At the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit 2016 in New York, Kerry Adler, founder and CEO of SkyPower, was announced as one of ten 2016 Local SDG Pioneers. Mr. Adler was recognized for his efforts that align with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 on Climate Action.

Launched in 2016 as part of the UN Global Compact's Making Global Goals Local Business campaign, the Local SDG Pioneers programme seeks out individuals who are demonstrating how the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can enable business to unlock economic, social and environmental gains for the world. Over 600 nominations were received from 100 countries between February and April 2016.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit – officially came into force on 1 January 2016. Over the next fifteen years with these new goals that universally apply to all, countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.

"Each of the 2016 Local SDG Pioneers exemplifies how business can be a force for good in addressing the challenges we face as a global society," said Lise Kingo, UN Global Compact Executive Director. "Mr. Adler is a passionate advocate for climate change, particularly clean energy. He is leading developments towards a renewable power sector in Canada and international markets for sustainable energy solutions – making him a Pioneer on climate action."

The Pioneers are made up of entrepreneurs who are championing sustainability through their business models and changemakers who are mobilizing the business community broadly to take action in support of the SDGs. A Pioneers Selection Group, comprised of experts from the UN, academia, civil society and the private sector, ranked the nominees based on a set of criteria, resulting in the ten 2016 Global Compact Local SDG Pioneers. In the years to come, the Global Compact's Pioneers programme will become a vital part of the organization's priority to make global goals local business. 

"I am honoured to be part of the inaugural class of Local SDG Pioneers and humbled by the recognition from the UN Global Compact," said Mr. Adler. "Sustainable Developments Goals are core to SkyPower's global operations because I fundamentally believe that businesses have a duty to be responsible corporate citizens and leave an inhabitable world for future generations."
The UN Global Compact Leaders Summit 2016 is a two-day gathering of the private sector, UN, Government and civil society to jump-start action to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Together, over 800 leaders from around the world are gathered in New York to identify how to unleash the business activities, thinking and innovation required for a new era of sustainability. 

The UN Global Compact is the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative, calling on companies to align strategies and operations with universal principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, and take actions that advance societal goals. In Canada, over 80 companies and non-business organization have joined the initiative, and the Global Compact Network Canada has supported their efforts to advance sustainable business practices since 2013.

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