UN Global Compact
UN Global Compact
Corporate Sustainability Initiative
Share profile
Partner of
About
The UN Global Compact aims to mobilise a global movement of sustainable companies and stakeholders.
To make this happen, the UN Global Compact supports companies to:
- Do business responsibly by aligning their strategies and operations with Ten Principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption; and
- Take strategic actions to advance broader societal goals, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with an emphasis on collaboration and innovation.
The UN Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative with 13,000 participants and other stakeholders across 170 countries.
Contact
Details
UNGC
Website www.unglobalcompact.org/
Headquarters 685 3rd Ave, New York, USA
Founded 2000
Organisation type United Nations Initiative
Follow us
Member solutions
Founding partners of
Global Opportunity Explorer
Sustainia
Sustainia
Accelerating Sustainable Transformations
Share profile
Partner of
About
At Sustainia we work with companies, cities and organisations alike to help them develop successful sustainability strategies, amplify their sustainability brand and communications efforts, and build mindset transforming digital tools.
As one of the world’s leading communicators of sustainable solutions, we have clients and collaborators from all corners of the world. From international organisations, such as the UN Global Compact, C40, and the Asian Development Bank, to cities, municipalities and companies in all sizes.
Based in Copenhagen, we are 15 professionals with combined and extensive experience in sustainability, climate change, project management, analysis, communication, user experience and graphic design – not forgetting a passion for building a sustainable world.
Check out our open positions
We keep all of our positions up to date on thehub.dk so keep checking for all opportunities to join the team.
Details
Sustainia
Website sustainiaworld.com
Headquarters Langelinie Allé 47
Founded 2009
Company type Private company
Company size 15 employees
Follow us
Related
Founding partners of
Global Opportunity Explorer
Testing and scaling new technology to create a smart city
Vejle Municipality tests and scales new technologies that can create cleaner, smarter and more climate-friendly urban spaces.
Vejle Municipality tests and scales new technologies that can create cleaner, smarter and more climate-friendly urban spaces.
As part of Rockefeller’s urban network, 100 Resilient Cities, Vejle Municipality uses new technology and data to become more aware of how to create greener and smarter urban areas and address challenges like pollution.
3,552
MWH POWER SAVING TO DATE WHEN INSTALLING 19,000 LED STREETLIGHTS
MWH POWER SAVING TO DATE WHEN INSTALLING 19,000 LED STREETLIGHTS
Under the Smart City headline, Vejle tests digital solutions in low-cost pilot projects before scaling up the best. For example, the relationship between traffic, air quality and CO2 levels was tested in 2016 using low-cost sensors in collaboration with the Technical University of Denmark, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and Climate-KIC. The pilot project demonstrated the potential for more data-driven decision-making when tackling pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
LED street lights not only result in lower power bills, but make people feel safer due to the brightness of the light.
Another of Vejle Municipality’s Smart City projects registers Wi-Fi signals in the city center to provide an overview people’s movements. The goal is to use the data to create better opportunities for citizens and tourists to use green transport options, such as buses, bikes and walking, thus designing a more climate-friendly city. Lastly, the municipality has installed LED lighting across many of its 25,000 road lighting fittings. This has so far resulted in a power saving of 3,552 MWh – the equivalent of the annual electricity consumption of 800 houses.
How the Global Goals are addressed
Affordable and Clean Energy
Globally, we need to be more energy efficient, and Vejle Municipality shows how this can be achieved with its LED street lights, using 70% less power than traditional street lighting.
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Technology and innovation are the cornerstones of smart city projects, which use digital solutions to address environmental and climate challenges such as pollution and congestion.
Partnerships for the Goals
The membership of 100 Resilient Cities and the Smart City strategy demonstrate Vejle Municipality’s focus on partnerships. This is further demonstrated by the Air Quality Measurement Project.
Vejle Municipality
Vejle Municipality is a municipality in the Region of Southern Denmark on the Jutland peninsula in southeast Denmark.
Global Goals addressed
Related
Smart renovations for energy efficiency
Part of a large international project, Aarhus Municipality is improving indoor climate through building renovations and smart technology for energy efficiency.
Part of a large international project, Aarhus Municipality is improving indoor climate through building renovations and smart technology for energy efficiency.
Aarhus Municipality, Sweden’s Växjö, Lithuania’s Kaunas, and a number of other collaborators are working together on an ambitious project that maps linkages between energy renovation, health and indoor climate. The project, READY, is a demonstration project showing how smart data and new technologies can help to optimize existing solutions as well as develop new ones. Smart grids, low temperature district heating, heat pumps, solar panels and many more have all been tested.
