Business coalition re-established in run-up to Rio+20
Friday, February 3, 2012
The temporary coalition of the Business Action for Sustainable Development (BASD) has been re-established to coordinate the participation of the private sector to Rio+20 and enhance its contribution to sustainable and inclusive markets.
Business is willing to step up its efforts to raise more awareness about its existing commitments and achievements already made. At the same time, industry will continue to broaden and deepen its thinking towards Rio+20 on key themes of the conference.
Taking stock, business has already made significant contributions and developed a wide range of tools and applications to measure environmental, social and governance impacts and help assess response measures, such as:
1. Voluntary sustainability principles based on frameworks and conventions supported by all governments, such as those of the United Nations Global Compact.
2. The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Business Charter for Sustainable Development – which provides companies (large and small) with the basis for sound environmental management, as well as its systems conditions for a transition towards a green economy.
3. Long-term visions such as the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Vision 2050.
4. Capacity-building activities for small and medium-sized enterprises via the ICC World Chambers Federation (WCF) network.
5. Sectoral approaches, for example the chemical industry’s Responsible Care, the WBCSD’s Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI), the International Council on Mining and Metals Sustainable Development Framework?, the Global Gas Flaring Reduction partnership (GGFR), the Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles (PCFV), WBCSD’s Tire Industry Project, or the aviation industry’s sector-wide climate change targets.
