Welcome to participants

In the region, sustainability has gained prominence on the public and private agenda, driven by a growing concern about environmental, social and economic challenges. However, progress towards true sustainable development varies considerably between countries, depending on factors such as the level of economic development, industrial structure and political will. Regulation on sustainability is evolving, albeit at an uneven pace.


The region still faces significant challenges, such as the need to strengthen governance, foster sustainable innovation and ensure a fair transition for vulnerable communities. Nonetheless, there is growing recognition that a strong and coherent regulatory framework is critical to achieving balanced and sustainable development in the long term.


This session will host distinguished leaders from various sectors to discuss the progress of sustainable development in the region, as well as the evolution of the regulatory landscape that is catalyzing significant changes, forcing companies to align their policies and practices to remain competitive in local and global markets. This is driving a fundamental transformation in the region's approach to sustainability and ESG policies. This high-level session will present an analysis of how different actors are acting and responding to the evolving regulatory landscape at national, regional and global levels.
 

In this session, distinguished leaders will address the importance of sustainable finance and delve into how such practices, including green bonds and ESG investing, can drive economic growth while fostering a healthier planet and society.

The session will explore questions such as how to understand and leverage global impact and financial trends to assess social value, what is the potential of blended finance to address systemic risk in social infrastructure, and how can financial institutions and other companies respond to changes in corporate behavior through concrete examples of initiatives and financial instruments from different actors in LAC.

 

Greater participation of women in business leadership positions improves results, innovation, talent management, and drives social and economic development.

In this session, business leaders will discuss scalable solutions to promote gender equality in senior management and make the workplace a more inclusive and equal place for women.

The energy transition in Latin America and the Caribbean is emerging as a fundamental component in the quest for sustainable and resilient development. Countries in the region are beginning to prioritize the diversification of their energy matrices and the reduction of their dependence on fossil fuels, in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. In this panel, experts from the sector will share their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in the transition towards more sustainable energy sources and explore how these transformations are shaping the regional and global energy landscape

The collective action of the United Nations Global Compact stands as a key tool to address global challenges and promote sustainability.

By bringing together businesses, governments and civil society, collective action fosters multi-sector collaboration that seeks to generate a significant and lasting impact on society, while promoting transparency and integrity in the actions undertaken by various key actors.

The sustainability of food systems in Latin America and the Caribbean has become a crucial challenge to ensure food security in the future. As the region faces increasing pressures due to climate change, environmental degradation and population growth, business strategies play an essential role in building resilient and sustainable food systems.

This session will examine the multiplicity of complexities of food systems within the region including the need to transform current production practices that have proven inadequate, as well as the role of the private sector.
Panelists will delve into best practices and challenges faced by their respective organizations, innovative steps and processes adopted to improve food production, storage and quality, and the importance of adopting and scaling up sustainable practices in food production. The discussion will further reiterate the need to focus on safeguarding and building food systems that address the effect of climate change.

The session will focus on the critical role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in driving economic growth and sustainable development across the region. SMEs make up a significant portion of business in the region and contribute to employment, innovation and entrepreneurship. However, they also face unique challenges in adopting sustainable practices due to limited resources and capacity.

This session will explore strategies to improve SME sustainability, including green technologies, circular economy principles and access to finance.
 

This session on AI and sustainability in the LAC region will examine the transformative potential of AI to address pressing environmental and social challenges. This session will explore the intersection of technology, specifically AI, and sustainability, and its potential to drive positive change in the region, when used ethically and responsibly.

Collaborative action between the public and private sectors is essential to ensure sustainable development at a global level. This cooperation allows pooling resources, knowledge and capabilities to address complex challenges such as climate change, inequality and environmental degradation.
The prominent leaders on this panel will share their perspectives on collaborative action between the public and private sectors to ensure sustainable development. Through their experiences, they will explore how strategic alliances can mobilize resources, implement effective policies and promote responsible practices that foster balanced and equitable development.