SIGA CEO calls on business leaders to embrace integrity and accountability

The B20 India International Summit is currently taking place in New Delhi, where global business leaders are discussing how best to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing the world. In a key speech during this week’s events, the CEO of the Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) outlined the power of sport to bring about change.

SIGA Global CEO Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros called for swift action to help turn the tide on climate change and ensure habitable conditions for all people.

“There is no plan B for Earth. The time is now! If not now, when?” he asked.

Sport can be a catalyst for change, says SIGA CEO

Medeiros appeared on a panel entitled “Good Corporate Governance – Imperative for ESG Compliance”, during which he emphasised sport’s potential as a force for good. Here’s what he had to say...

“Sport has a huge role to play in creating responsible, accelerated, innovative, sustainable, and equitable business. To meet the mounting challenges ahead and deliver its invaluable social, cultural, educational, and economic function in today’s society and global economy and, at the same time, contribute to a truly sustainable world, Sport must lead by example. Sport needs to govern itself and operate under the highest integrity standards.

“This is what the Sport Integrity Global Alliance is about and is committed to. We invite Sport and the wider industry to walk the talk. And this means implementing our Universal Standards and being accountable by going through our independent Rating System (SIRVS). We invite all like-minded organisations to join our global movement and be a driving force for the much-needed and long overdue cultural change.”

Summit highlights importance of environmental sustainability

The multinational event was the 28th edition of the Confederation of Indian Industry’s Partnership Summit, organised by G20 India and B20 India. The session’s moderator was Rajeev Peshawaria, CEO of Stewardship Asia Centre and Temasek Trust, who emphasised the importance of leadership when it comes to making environmental-focused decisions in business.

Peshawaria said that “while regulations, incentives, and cheaper capital are all important drivers of behaviour, the real champion of the environmental sustainability” is “leadership-inspired action”.

She added that it is vital that organisations ensure that their business plans are imbued with a “genuine desire and persistence to create a collective better future for stakeholders and society.”

However Nelson Cunningham, vice chair of McLarty Associates, expressed concerns about the impact of inconsistent regulation across different markets.

“Regulation is a critical part of ensuring ESG compliance. EU, US, Japan and other important national authorities will seek to mandate ESG goals. The challenge for market participants is that these regulatory regimes are likely to be inconsistent and even contradictory. Whose rules to follow will become the paramount question.”

He added that the lack of consistency undermined the message, and could make some businesses less likely to comply with the regulations: “Speaking from the United States, because of wide political disagreement over whether ESG goals are legitimate, US regulators are likely to lag the EU and others. This will add to global uncertainty at a time when consistency is required”.

For further details of the work that SIGA do and to watch footage from Wednesday’s talk, head over to the SIGA website.