About event
The first 'Transitioning to a Net Zero Future' seminar of 2026 by Dr Evan Center (Network of the UN Global Compact).
Join the SSN for the first ‘Transitioning to a Net Zero Future’ seminar of 2026. In this hybrid seminar Dr Evan Center (Network of the UN Global Compact) presents on the UN-Business Nexus & Global Mechanisms for Climate Action. The session will be chaired by the SSN’s Ameeta Jain.
Please select a free ticket to attend either in-person (at Deakin Downtown, Collins street, Naarm), or online via YouTube Livestream, at check out.
Negotiating the Future of Environmental, Social, Governance Frameworks: The UN-Business Nexus and the Evolution of Global Mechanisms for Climate Action
This lecture explores the evolving relationship between the United Nations and the private sector in advancing global climate action. It traces the historical development of international financial mechanisms that shaped country development, the rise of Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) frameworks, and the establishment of the UN Global Compact, which helped catalyse initiatives such as the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) and Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). The session then examines the emergence of the Sustainable Development Goals as a unifying agenda for governments and businesses. Finally, it surveys the contemporary landscape of climate policy and finance—highlighting the increasing role of private sector engagement across United National Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) negotiations, the expanding scope of climate‑related financial disclosure (where Australia is poised to play a global leadership role, including in mandatory Scope 3 reporting), and emerging multilateral agreements such as the Global Plastics Treaty and the Oceans/Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty. Together, these threads illuminate how UN processes and business action are becoming increasingly intertwined in driving climate solutions at scale.
Speaker Bio
Dr. Evan Beaumont Center is the Head of Environment and Climate Change for the Australian Country Network of the UN Global Compact (UNGCNA). This includes working with nearly 400 Australian cross-sectoral businesses and investors to drive progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals and align with the UNGC Ten Principles. Evan directs private-sector projects, thought leadership, policy engagement and partnerships related to net-zero, nature-positive and other important initiatives that support globally sustainable business engagement – including work on sustainable finance, circular economy, just transition and ocean.
Evan holds a PhD in Communication (University of Kansas) and has spent the majority of his career at the nexus of enterprise, advocacy and environment. Prior to working with the private sector, he utilised his research expertise to develop cutting-edge publications, programmes and partnerships within university, corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors. Evan also serves as a Non-Executive Director on the board of Geelong Sustainability and is involved in a number of Australian initiatives that work toward net zero and nature-positive progress.
Event Contact:
ssn-info@deakin.edu.auShare