aziz.

State leaders no longer ask for aid, they ask for partnerships and business cooperation, something which will be an important part of the Norwegian development model moving forward.
-Anniken Huitfeldt, Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence

One of the greater challenges experienced by Norwegian companies during the last years, was the stalemate in Norway’s official relations with China in 2010, a situation which ended late last year.

CEO of Aker Biomarine, Matts Johansen, confirmed that the situation challenged the trade relations and also the ability for Norwegian companies to exercise influence.

– One of the most important contributions we can do is to be present, with our values and culture, said Johansen. During this period, there has been a full stop to these processes.

Moving back to the topic of governmental involvement, the panel was asked whether they believe it is typically a Norwegian thing to push ethical standards when doing trade.

– This is not a ‘Norwegian thing to do’, there is a large group of Western countries pulling in the same direction, thus the pressure on those countries with poor conditions comes from multiple actors, said Andresen.

Aziz added that the OECD guidelines is an international instrument to exert such influence, signed by 34 of the OECD member countries and 12 countries outside the organisation.

In a changing geopolitical environment, additional challenges follow, such as an antiglobalisation rhetoric and antidemocratic tendencies. The panellists were also asked whether this, in any way, puts greater demands on those trying to influence for improved standards?

– In these situations, we are absolutely dependent on the political and societal sphere pulling in the same direction. As with the example of China, the business relations came to a standstill as well, and the re-ignition was always at the mercy of Chinese authorities, said Johansen.

A returning topic of the discussion was the sustainability agenda and its position and potential in Norway. All four agreed that a change in mind-set is taking place.

– There is a strong trend among new generations to look for jobs that do not only generate income, but through which they can make a difference. We receive a high number of applications from this group, creating a large advantage for the company as it provides a work force with values which match that of the company. This, in turn, adds further to the company’s value creation, said Johansen.

Guest lecture by Adam Grant on May 15th

Wednesday, 26 April 2017 16:23

As a part of the 2017 Summit, the Business for Peace Foundation offers a truly exciting guest lecture by Adam Grant, professor at Wharton Business School. The lecture will be held at the University Aula at 14:00 on May 15^th, and is open to the public.

Drawing on his #1 New York Times bestselling book Originals, Adam Grant will discuss how we can all get better at recognizing and championing new ideas, how to overcome fear and doubt and how to build cultures that welcome diverse perspectives and honest feedback. Grant’s insights on unleashing originality have been praised by J.J. Abrams, Richard Branson, Malcolm Gladwell, and Sheryl Sandberg, and this talk brings them to life in ways that are both surprising and entertaining.

Click here to register for a free ticket.