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| Copenhagen Business Day |  |
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Can business do business in ways that reduce poverty and save the environment?
This was debated on Monday, at an event hosted by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development in Geneva. 250 people gathered to discuss "The Role of Business in Tomorrow’s Society." Among the participants were CEOs of leading global companies, government representatives, intergovernmental organizations and members of civil society organizations such as Greenpeace, Oxfam and WWF. The WBCSD is a coalition of 180 global companies committed to sustainable development. The debate occurred as the WBCSD reviewed the first ten years of its operations and looked at the challenges ahead. Expressing a need for deeper dialogue and more purposeful engagement among companies and policy-makers, the debate built on a manifesto for tomorrow’s global business.
The manifesto is part of the new WBCSD publication From
Challenge to Opportunity: The Role of Business in Tomorrow’s Society ( "Where is the borderline for business engagement?" asked Björn Stigson, President of the WBCSD. He noted that governments are having increasing difficulties making societies work. "But what can we – as business - do and what can’t we do? We need to have a discussion with the rest of society to determine where the borderlines between different actors lie." "Business has a tremendous role to play," stressed Julio Moura of Grupo Nueva, one of the signatories behind the manifesto. "To tackle the challenges is an opportunity for business, and if business integrates these opportunities into its business strategies and creates win-win situations, it can work," he said. The challengers on the other hand were less optimistic: "Although a manifesto by business of this kind is a very positive sign, we need to see actions", said one. "We will not solve poverty by selling products to the poor, we need to solve the structural problems behind poverty first." Another argued that business is rightfully sceptical to doubt whether it should take on such responsibility. "It is unfair to expect business to tackle poverty and climate change. That is government’s job." WBCSD Chairman Travis Engen pointed to business as an instrument for productivity. "Doing more with less, and improving efficiencies is the role of business. But in order to address the global challenges effectively, we desperately need better framework conditions and regulation." A North American civil society organization urged business to listen carefully to what civil society is telling them in order to create a better relationship. Another singled out the companies represented at the debate as progressive, "but what are you doing about the free riders," he challenged. "We see the manifesto and the debate as a pattern developing in a positive direction," said a European aid organization. He urged business to continue thinking about solutions and new business models. "Business, don't wait for us – governments and civil society organizations. Go out and do what you're good at. There is a lot you can do to connect people along the supply chains. Do advocacy among your peers, and make sure you bring the China / India business people in the room. For them, sustainability is the future." "We have come a long way", said Björn Stigson, summing up the debate. "Although the opinions about business’s role diverge, many of us would not have been talking to each other on this topic when the WBCSD started out ten years ago, let alone sit in the same room. This debate shows that business has earned its seat at the table with regard to addressing the global challenges. We look forward to taking this discussion forward with other societal actors, more in depth, to see how we can work together to address the urgent sustainable development challenges in concrete ways." NB: In order to encourage an open and frank discussion, anonymity was granted to all participants. The ones quoted by name in this piece have given their express permission. A fuller write up will be made available later. Have your say! Download
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Geneva,
21 February 2006 - Can sustainable business models be made to work for nature?
Can they be made to reduce poverty? Do companies have a role in addressing the
global challenges such as poverty and climate change? And does society trust
them to take such a role?
1 MB) and is signed by eight global business leaders - adidas, BP, CLP, GrupoNueva,
Procter & Gamble, Storebrand, Swiss Re and TNT. The signatories are all
part of the WBCSD's Tomorrow’s Leaders group. They argue that leading companies
in the future will be those that address the world’s major challenges – including
poverty, climate change, resource depletion globalization and demographic shifts.
New business models are suggested that would improve the bottom line while tackling
these issues. In other words, allowing business to do business in ways that
alleviate poverty and save the environment.
