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UK ministers are considering a proposal for an international forum on CSR that would try to galvanize governments to do more to promote corporate responsibility.
The suggestion has been made in a report to ministers published this month by the Chatham House think-tank, which the UK government commissioned to develop new policy options.
The report says that without a global forum where governments can discuss their role in promoting CSR, ‘any significant strengthening of the CSR agenda’ is unlikely.
Fanny Calder, an associate fellow of the Sustainable Development Programme at Chatham House and the report’s author, said the forum could be an annual gathering of ministers from different countries supported by civil servants who would then meet at regular intervals to ensure decisions were followed through. ‘Governments might not be keen on addressing transboundary legal procedures, but that will surely be an important issue to cover,’ she told EP. ‘The forum could also look at building a framework of regulation in developing countries.’
The forum could fulfil the government’s commitment – outlined in its draft international strategy on CSR – to act as a leader in promoting business responsibility on the world stage.
The CSR minister Nigel Griffiths is expected to draw heavily on the Chatham House report when finalizing the international strategy, according to the Department of Trade and Industry.
Calder said some governments would be unlikely to join, but that a ‘coalition of the willing’ would probably provide the initial impetus.
The idea for an international forum has emerged from lengthy stakeholder dialogue in London and New York carried out by Chatham House, which has also held an international workshop and interviewed more than 100 individuals from business, civil society and governments.
The government is planning to hold a CSR conference in London towards the end of this year as part of the UK’s presidency of the European Union.
The suggestion has been made in a report to ministers published this month by the Chatham House think-tank, which the UK government commissioned to develop new policy options.
The report says that without a global forum where governments can discuss their role in promoting CSR, ‘any significant strengthening of the CSR agenda’ is unlikely.
Fanny Calder, an associate fellow of the Sustainable Development Programme at Chatham House and the report’s author, said the forum could be an annual gathering of ministers from different countries supported by civil servants who would then meet at regular intervals to ensure decisions were followed through. ‘Governments might not be keen on addressing transboundary legal procedures, but that will surely be an important issue to cover,’ she told EP. ‘The forum could also look at building a framework of regulation in developing countries.’
The forum could fulfil the government’s commitment – outlined in its draft international strategy on CSR – to act as a leader in promoting business responsibility on the world stage.
The CSR minister Nigel Griffiths is expected to draw heavily on the Chatham House report when finalizing the international strategy, according to the Department of Trade and Industry.
Calder said some governments would be unlikely to join, but that a ‘coalition of the willing’ would probably provide the initial impetus.
The idea for an international forum has emerged from lengthy stakeholder dialogue in London and New York carried out by Chatham House, which has also held an international workshop and interviewed more than 100 individuals from business, civil society and governments.
The government is planning to hold a CSR conference in London towards the end of this year as part of the UK’s presidency of the European Union.
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