United Nations leaders and corporate executives called for accelerated public-private cooperation to drive clean energy investment and infrastructure development. The appeal emerged as the 2026 United Nations Private Sector Forum concluded in New York on Sept. 20, 2026.

Hosted by the UN Global Compact on behalf of Secretary-General António Guterres, the invitation-only event gathered more than 100 chief executive officers, heads of state, and senior decision-makers. Participants focused on closing the gap between existing commitments and the pace required to keep the 1.5°C climate goal within reach.

Investment and Infrastructure Barriers

Participants identified growing private-sector demand for clean power and falling technology costs as key drivers for investment opportunities. However, they highlighted persistent deployment barriers, including insufficient grid infrastructure, regulatory uncertainty, financing constraints, and limited energy access in emerging markets.

Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and Executive Director of the United Nations Global Compact, emphasized that ambition and capital alone are insufficient. She stated that grids, policy frameworks, and financing structures are needed to move investment from balance sheets into the real economy.

Policy and Security Priorities

Guterres urged companies to use their capital, supply chains, and purchasing power to supercharge the renewables revolution. He highlighted the need to invest in clean power, energy efficiency, and future infrastructure.

Discussions also addressed geopolitical uncertainty and supply chain disruptions, which have increased the strategic importance of secure and diversified energy systems. Leaders examined practical financing approaches, including blended finance and risk-sharing mechanisms, to mobilize private capital in high-risk markets.

What the Numbers Show

The forum’s composition underscores a shift toward direct dialogue between private capital allocators and policy makers. With more than 100 CEOs present alongside heads of state, the event signals an attempt to align corporate capital deployment directly with national energy security and climate objectives, rather than treating them as separate agendas.

The Second Global Business Summit on Belt and Road Infrastructure Investment to Accelerate the SDGs launched 12 sustainability-driven joint actions in Singapore on Sept. 6, 2026.

Organized by the UN Global Compact’s Sustainable Infrastructure for the Belt and Road Initiative to Accelerate the SDGs Action Platform, the event convened over 300 senior leaders from international organizations, enterprises, and civil society.

Key Outcomes

The summit adopted a declaration outlining business priorities for sustainable infrastructure, responsible AI, just energy transition, global supply chain resilience, sustainable finance, and women and youth empowerment.

Participants launched expert groups focused on:

• Sustainable energy
• Sustainable digital infrastructure

Additionally, 12 SDG-driven outcomes were announced covering green mining, electricity carbon-footprint standards, biodiversity conservation, ocean protection, sustainable transport, women’s microenterprise growth, and inclusive global development.

Leadership Perspectives

Sanda Ojiambo, UN Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of UN Global Compact, emphasized that resilient infrastructure is key to long-term sustainable development. She noted that meaningful progress depends on collaboration across borders, sectors, and value chains.

Selwin Hart, UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Climate Action and Just Transition, highlighted the role of Chinese businesses and financial institutions in connecting clean energy capabilities with growth opportunities in the developing world.

Jean Todt, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, noted that 2026 kicks off the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport. He stated that the scale of the Belt and Road Initiative must be matched by a strong commitment to safety.

Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations, concluded by appealing for cooperation between governments, international organizations, financial institutions, and the private sector to tackle complex connectivity challenges.