ICC Declaration on the Next Century of Global Business
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Mirroring the declaration issued 100 years ago by ICC’s “Merchant of Peace” founders, the declaration – issued on behalf of 45 million companies worldwide – sets out guiding principles for ICC as a purpose driven, international organisation, working with renewed purpose to make business work for everyone, every day, everywhere.
Issued upon conclusion of the ICC Centenary Summit, held in Paris, the declaration endorses Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change findings on the urgent need to keep the global temperature increase below 1.5 degrees Celsius, and underscores the urgent need for policy frameworks that support alignment of business operations with this target.
Embracing ICC’s renewed purpose to enable business worldwide to secure peace, prosperity and opportunity for all, the declaration commits to forging solutions for the future in the face of other global challenges including digital disruptions and rising inequality.
“In the years ahead, these disruptions will become increasingly pronounced in the absence of concerted action by global leaders to mitigate negative outcomes and drive collective solutions,” the declaration states.
ICC will use the full extent of its resources and global network to tackle 21st century challenges by:
- Working to preserve and modernise the global trading system.
- Continuing to provide effective alternative dispute resolution methods to support global commerce.
- Mobilising business behind the 1.5°C target and working to achieve net-zero emissions in many countries by 2050.
- Bolstering trust in digital technologies and collaborate with governments to design new global governance models conducive to a thriving and unified digital ecosystem and promote a human-centric evolution of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence.
- Supporting private sector leaders to meet the calls of shareholders, governments and the public for a more inclusive and responsible capitalist model.
