Innovative Collaboration Critical to Advance Sustainability Globally Says Private Sector

Private sector delivers key messages on green and inclusive economy ahead of Rio+20

(New York, 2 May 2012) – Building on the results of a consultation held in the Hague last month, Business Action for Sustainable Development (BASD 2012) today presented constructive global private sector key messages to government and civil society representatives on the role of business and industry in delivering solutions to promote inclusive and green economies. These results will be fed into the negotiation process for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in June.

Held on 11-12 April 2012 and organized by the Government of the Netherlands, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and BASD, the Hague Consultation provided an opportunity to discuss critical private sector issues for Rio+20 and the role for business in realising inclusive green growth. More than 300 business representatives, government officials and other stakeholders participated in the consultation, “Realizing Inclusive and Green Growth”, which showcased how business’ strengths in innovation, adaptation and implementation can best be leveraged to facilitate the transition to a green economy.

Today’s side event was the latest in a series of dialogues with the Business and Industry Major Group, and was co-hosted by Barbados, Benin, Netherlands, Vietnam and BASD 2012.

The following concluding messages around the role of business and its expectations of governments to the Rio+20 Conference were delivered:

• Strong and renewed leadership is urgently required from policy makers. Rio+20 must highlight the essential role of the private sector in sustainable development, as investors, employers, customers, and producers.
• Business commits to continue developing sustainable, inclusive, and innovative business models, including metrics, accounting, and reporting measures, both independently and through public-private partnerships. Increasingly, global businesses are working to ensure sustainable production, resource efficiency, and the sustainable use of natural resources, while providing decent working conditions for all stakeholders in their supply chains.
• To multiply the contribution of the private sector to inclusive and green growth, business calls upon governments to eliminate or reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade of products produced sustainably, encourage private investment in sustainable development, and establish enabling policy frameworks.
• A timely transition towards inclusive green growth strongly relies on closer collaboration among governments at all levels, business and industry, civil society, and all other major groups. Business cannot succeed in a society that fails, and society cannot achieve sustainability without business providing solutions and without governments providing consistent and persistent policy environments.

The consultation outcomes also highlighted three areas that require immediate attention in order to accelerate the transition to a sustainable future: innovation, collaboration and governance. Participants determined that “new combinations” of innovation that address the three dimensions of sustainable development, as well as evolving models for multi-stakeholder partnerships, will drive the transition to an inclusive green economy. Further, governance models and institutional frameworks are needed to guide stakeholders in their delivery and reporting on sustainability issues.

“It is clear that effective engagement of the private sector is critical in helping to achieve the goals of sustainable development,” said Kris Gopalakrishnan, Chairman of the BASD. “Despite the complexity of the challenges and the solutions, sufficient progress can be achieved at Rio+20 if we promote innovative collaboration among the broad range of actors needed to advance sustainability globally.”

The complete summary of discussions, along with speeches, presentations and other documents, is now available on the consultation website.

About BASD 2012
Business Action for Sustainable Development 2012 (BASD 2012) is the official United Nations Major Group coordinator of Business and Industry for the upcoming Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) to be held in Rio de Janeiro on 20-22 June 2012. A coalition of leading international business organizations who are committed to sustainable development with the overall objective to enhance the conference contribution to sustainable and inclusive markets, BASD 2012 will ensure the voice of business is heard throughout the Rio+20 Process. This initiative is convened by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). A wide range of international industry associates have also joined the coalition as Partners, representing a broad cross-section of industries and geographies: International Federation of Private Water Operators (Aquafed); Air Transport Action Group (ATAG); CropLife International; Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI); Digital Energy Solutions Campaign (DESC); International Aluminum Institute (IAI); International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA); International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM); Global Oil & Gas Industry Association (IPIECA); World Steel Association.

Media Contacts

Peter Paul van de Wijs
WBCSD
vandewijs@wbcsd.org
+41 (0) 22 839 3141

Dawn Chardonnal
ICC
dawn.chardonnal@iccwbo.org
+ 33 (0) 1 49 53 29 07

Matthias Stausberg
UN Global Compact
stausberg@un.org
+1 917-367-3423