Why it matters

Economic and political power is shifting from industrialized countries to emerging economies. These countries will be home to 85% of the world’s inhabitants in 2050 yet poverty and inequality remain critical challenges for sustainable development and global stability.  Business is an increasingly more important part of the effort to improve the economic, social and environmental prospects of developing countries and has a strong self-interest in doing so.

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WBCSD Access to Energy publication launched to help scale up business action
Released to coincide with the launch of the UN’s International Year of Sustainable Energy for All, the report shows how business is contributing to the provision of clean, reliable and affordable energy services.

Access to Energy Initiative »

The WBCSD advocates that to be successful, businesses must harness profit while supporting the needs of society. As an important part of the effort to promote business solutions for a sustainable future in developing countries, the WBCSD coined the concept of “inclusive business”.

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Inclusive business goes beyond philanthropy by expanding access to goods, services, and livelihood opportunities for low-income communities in commercially viable ways. This blog highlights WBCSD advancements in this area and provides links to external resources, cases, and tools related to the design and implementation of inclusive business ventures.

Read the Inclusive Business Blog 

New publication: Measuring socio-economic impact: A guide for business helps companies navigate the complex landscape of socio-economic impact measurement.