500
HOUSES AND 413 SOCIAL HOUSING UNITS HAVE BEEN ENERGY RENOVATED
HOUSES AND 413 SOCIAL HOUSING UNITS HAVE BEEN ENERGY RENOVATED
The main objective is to uncover possibilities for reducing pressure on the energy grid at peak times. The project is investigating how existing housing can be renovated for energy efficiency in a cost effective way, to meet future climate challenges and requirements for indoor climate and health.
READY has a wide range of public and private partners who help test smart grid technology and low-temperature district heating.
In Aarhus alone, 413 apartments across the Ringgården Housing Association – built in the 1980s – have been renovated using batteries, heat recovery and solar panels, which generate both power and heat from the sun. The measures are expected to reduce energy consumption by over 50% with the remaining energy coming from renewable sources. READY also investigates whether users have changed their energy behavior following renovations.
How the Global Goals are addressed
Affordable and Clean Energy
With their professional operations and many housing units, the Ringgården project demonstrates how social housing associations are suited to contributing to renewable energy and efficiency measures.
Sustainable Cities and Communities
The READY project ensures modern and resource-efficient housing for disadvantaged citizens in the social housing association Ringgården, located in Aarhus Municipality.
Sustainable Consumption and Production
READY also targets consumption habits of residents. Ringgården’s residents contribute to the project through sustainable management and efficient utilization of natural resources.
Aarhus Municipality
Aarhus Municipality is Denmark's second largest municipality with more than 335,000 inhabitants.
Global Goals addressed
Related
Optimisation and good behaviour reach energy goals
Rudersdal Municipality has reached its goal of reducing CO2 by focusing on changing the students' behavior and optimizing energy.
Rudersdal Municipality has reached its goal of reducing CO2 by focusing on changing the students' behavior and optimizing energy.
By combining energy-saving technologies with behavioral change, CO2 emissions have been cut by 20% over a five-year period from 2009 to 2013 in the municipality’s school buildings. The behavioral aspect of the project consisted partly of upskilling the technical service managers and partly of influencing school students. To maximize the impact on the users cross- sectoral cooperation was established between the people in charge of energy at the property management department and the school sector.
20%
CO2 REDUCTION ACHIEVED BY THE MUNICIPALITY'S SCHOOLS
CO2 REDUCTION ACHIEVED BY THE MUNICIPALITY'S SCHOOLS
The schools have focused on educating students about how their actions affect the climate. The pupils themselves have taken an active role, developing ideas and concepts to create a better understanding of energy-efficient behavior. In this way, the students have become “energy consultants”, capable of improving energy behavior in homes by providing good advice.
Ruderdal Municipality has reduced its CO2 emissions by combining two projects focusing on optimizing energy and behavioral change.
The municipality has now expanded the project to target the young, elderly and disabled. In addition, the municipality has chosen to continue the project and set a target of achieving a further 15% CO2 reduction by 2021. The project started as an ESCO project, a financing model whereby energy renovations are paid off by future energy savings, guaranteed by the supplier.
How the Global Goals are addressed
Sustainable Cities and Communities
These efforts streamline the use of resources and create an instantly more sustainable city, via technical upgrades and long-term behavioral changes.
Sustainable Consumption and Production
By educating and influencing students' behavior, the municipality helps promote sustainable consumption habits.
Partnerships for the Goals
The project has been carried out in collaboration between the con- tracting company NCC and the municipality. The good results are based on the involvement of citizens and users.
Rudersdal Municipality
Rudersdal Municipality is a part suburban, part rural municipality located on the northern outskirts of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Global Goals addressed
Related
Cooling down a factory to warm up the city
Bjerringbro’s local heating plant has entered into a collaboration with the company Grundfos to supply district heating using the factory’s surplus heat.
Bjerringbro’s local heating plant has entered into a collaboration with the company Grundfos to supply district heating using the factory’s surplus heat.
The project The Energy Central (Energicentralen) has enabled Bjerringbro’s heating plant to utilize surplus heat from Grundfos’ production plants for district heating. Groundwater is used to cool down the factory machines and store the surplus heat until it is ready to be distributed through the district heating system using a series of heat pumps.
3,000
TONNES OF CO2 REDUCED EACH YEAR AS A RESULT OF THE PROJECT
TONNES OF CO2 REDUCED EACH YEAR AS A RESULT OF THE PROJECT
The former cooling system consumed large amounts of energy and generated heat. Now, 15% of Bjerringbro’s district heating comes from the Energy Central project, equivalent to 13,500 MWh of heat, and an additional 10,500 MWh for cooling per year.
The heating plant utilizes the surplus heat from the production at Grundfos' factory.
The Energy Central is also designed so that visitors can easily learn about the plant through large windows and information screens displayed. All of these initiatives led to the collaborative project winning the Heat Pump City of the Year award in 2014. The project has been so successful that a project called Energy Central 2 is already in the pipeline.
How the Global Goals are addressed
Decent Work and Economic Growth
The project contributes to sustainable economic growth by reducing fossil fuels in district heating, while the company Grundfos reduces its consumption and cost of energy and cooling.
