This article describes the views expressed about global responsibility by a variety of reputed individuals or groups: academics, political and religious authorities, NGO, private enterprises, etc. If there is, in the main, a rather common understanding of the word “global” (universal, borderless), the definition of responsibility varies much more. The main dichotomy is to be found between the private/business and the non‐private sector. The latter puts a humanistic dimension in the concept of responsibility, even if not always clearly defined. The private sector, clearly, thinks more in terms of business opportunities. The conclusion suggests that “man” should always be the center of the debate and the progress of mankind always the ultimate goal. Statements expressing this view and offering guidelines for action are already contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, of which article 1 almost says it all.