Global Environment & Society Academy

World Symposium on Social Responsibility and Sustainability

An interdisciplinary event, mobilising scholars, social movements, practitioners and members of governmental agencies, undertaking research and/or executing projects focusing on social responsibility and sustainability from across the world.

Social responsibility and sustainable development are two different concepts, whose integration over the years has led to significant progresses in the way enterprises see and perceive their operations. It is not only about policies or steps taken to meet legal requirements, but it also about social equality and  environmental accountability, also bearing in mind  the links with eco efficiency, innovation, and the  health and well being of workers. 

According to ISO 26000, Social Responsibility is defined  as as the responsibility of an organisation for the impacts of its decisions and activities on society and the environment, through transparent and ethical behaviour that: 

  • contributes to sustainable development, including health and the welfare of society
  • takes into account the expectations of stakeholders
  • is in compliance with applicable law and consistent with international norms of behaviour
  • is integrated throughout the organisation and practised in its relationships.

But even though the relations between social responsibility and sustainability are strong, it is still necessary to encourage organisations to ideally adhere to, or at least  follow the principles of sustainable development in their operations, giving something back to the community. 

There is thus a perceived  need for a better understanding of how social responsibility is related to sustainable development, and for the identification of processes, methods and tools which may help the integration of these two important  elements. There is also a real need to showcase successful examples of how to structure behaviour and institutional practice in line with the sustainability challenges we face today.  

It is against this background that the “World Symposium on Social Responsibility and Sustainability” is being organized  by the University of Edinburgh,  the Research and Transfer Centre “Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management” of the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (Germany), and the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme (IUSDRP). The Symposium will be a truly interdisciplinary event, mobilizing scholars, social movements, practitioners and members of governmental agencies,  undertaking research and/or executing projects focusing on social responsibility and sustainability from across the world.

The “World Symposium on Social Responsibility and Sustainability” will focus on "how businesses and organizations can operate in a sustainable and socially responsible way", meaning that it will serve the purpose of showcasing experiences from research, field projects and best practice to foster social responsibility and sustainability, which may be useful or implemented elsewhere.

 

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This event was organised or promoted by the Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability.

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World Symposium on Social Responsibility and Sustainability

An interdisciplinary event, mobilising scholars, social movements, practitioners and members of governmental agencies, undertaking research and/or executing projects focusing on social responsibility and sustainability from across the world.

Appleton Tower, 11 Crichton St, Edinburgh EH8 9LE