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
The establishment of the Energy Central projects means that it is no longer necessary to construct traditional refrigeration systems, responsible for excess heat and emissions.
Partnerships for the Goals
Grundfos and Bjerringbro heating plant have established a partnership connecting the company and local city to create an innovative and sustainable project for the benefit of all.
Viborg Municipality
Viborg Municipality is located in the western part of Denmark - in the middle of Jutland.
Global Goals addressed
Related
Learning and Technology Accelerate the Green Transition
Smart technology and learning are brought together in Høje-Taastrup to create a more sustainable municipality, both now and in the future.
Smart technology and learning are brought together in Høje-Taastrup to create a more sustainable municipality, both now and in the future.
At two schools in Høje-Taastrup Municipality, a cloud-based system is being developed to make buildings more energy-efficient, optimize the indoor climate and educate building users in sustainable practices. The tool’s interface, skoleklima.dk (SchoolClimate), is designed to be accessible to users of the school and municipality. At the same time, learning tools and processes are integrated into the system to increase pupils’ awareness on climate issues, along with making the building more energy efficient.
5
MUNICIPALITIES ARE INVOLVED IN THE SMART CITIES INITIATIVE
MUNICIPALITIES ARE INVOLVED IN THE SMART CITIES INITIATIVE
The development of the system is part of the Smart Cities Accelerator initiative and set to be extended to other public buildings. In the initiative, Høje- Taastrup cooperates with four municipalities, three energy suppliers, four interdisciplinary groups at universities and the innovation network Climate-KIC. The initiative aims to spread the use of smart systems to promote renewable energy. The systems can monitor buildings and control their ventilation and heating systems based on weather forecasts, energy prices, type of energy, the state of building stock, how many people are in the building, and indoor climate data. The project has been developed in collaboration between the school’s teachers, anthropologists from the University of Copenhagen and computer and civil engineers from the Technical University of Denmark.
Students learn about sustainable development when taught about sustainable behavior; meanwhile, public buildings become more energy-efficient.
Students learn about sustainable development when taught about sustainable behavior; meanwhile, public buildings become more energy-efficient.
How the Global Goals are addressed
Quality Education
The project’s integrated learning process helps to ensure that students acquire the knowledge and skills they need to support sustainable development in the future.
Affordable and Clean Energy
The project develops a tool that ensures more efficient energy consumption, which can optimize the use of sustainable energy forms.
Partnerships for the Goals
Cities, research institutions and companies collaborate to develop tools which ensure the smart integration of energy systems, utilization of data, behavioral insights and learning.
Høje-Taastrup
Høje-Taastrup Municipality is located in the capital region on the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark.
Global Goals addressed
Related
Northern Jutland supports green transition and jobs
Northern Jutland's eleven municipalities and Region have mapped the possibilities of becoming 100% self-sufficient with renewable energy by 2050.
Northern Jutland's eleven municipalities and Region have mapped the possibilities of becoming 100% self-sufficient with renewable energy by 2050.
In cooperation with the North Denmark Region, the eleven municipalities have analyzed what it takes to become self-sufficient with renewable energy by the year 2050. The municipalities and the region are cooperating to avoid suboptimization and poor decision-making throughout this transition. Thus, the foundations are laid for a strategic energy plan with common goals which, with the green transition, can create 50,000 full time jobs.
1.3
BILLION EUR PER YEAR WILL GO TO RENEWABLES OVER FOSSIL FUELS
BILLION EUR PER YEAR WILL GO TO RENEWABLES OVER FOSSIL FUELS
Sharing knowledge and experiences has been a major part of the project since the beginning. The work has been conducted through a number of established technical working groups focusing on wind turbines and district heating among other sources.
Wind energy will contribute to making the region self-sufficient through renewable energy by 2050.
Wind energy will contribute to making the region self-sufficient through renewable energy by 2050.
Each of the groups has prepared a guidebook targeting other municipal employees, which brings together knowledge, experience and advice on the different topics covered. These guidebooks can also be accessed by employees from municipalities outside the North Denmark Region.
How the Global Goals are addressed
Affordable and Clean Energy
The project has strengthened municipal cooperation toward energy sources and has come up with options to make Northern Jutland self-sufficient with renewable energy.
Decent Work and Economic Growth
50,000 full-time jobs will be created as a result of the 12 billion EUR investment required for Northern Jutland to become self-sufficient and run on renewable energy.
Sustainable Cities and Communities
The North Denmark Region faces the challenge of local out-migration. Job creation has therefore been an integral part of the green transition plan, supporting local development and energy optimization.
Municipality Collaboration
Collaboration between Brønderslev, Frederikshavn, Hjørring, Jammerbugt, Læsø, Mariagerfjord, Morsø, Rebild, Thisted, Vesthimmerland and Aalborg municipalities.
