At this event we were the guests of Gajus Scheltema, Ambassador to Hungary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Gajus Scheltema, the outgoing Dutch Ambassador, hosted the current participants of the Future Leaders Talent Program and the Alumni Club at his residence. The special venue represented an incredible environment in which to understand the sustainability challenges and solutions of the Netherlands.
More pictures can be found here.
Continuing the tradition, in 2017 BCSDH hosted its annual and most popular program, the BCSDH weekend. This year we visited Mád and its surroundings. The professional program was built around the Action 2020 focal areas: climate change and employment. In this context, we visited Nestlé’s chocolate factory in Diósgyőr. Jean Grunenwald, CEO of Nestlé, welcomed company leaders and gave a speech about the ‘Nestlé for Youth’ program.
The following day, as the guest of ALTEO Group we learned about the more-than-100-year old, still operational hydroelectric power plant in Gibárt, which is now considered a historical monument. Following this, participants visited another renewable energy producer: a more modern hydroelectric power plant at Felsődobsza which uses a specific device to ensure the safe passage of fish; namely, fish ladders.
“uSchool” is a unique educational program that fosters the entrepreneurial mindset of students between the ages of 17-18. The program gives them an opportunity to carry out their first enterprise – which they can turn into a profitable business – and thereby acquire invaluable soft skills and practical experience.
This year KPMG in Hungary is the main sponsor and professional partner of a joint initiative of “uSchool” and the British Chamber of Commerce in Hungary (BCCH).
Students take part in a 13-week-long education process and have weekly club meetings — led by professional mentors. Fifteen KPMG colleagues from various professional areas—e.g. marketing & communication, sustainability and corporate responsibility, telco/technology, senior and junior advisors —joined the program as mentors and support the talented youth in developing successful enterprises.
Today in Hungary, the population collects selectively only 5,5% of the total communal waste of 3,8 million tons. The Hungarian Mineral Water, Fruit Juice and Softdrink Association wants to change this tendency, mainly with addressing youngsters.
The central element of the educational online campaign is the www. szelektiven.hu microsite with a youthful design, which leads its visitors into the world of selective waste collection and PET-bottles through interactive games, creative videos and animated infographics. The aim of the Association is to raise attention to the importance of selective waste collection, to dismiss people’s misbelieves about PET, and to give factual information to consumers to help them make the right decision to protect our environment.
“From recycled PET we can make not only new PET-bottles, but many objects for everyday use, like rugs, sofas, T-shirts, dresses, blankets or even license plates. So through our campaign we would like to highlight, that if recycled, PET-bottles become useful base materials.” – said Dr. Géza Miklósvári, president of the Association. “The way youngsters act and approach matters forms and determines our future, so our online campaign targets mainly them. We would like to – as much as possible – educate them about the significance of selective waste collection in a playful and colorful way.”
More information can be found here.
The short video made for the campaign can be seen here.
ALTEO Group is enlarging its innovative renewable energy portfolio through its latest investment into waste disposal facilites in Debrecen, Hungary. ALTEO plans to build a HUF 300 million worth, 499 kilowatt capacity power plant.
The power plant will utilize and neutralize the landfill gas rich in methane produced through the decomposition of organic waste deposited in the Debrecen Regional Disposal Site. ALTEO has been successfully operating a similar small-capacity powerplant in Debrecen since 2010. Based on the experience gained so far, together with the future plans of the operator of the waste disposal facility, ALTEO has been commissioned to plan an expansion in the facility’s environmentally conscious infrastructure and power supply.
The new power plant has the necessary permits and the 5-year Mandatory Transmission System Permission issued by the Hungarian Energy Office to sell the generated electricity at subsidized prices. Production of the necessary equipment to the investment as well as the drilling is in process, the installation of the equipment is scheduled to start in May 2017.
Together with this latest investment, ALTEO has decided a total of HUF 1.1 billion renewable energy investment so far this year. Both investments prove ALTEO’s commitment towards the usage of renewables in its portfolio.
Flexibility and stability both count in the future labour market.
The issues and challenges of a transforming employment market were discussed at the BCSDH’s business breakfast and Action2020 Forum with Annamarie Muntz, the President of the WEC (World Employment Confederation) which was held on 26th April.
Annemarie Muntz – an acknowledged expert in the field – is Director of Randstad Holding Public Affairs. Her successful speech at the business breakfast of BCSDH (the Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary) – which represents a community of 80 member companies that contribute 30% of Hungary’s GDP -, was followed by workshops which were designed to promote real steps towards creating sustainable employment.
“We are all looking for security in work and income. At the same time, we need flexibility in terms of when, where and how we work. This means that the inclusive and competitive labour market workers and business want for our future should be agile and adaptable. By combining a variety of decent employment contracts with modern social security and accessible employability schemes we can do that. And provide sustainable prosperity for all.”– pointed out Annemarie Muntz.
The stability and competitivene
ss of an economy is tightly connected to the strength and quality of the employment situation.
Hungarian employment policy has the same target as Action2020 Hungary: to raise the employment rate to 75% by 2020.
“Although last year an upturn was recorded, the current employment situation in Hungary remains an urgent problem. Increasing numbers of enterprises are faced with the increasing difficulty of creating a workforce of appropriate quality. New solutions, models and at times radical changes are needed. The role of the business sector cannot be disputed, and increasing its positive impact is our common responsibility.” – stated Attila Chikán Jr., President of BCSDH, in the introduction.
