Today, we live in turbulent and uncertain times. In such times, I make a humble appeal to our leaders, genuine community caretakers, sincere environmental and social activists, credible and responsible players and conscientious businesses and institutions:

“Let us keep our focus on the issues that truly matter to people, communities and our shared planet.”

The issues we choose to highlight, and the manner in which we choose to address them, say something about what we value, what we cherish, and what we are determined to safeguard for future generations.

This century brings extraordinary possibilities, but also profound challenges. The choices before us are not always easy. Yet, even when difficult decisions must be made, we should strive not to compromise on universal values such as peace, human dignity, human rights, fairness, sustainable development, responsible use of resources, and a cleaner and safer environment.

The real challenge is not simply to identify what is right, but to have the honesty, fairness and fortitude to act upon it—while listening to different voices, respecting legitimate interests, and remaining accountable for the consequences of our choices.

In all of this, businesses have an important role to play. Prosperity and responsibility need not be opposing ideas. Good governance, transparency, fair treatment of people, environmental stewardship and accountability can help create businesses that serve not only their shareholders, but also their employees, communities and the generations that follow.

ISO26000.in seeks to be a champion for these values. Our aspiration is simple: to champion fairness, sustainability, responsible business and respect for people and the planet.

I respectfully invite all those who care for their communities, the environment and future generations to help keep these values at the center of our conversations and our actions.