The ESG Institute and UNAccc Join Forces to Advance Sustainability and Climate Action Globally
LONDON, August 10th, 2026. The ESG Institute and the Unity of Nations Action for Climate Change Council (UNAccc) have signed a strategic collaboration agreement aimed at advancing sustainability education, strengthening climate action and accelerating progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) around the world.
The agreement was formally signed during a ceremony held at the headquarters of the Institute of Directors in London, United Kingdom, by Dr. Jaime Amoedo, Executive Director and Co-Founder of The ESG Institute; Prof. Dr. Rajat Sharma, Founder President of UNAccc; and Mr. Neville Gaunt, UNAccc UK Board Chairman.
The collaboration brings together two of the largest international sustainability organisations of their kind, creating a global platform for education, knowledge exchange and action.
By combining their respective expertise, international networks and communities, The ESG Institute and UNAccc aim to expand access to sustainability knowledge, strengthen professional and institutional capacity, and encourage greater collaboration between professionals, businesses, educators, sustainability leaders and organisations around the world.
Through the partnership, the organisations will explore joint initiatives spanning sustainability education, leadership development, executive education, climate action, sustainable development, responsible corporate governance, the SDGs, research, professional certification, conferences, roundtables and international knowledge exchange.
A particular area of focus will be expanding access to sustainability education and capacity-building initiatives across both India and internationally, while leveraging the international reach of both organisations to develop programmes and initiatives with wider global impact.
“Sustainability and climate change are global challenges that no organisation, sector or country can address in isolation,” said Dr. Jaime Amoedo, Executive Director and Co-Founder of The ESG Institute. “Our collaboration with UNAccc brings together two extensive international sustainability organisations with a common ambition: to educate, connect and empower people and organisations to contribute to a more sustainable world.”
“The scale of UNAccc’s international network creates exciting opportunities to combine our sustainability expertise, educational capabilities and global communities. Together, we can help sustainability knowledge reach more professionals, organisations and communities and, most importantly, help translate that knowledge into meaningful action.”
Bringing Together Two Global Sustainability Communities
The collaboration represents the coming together of two organisations that have developed substantial international communities around sustainability, education, climate action and positive impact.
According to UNAccc, its global ecosystem has grown to include a presence in 177 countries, approximately 400,000 members (SDG Warriors), 2500+ global board members, over 100 advisors, 1050 SDG Ambassadors across more than 169 nations and more than 200 partnerships worldwide.
The ESG Institute has similarly developed a growing international sustainability ecosystem bringing together professionals, students, alumni, experts, educators, organisations and partners from across the world.
Together, the two organisations have the potential to connect and engage hundreds of thousands of people internationally, creating significant opportunities for sustainability education, collaboration, knowledge exchange and capacity building.
The signing ceremony in London marked the formal beginning of the collaboration and provided an opportunity for the leadership of both organisations to discuss how their respective networks, knowledge and capabilities can be combined to develop practical initiatives and programmes.
Sustainability, the SDGs and Climate Action
At the heart of the collaboration is a shared belief that achieving a more sustainable future requires more than awareness.
Professionals, businesses, governments, institutions and communities increasingly need the knowledge, skills and capabilities to understand sustainability challenges and translate them into effective strategies, decisions and practical action.
The ESG Institute and UNAccc intend to work together to help bridge this gap.
Potential areas of collaboration include:
Sustainability and climate education and training programmes
Leadership development and executive education
Professional qualifications, certification and capacity building
Sustainable development and SDG initiatives
Climate governance and climate action
Responsible and sustainable business practices
Conferences, webinars, roundtables and international events
Joint research, publications and thought leadership
Exchange of experts, trainers, researchers and speakers
Corporate and institutional sustainability programmes
Public sustainability awareness and educational initiatives
Development of programmes across India and neighbouring countries
International knowledge exchange and cooperation
Specific projects and initiatives will be developed jointly according to the expertise, priorities and networks of both organisations.
Institute of Directors, London. Prof. Dr. Rajat Sharma and Dr. Jaime Amoedo
From Global Awareness to Global Action
UNAccc operates under the vision “One Planet – One Family”, reflecting the belief that climate change, sustainable development and many of the world’s most significant environmental and social challenges transcend national boundaries.
Prof. Dr. Rajat Sharma, Founder President of UNAccc, said:
“This collaboration represents an important step towards our shared vision of building stronger global capacity for sustainability, climate action and sustainable development. By working with The ESG Institute, we have the opportunity to combine international networks, knowledge and educational capabilities to empower professionals, organisations and communities to make a meaningful contribution to the SDGs and to the protection of our planet.”
“Our vision of ‘One Planet – One Family’ recognises that sustainability and climate change transcend borders. Education, international cooperation and collective action are fundamental to creating the future we want for generations to come.”
Education and capacity building will be central pillars of the collaboration.
Awareness of sustainability has increased significantly across governments, businesses and society. The next challenge is ensuring that professionals and organisations have the skills, knowledge and practical capabilities required to act on that awareness.
Dr. Amoedo added:
“The sustainability transition will ultimately depend on people. We need professionals who understand the challenges, leaders capable of making better decisions and organisations equipped to turn sustainability commitments into action.”
“By combining our communities, expertise and international reach, we have the opportunity to create something much larger than either organisation could achieve independently. Our ambition is to connect people, share knowledge and help develop the capabilities required to accelerate sustainable change around the world.”
Building an International Sustainability Ecosystem
The collaboration represents another important step in The ESG Institute’s strategy of building a global sustainability ecosystem connecting education, expertise, innovation, organisations and people committed to positive change.
It also reflects the growing importance of international cooperation in addressing sustainability challenges that cannot be solved by individual organisations or countries acting alone.
Through partnerships with organisations sharing similar values and ambitions, The ESG Institute aims to expand the reach of sustainability education, facilitate international knowledge exchange and create new opportunities for professionals and organisations to participate in the transition towards a more sustainable future.
The collaboration with UNAccc creates a particularly strong platform for achieving this ambition, combining extensive international reach with sustainability expertise, education, advocacy and community engagement.
One planet. One family. One shared responsibility to build a more sustainable future.
About The ESG Institute
The ESG Institute is a global sustainability education, advisory, and solutions organisation dedicated to empowering professionals and organisations to navigate evolving sustainability regulations, embed ESG into corporate strategy, and drive measurable impact across environmental, social, and governance dimensions.
Operating across 80+ markets, The ESG Institute serves a community of over 20,000 businesses and sustainability professionals. Its work spans accredited online education programmes, training accreditation services, strategic advisory, independent business certification, membership networks, and curated solutions through the ESGtraordinary platform.
The organisation's mission is to transform businesses and professionals into agents of positive change and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and resilient global economy.
Learn more: www.the-esg-institute.org
About UNAccc
The Unity of Nations Action for Climate Change Council (UNAccc) is an international organisation focused on sustainability, climate action, the Sustainable Development Goals, environmental education, awareness, advocacy, research, capacity building and international cooperation.
Operating under the vision “One Planet – One Family,” UNAccc seeks to unite people and organisations around the world to protect the planet, address climate change and advance sustainable development.
According to UNAccc, the organisation has a presence in 177 countries, approximately 400,000 members (SDG Warriors), 2500+ global board members, over 100 advisors, 1050 SDG Ambassadors across more than 169 nations and more than 200 partnerships worldwide.
UNAccc is registered in India as a Section 8 organisation.
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