“In 2017, the Action 2020 Forum is focusing on three hot topics for the labour market in Hungary: skills and competences, diversity, and motivating employees to work in Hungary. During the Forum we focus on identifying the most important internal and external barriers and on disseminating pre-existing ‘beyond-business-as-usual’ solutions, and inspiring new ones”– pointed out Sándor Baja, CEO of Randstad, and Leader of the BCSDH’s Action 2020 Employment Working Group.
“As an HR service company, we are facing the fact that employers are looking not only for professional knowledge, but also skills and competences such as good problem-solving skills, flexibility, creativity, and the ability to work in a team. The role of the business sector is unquestionable” – added Sándor Baja, moderator of the first group.
“Diversity could be a tool for managing the labour shortage. Companies have to be opened up to particular groups of workers and atypical forms of employment which are now actually not or only marginally found in their business practices. This is not only their social responsibility, but also their business interest” – said Zoltán Vadkerti, CEO of WorkLife HUB, as facilitator of the group for this topic.
“The number of employees who are working abroad, or planning to do so, is increasing. It is not the emigrants who create risks to the balance of the labor market, but their composition, and whether such employees are staying abroad and are permanently eliminated from the Hungarian labor market. If we additionally take demographic changes into account, an increase in the competition among employers for employees may be expected in the near future”– said Mirtill Megyeri, a Consultant of Colibri HR Solutions in her introductory speech as a moderator.
The main aim of the Action 2020 Hungary Forum is exactly this: to initiate a collaborative approach and joint efforts of the business sector that will make a real difference. Over 50 companies have already joined the program.
Presentation of Annemarie Muntz: FINAL – The future of work in an employee driven labor market – ANNEMARIE MUNTZ
You can find more pictures of the event here.
KPMG has launched its new social investment program aiming to improve quality education in the field of economy and financial literacy. As these skills are crucial for the success of future generations, KPMG provides financial support of HUF 9 million (approx. EUR 29,000) to develop new initiatives or improve existing projects targeting students at the age of 7-18 years. KPMG employees voluntarily take part in the evaluation process, and external educational, corporate and media experts are also involved.
ALTEO, a leader in smart energy management services in Hungary, held its Annual General Meeting on 24th April 2017. At the event, Attila Chikán Jr. (CEO) presented the Company’s business report for 2016. As Chikán stated, last year was a remarkably booming year in the Company’s history as evidenced by the fact that the Company’s sales grew by 33% to nearly HUF 14 billion, while its EBITDA rose by 62% to HUF 2.3 billion.
As a result of good governance, the ALTEO Group’s consolidated after-tax profit was close to HUF 823 million. Based on the results of 2016, the Company’s management proposed a dividend of HUF 130 per share, which was approved by the General Meeting. Accordingly, ALTEO will pay its shareholders a dividend of 8.3% point higher than last year’s HUF 120 / share.
Today, the G20 Finance Ministers are meeting in Washington DC during the IMF/World Bank meeting and we are urging them to keep the Paris Agreement, climate finance and the FSB TCFD top priorities on the G20 agenda.
Climate change will be a crucial part of their discussions.
The business voice must be clear and resounding. Companies must strongly urge all G20 actors to reaffirm their commitment to the Paris Agreement – starting with the finance ministers tomorrow, and continuing on to the G20 leaders meeting taking place from 7-8 July.
The business case remains clear. Addressing climate change is the biggest business opportunity for the foreseeable future, and the transition to the low-carbon economy is unstoppable.
Taking action on climate is a critical part of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). When we take action on climate, the impacts go far beyond just Goal 13 – their ripples positively impact goals related to health, communities, hunger, energy and cities, just to name a few.
And achieving the SDGs will drive innovation, growth and development that generates up to 380 million jobs worldwide while creating at least US$12 trillion in business value per year by 2030.
Here is the link to the public version of the open editorial: https://goo.gl/NHC9Gn.
Next week we will be sharing with you letters that CEOs can sign to send to the G20 Heads of States before the Sherpa meeting early May.
WBCSD share with you the CEO Guide to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Adopted by 193 countries in September 2015, the SDGs set out a framework of 17 Goals to tackle the world’s most pressing social, economic and environmental challenges in the lead-up to 2030.
The guide is designed to provide you with a concise yet comprehensive introduction to the SDGs, and their relevance for the private sector – because this agenda can’t be achieved without business.
With 169 targets sitting behind the 17 Goals, it can be difficult to know where to start. Yet a recent survey shows that:
The SDGs provide us with a new lens through which to translate global needs and ambitions into business solutions.
How the CEO Guide to the SDGs can help you
The CEO Guide is a new flagship WBCSD resource that sets out the clear actions you can take to begin aligning with the SDGs, and plot a course towards unlocking the value they represent.
The guide draws on the landmark research of the Business & Sustainable Development Commission (BSDC) which has found that achieving the SDGs could be worth at least US$12 trillion a year in market value by 2030 and create 380 million jobs in the process.
Highlighting the critical role for business in realizing the SDGs, the guide also explores the business implications of the SDGs across four pillars:
Acting on the SDGs is critical
At this time of political and economic uncertainty, strong and visionary CEO leadership is essential to achieving the transformation that is needed to usher in the inclusive and sustainable economic growth that the SDGs represent.
Through this CEO Guide, we seek to amplify the key messages of the BSDC, and help you turn them into action in your company. We outline how you can engage your organization, and recommend key steps for you to take to begin aligning with this critical societal agenda.
I encourage you to explore the CEO Guide – you can download the interactive digital version and watch the video from our central SDG Business Hub.
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