WCA and the UN Global Compact
The World Coal Association (WCA) became a signatory to the UN Global Compact (UNGC) in May 2017.
The WCA supports the ten principles of the UN Global Compact with respect to human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. WCA is committed to supporting the UNGC in advancing these principles and to making them part of the strategy and culture of WCA.
IN SUMMARY:
- What is the UN Global Compact?
- The Ten Principles
- WCA and the UN Global Compact
- Resources
What is the UN Global Compact?
The UN Global Compact is a call to companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, and to take action in support of UN goals and issues embodied in the Sustainable Development Goals.
The UN Global Compact is a leadership platform for the development, implementation and disclosure of responsible corporate practices. Launched in 2000, it is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world, with more than 9,000 companies and 3,000 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, and more than 70 Local Networks.
The Ten Principles
Human Rights
- Principle 1: Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and
- Principle 2: make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.
Labour
- Principle 3: Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
- Principle 4: the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour;
- Principle 5: the effective abolition of child labour; and
- Principle 6: the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.
Environment
- Principle 7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;
- Principle 8: undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and
- Principle 9: encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.
Anti-Corruption
- Principle 10: Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.
The UNGC is a voluntary initiative that supports business and non-business organisations to operate in ways that meet responsibilities outlined in its Ten Universal Principles, which cover human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.
WCA and the UN Global Compact
WCA will report on activities that have supported the UNGC within two years of joining and every two years thereafter, adhering to the Global Compact ‘Communication on Engagement’ policy.
Coal has a vital role in building modern societies by providing access to baseload electricity and is a critical building block for development – metallurgical coal is an essential ingredient in steel and much of the world’s cement is produced using coal, both vital materials in building sustainable societies.
It is important that we integrate these sustainable development needs with the aims of environmental imperatives as set in the Paris Agreement. WCA believes that the pathway to zero emissions from coal starts with the deployment of high efficiency low emission coal technologies (HELE) and progresses to carbon capture use and storage (CCUS). Real solutions to climate change will only come through technological change and action on all low emission technologies, and it’s vital that this includes CCUS.
WCA holds workshops that highlight best practice within the industry and commissions research focused on the environmental and societal benefits of the wider deployment of HELE coal technologies. Additionally, the WCA has established a global Platform for Accelerating Coal Efficiency (PACE); the vision of PACE would be that for countries choosing to use coal, the most efficient power plant technology possible is deployed in order to ensure that globally we are on a pathway to zero emissions.
