NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — More than 140 leaders from U.S. companies and the United Nations gathered in New York City for the UN Global Compact Network USA Annual Summit, the only UN General Assembly event dedicated to U.S. private sector leadership in sustainability.

The Annual Summit has become a flagship gathering for American business leaders. Under the theme “The Room Where It Happens: Shaping the Next Era of Sustainability Leadership,” this year’s event, hosted at Citi‘s New York City headquarters, convened leading business voices to examine the opportunities and challenges shaping corporate sustainability in the United States.

Amanda Gardiner, Executive Director of UN Global Compact Network USA, opened the event by highlighting the importance of peer engagement in finding practical ways to build stronger, more resilient businesses. Sessions explored newly published GlobeScan research on the state of corporate sustainability across North America, the factors driving corporate ESG commitments in 2026, and emerging tools and trends shaping the future of U.S. corporate sustainability.

The Annual Summit concluded with a fireside chat, “Who Leads, Who Acts, Who Shapes the Future,” featuring Andrew Winston, author, speaker, adviser, and driver of change, and Ann Tracy, Chief Sustainability Officer at Colgate-Palmolive and Board Chair of UN Global Compact Network USA. The discussion highlighted the role of U.S. business in a rapidly changing global landscape, explored what it takes for business leaders to maintain ambition and lead through a period of change, and noted the influence American companies can have on driving progress across their supply chains.

The Network USA Annual Summit serves as a forum for U.S. organizations to openly share challenges, perspectives, and practical approaches across industries, company sizes, and stages of their sustainability journey. By bringing leaders into the same room, the event creates opportunities to exchange ideas, build community, and identify approaches that can increase competitiveness while advancing sustainability.

“As companies navigate rapid changes in technology, the environment, geopolitics, and regulation, new challenges and opportunities will continue to shape what responsible business looks like,” said Gardiner. “Our Annual Summit convenes leaders to confront those realities, share what is working, and identify practical approaches to implementation. By creating space for candid dialogue and peer exchange, we can help shape the future of corporate responsibility in the United States.”

The Annual Summit was supported by Baker Hughes and Cisco, who hosted executive roundtables exploring energy resilience and circular business models.

About UN Global Compact Network USA 

UN Global Compact Network USA (Network USA) is the U.S. Chapter of the United Nations Global Compact, the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world. Network USA is a powerful network of companies and stakeholders dedicated to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. By connecting partners with the resources of the greater UN, Network USA supports companies that are committed to fully integrating its principles of human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption into their business strategies and operations. To learn more, visit GlobalCompactUSA.org. 

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SOURCE UN Global Compact Network USA