Author Archives: Comms

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.

Photo: Jørgen Gomnæs / The Royal Court

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.

We’re pleased to announce that Leymah Gbowee, Nobel Peace Laureate and activist, will give the annual State of the Union keynote address on the relationship between business and society at our Award Ceremony on May 16.

Currently, Ms. Gbowee is the Executive Director of the Women Peace and Security Network Africa and a founding member and former Coordinator of the Women in Peacebuilding Program/West African Network for Peacebuilding. Commended for her efforts as a peace activist in Liberia, she led a women’s movement that was pivotal in ending the Second Liberian Civil War in 2003. Having won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011, Ms. Gbowee continues her inspiring work, including her efforts to speak on behalf of women and girls around the world.

Learn more about Ms. Gbowee’s story and her activism from this short documentary, produced by The New York Times.

The 2018 Award Ceremony is the highlight of the Business for Peace Summit. Join us as we hear from Ms. Gbowee and celebrate this year’s Honourees: Lori Blaker, CEO of TTi Global, Edgar Montenegro, Founder and CEO of Corpocampo, and Martin Naughton, Founder of Glen Dimplex Group.

The Award will be presented by Award Committee members Ms. Gbowee and Shirin Ebadi, Human Rights Advocate and winner of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize.

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

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.