Sydney Opera House becomes first major arts organisation to join United Nations Global Compact
Sydney —
The Sydney Opera House today announced it has joined the United Nations Global Compact, becoming the first major arts organisation in the world to sign up to the international sustainability initiative.
The Opera House joins more than 20,000 members across 160 countries, including 370 in Australia, committed to driving change across all aspects of corporate sustainability, including environment, human rights, labour rights and anti-corruption.
As a globally recognised cultural icon, the Opera House is uniquely positioned to foster collaboration between the arts, business and government to tackle critical issues such as climate change, social equity and inclusion.
The announcement comes during Assistant Secretary-General and CEO, United Nations Global Compact Sanda Ojiambo’s inaugural visit to Australia, during which Assistant Secretary-General Ojiambo and UN Global Compact Network Australia Executive Director Kate Dundas met with Opera House Acting CEO Kya Blondin. The meeting, which took place ahead of the UN Global Compact Network Australia's inaugural sustainability conference on 30-31 October, underscores the importance of the arts and cultural sector in accelerating progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals, also known as the Global Goals.
Sydney Opera House Acting CEO Kya Blondin said: “When it comes to tackling big issues like climate action, equity, inclusion, education and access, there’s never been a more urgent need for the kind of bold, creative thinking that brought the Opera House to life more than five decades ago. As the first major cultural organisation in the world to join the UN Global Compact, the Opera House has a unique opportunity – and a profound responsibility – to engage our communities through the power of storytelling and creativity.”
UN Global Compact Network Australia Executive Director Kate Dundas said: “The arts have always had a profound influence on society, and the Sydney Opera House’s commitment to the UN Global Compact is a powerful testament to the role culture can play in driving sustainability forward. By embracing the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, the Opera House is not only leading by example but also inspiring other institutions across the world to take bold action toward a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient future.”
Five years ago, the Opera House became the first major Australian arts institution to announce its commitment to the UN Global Goals. As the world approaches the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals, only 17 per cent of the goals are on track.
The Opera House’s newly appointed Head of Social & Environmental Impact, Lauren Haas Jones, added: “The greatest barriers to meaningful action are a lack of imagination and true collaboration. Change is harder than maintaining the status quo, which can make it difficult to envision a new future. That’s where arts and culture can make a difference, helping us to build a picture of what a sustainable, equitable world could look like and demonstrating how transformative change is not only necessary but achievable together.”