On September 23, 2025, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the UN Global Compact Private Sector Forum (PSF) convened a high-level roundtable that brought together 50 global CEOs and government representatives. The combined market capitalization of the participating companies exceeds $2 trillion. This forum aimed to establish a practical approach for accelerating private investment in sustainable and inclusive growth, addressing the pressing financing gap for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Urgent Call for Action from Global Leaders
During the opening remarks, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the urgent need for a significant increase in funding and action. He highlighted that the current pace of progress on the 2030 Agenda is faltering, with a yearly shortfall of over $4 trillion in achieving the SDGs. Guterres called upon leaders to redirect capital into priority areas that can drive sustainable development.
Discussions at the forum centered on the UN Global Compact Sustainable Finance Roadmap, which serves as a framework to channel private capital into six critical sectors: food systems, energy, digital access, education, jobs, and climate and biodiversity. The emphasis was placed on low- and middle-income countries, where targeted investments can significantly enhance productivity and foster economic growth.
Investment Opportunities Amid Global Challenges
Participants acknowledged that the current economic climate presents unique challenges, including climate disruption and geopolitical tensions. Continued reliance on conventional business practices could lead to costs five times higher than investing in sustainable solutions, which are essential for limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Currently, climate-related damages amount to approximately $500 billion annually.
In contrast, embracing sustainable practices across sectors such as food, water, health, and climate could unlock an estimated $10 trillion in new opportunities and create nearly 400 million jobs by 2030. With over $200 trillion in private assets globally, the capital is available; what remains is the need for clear policies, credible project pipelines, and effective partnerships.
The PSF coincided with two significant milestones: the UN’s 80th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of the UN Global Compact, the largest corporate sustainability initiative worldwide. Despite existing challenges, a strong sentiment towards sustainability remains among CEOs, with 88% of them indicating that the business case for sustainable practices is stronger than it was five years ago.
In a collective statement, leading business organizations, including the International Chamber of Commerce and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, expressed their commitment to an inclusive multilateral system. They welcomed the Pact for the Future initiative, aimed at enhancing private sector engagement in sustainable development efforts.
The Secretary-General posed three critical questions to leaders: how to unlock capital where it can achieve the greatest scale and impact; how to stimulate infrastructure investment in priority regions; and how businesses can accelerate progress in digitalization, energy access, and job creation with greater credibility. Guterres stated, “We have more than enough capital globally to fund a just transition, but we need greater political will and bold, accountable leadership from governments and business.”
Moving forward, the forum identified several next steps, including advancing the Sustainable Finance Roadmap in collaboration with partners, building standardized investment-ready pipelines around the six transitions, and engaging regulators to facilitate institutional investment. These efforts are aimed at supporting the implementation of the Pact for the Future and aligning with upcoming milestones, such as COP30 and the World Social Summit.
The UN Global Compact remains committed to enhancing the collective impact of businesses worldwide, working towards the achievement of the SDGs through responsible practices and collaborative efforts among companies, governments, and civil society.
