Why it matters

The world is experiencing a shift in economic and political power from industrialized countries in Europe, North America and Japan to emerging economies. These countries will be home to 85% of the world’s estimated 9 billion inhabitants in 2050, most of which will live in cities.

Yet poverty and inequity in many countries remain critical challenges for sustainable development and global stability. Poverty comes in many forms: about a third of the world’s population lives on less than US$ 2 a day and many suffer from malnutrition and have no access to health services, sanitation, electricity, safe drinking water, shelter or transportation.

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Work program activities »

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The WBCSD advocates that successful businesses will be those that recognize the magnitude of the societal and economic changes taking place and harness profit at the same time as supporting the needs of society. As an important part of its efforts to promote business solutions for a sustainable future of developing countries, the WBCSD coined the concept of “inclusive business”.

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WBCSD at the United Nations Summit on the Millennium Development Goals
September 20-22, 2010

The 2010 United Nations Summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in New York City held in September 20-22, 2010 brought together world leaders to review progress made and accelerate action on the MDGs, a set of internationally agreed targets to eradicate poverty and other social ills by 2015.

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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 »

Measuring Impact Framework
Understanding the business contribution to society

In the spring of 2006, the WBCSD embarked on a two-year journey to develop a framework to assess the contribution of business to the economic and broader development goals in the societies where business operates.

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