Global Goals addressed
Related
Flood Protection Facility Safeguards Inland City
A new climate adaptation facility has been designed to manage rainwater in Holstebro, the only inland area in Denmark at high risk of flooding.
A new climate adaptation facility has been designed to manage rainwater in Holstebro, the only inland area in Denmark at high risk of flooding.
Holstebro has been highlighted in the EU Floods Directive as the only inland city in Denmark to face significant flood challenges. These challenges will only be worsened by the changing climate. A major problem is that most of the area’s water drains off in the Storå stream running through Holstebro. This results in constantly elevated water levels which increase the risk of flooding in the city’s low-lying areas.
5
MILLION M3 OF WATER CAN BE WITHHELD BY HOLSTEBRO’S NEW FACILITY
MILLION M3 OF WATER CAN BE WITHHELD BY HOLSTEBRO’S NEW FACILITY
This risk will be mitigated with a new climate adaptation facility which will operate when the city is threatened by floods. Water will be withheld in the lake, Vandkraftsøen and a river valley outside the city. A dam with locks is being constructed in the river valley, while a new dam-and-lock facility is being built in front of an existing dam by the lake, both of which help retain water for a few days.
The lessons learned from the project are already being applied in the municipality’s other urban renewal projects.
The lessons learned from the project are already being applied in the municipality’s other urban renewal projects.
A working group has been set up by the municipality to settle a compensation agreement with the owners of the land used for storing water. The facility is expected to be completed in a few years and will climate-proof 740 properties at an estimated value of 580 million EUR.
How the Global Goals are addressed
Clean Water and Sanitation
Floodwater in urban areas poses health and hygiene problems, and can potentially contaminate both ground and surface water. The new facility will ensure that floodwater is contained in the river.
Sustainable Cities and Communities
The project will protect 740 houses in Holstebro Municipality against extreme weather conditions, while simultaneously reducing potential negative economic consequences.
Partnerships for the Goals
The local sewage treatment company and Herning Municipality are also part of Holstebro Municipality’s project team. They cooperate with the agricultural organizations representing landowners in the project area.
Holstebro Municipality
Holstebro Municipality is a municipality in Region Midtjylland on the Jutland peninsula in west Denmark.
Global Goals addressed
Related
Strategy combines climate adaptation with municipal goals
Odsherred’s climate change adaptation plan combines coastal protection and water management with local goals for urban development, tourism and trade.
Odsherred’s climate change adaptation plan combines coastal protection and water management with local goals for urban development, tourism and trade.
With many low-lying areas, the City of Nykøbing Sjælland is vulnerable to storm surges and cloudbursts. Therefore, Odsherred Municipality has made a climate adaptation plan for Nykøbing Sjælland, where elements such as urban development, improved nature and water quality will be combined with efforts to climate-proof the area. Among others, Nykøbing Sjælland will be protected against a 1-in-50-year flood in 2050. This safeguards around 55,000 m2 of ground floor area in private homes, 3,000 m2 of basement area and 29 companies. By preventing flood damages, 67 million EUR worth of damages could potentially be saved.
67
MILLION EUR CAN POTENTIALLY BE SAVED FROM AVOIDED DAMAGES
MILLION EUR CAN POTENTIALLY BE SAVED FROM AVOIDED DAMAGES
The stream, Grønnehave Bæk, is also part of the project included in the municipality’s overall climate adaptation plan, which drains rainwater away from a 120 hectare rural area outside Nykøbing Sjælland and a residential neighborhood in the city.
Nykøbing Sjælland's low-lying urban areas along the coast are at high risk of flooding during cloudbursts and storm surges.
Nykøbing Sjælland's low-lying urban areas along the coast are at high risk of flooding during cloudbursts and storm surges.
A new stream along the coast transports rainwater around the city, helping to prevent floods. Although the plan for Nykøbing Sjælland is still in an early phase, it clearly demonstrates the importance of incorporating all municipal strategies when planning climate adaptation initiatives. Additionally, the municipality recognizes that climate-proofing the city center benefits tourism and local companies as well.
How the Global Goals are addressed
Clean Water and Sanitation
The climate adaptation project will reduce pollution in Nykøbing Bay. This will improve the water quality of the Isefjord, which houses several Natura2000 sites (protected nature areas).
Sustainable Cities and Communities
In addition to preventing damages caused by cloud- bursts and storm surges, local drainage systems will be installed in all new urban areas to avoid overloading existing city sewers.
Partnerships for the Goals
The project is collaborative and involves many stakeholders, including Odsherred Municipality, Odsherred Forsyning, Orbicon / Lynghus Consult, anglers and local citizens.
Odsherred Municipality
Odsherred municipality is a municipality in Odsherred, Region Sjælland in Denmark.
Global Goals addressed
