The UN Global Compact at COP30: Ousting the ghost of organisational green and social washing

Laura Marsiliani, Professor of Economics and Associate Dean for Ethics, Responsibility and Sustainability, Durham University Business School and member of the Durham University Observer Delegation at COP30.

COP30 was hailed as the Action COP, and this was indeed reflected in the Brazilian presidency focus on Global Mutirão (that is mobilizing collective action on climate) Mutirão COP30 and the Global Ethical  Stocktake (GES) Global Ethical Stocktake: an ethical and urgent call. The Mutirão initiative engages with the general public and communities in addition to governments and NGOs. The ethical motivation for the Mutirão is underpinned by the principles of the Global Ethical Stocktake through which ideas on mobilisation from lived experiences are collected. Those efforts came to fruition at the last minute on 22 November 2025, when the Just Transition Mechanism was agreed upon at COP30.  

That the business community should unequivocally embrace ethical frameworks was one of the recurrent themes for discussion at COP30, especially at this time of regulatory and geopolitical confusion. I am vigorously discussing ethical issues in organisations with my MBA students to identify areas for improvements that do not arouse suspicion of green and social washing. I was therefore pleased to see that the UN Global Compass, UN Global Compact, the world largest global sustainability initiative, celebrated its 25^th anniversary with a dedicate pavilion at COP30.

The UN Global Compact is a flagship support and accountability initiative for companies both in the public and private sectors, including higher education, to accelerate and scale their global collective impact. According to their website "It helps companies to commit to, assess, define, implement, measure and communicate their sustainability strategy. This is not only to fulfil regulatory obligations but ultimately to make a difference across four core areas: human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption."

The UN Global Compass principles are underpinned by international agreements such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, thus ensuring that standards to adhere to are benchmarked against the most relevant international legislation and regulation.

The business case for joining the UN Global Compass is compelling, as they offer an array of benefits to members including network access with UN Global Compact participants (more than 20,000 business and 3,800 non-business participants across over 160 countries), partnerships with the UN and a range of stakeholders to share best practices, capacity building tools, resources, training and local network support.

Even if the ethical argument is not resonating, one cannot avoid appreciating that the sustainability market is booming. It is valued at USD 24.40 billion in 2025 and forecast to expand to USD 41.64 billion by 2030, with a 19.5% CAGR. When green tech is included, the forecast is an expansion to USD 105.26 by 2032. Indeed, the most reluctant firms to embrace the ethical and sustainability agenda are keenly observing the market’s dynamics, as they do not wish to be a late entry. At COP30, ways for investors to reach climate vulnerable areas and communities beyond established markets were profusely discussed with voluntary markets and concessional finance being promising mobilising mechanisms.  

And what about the universities’ case for embracing the UN Global Compact partnership? Our imperative of demonstrating societal impact beyond providing education and research is perfectly aligned with the scope of the Global Compact. In addition, links with business and industry are paramount for impact and securing funding from research granting agencies. Many universities have already joined, and several are planning to do.

At Durham University, the core elements of the Global Compact are already implemented into our policies and practices, embedded through our human resources and EDI policies, our environmental sustainability policy and our due diligence and procurement procedures.

Durham University Business School is a long-term member of the UN Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) network Principles for Responsible Management Education | UNPRME and leads the North-East of England Chapter. The UN PRME was launched in 2007 during the UN Global Compact Leaders’ Summit in Geneva and is currently the largest organised relationship between the United Nations and business schools worldwide.

At Durham University Business School, we are committed to the UN PRME Principles by embedding Ethics, Responsibility and Sustainability (ERS) into our programmes. This means encouraging everyone to unpack and analyse corporate responsibility and sustainability issues, and question the status quo with theories, concepts, frameworks, and approaches aimed at redirecting business and management towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

We are also very proud that our students have been recipients of sustainability and ethical awards for several consecutive years in the annual UN PRME Essay Writing Competition and the Carroll Round, an international conference for UG students held at Georgetown University. Our innovative Open Course on Sustainability, Ethics and Responsibility is offered to all new Durham University Business School students every year.

While at COP30 we also celebrated the news that Durham University has been ranked 24^th out of more than 2,000 institutions worldwide for Sustainability in the 2026 QS World University Rankings (confirming its place in the top 25 institutions for the last three consecutive years). The university flagship Greenspace Movement harnesses the enthusiasm and commitment of students, staff and communities towards impactful sustainability projects. Durham University was a ‘Sustainability Institution of the Year’ finalist in the 2024 Green Gown Awards for ‘turning sustainability ambition into action’. There is more to come; keep watching this space!