Business & Industry
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY MAJOR GROUP
OPENING PLENARY STATEMENT
20 JUNE 2012
FIRST DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION
Mr. Secretary General, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen
Together we have traveled many roads to Rio. We have come together in Cairo, Santiago, Addis Ababa, Seoul, Geneva, New York and now in Rio for this summit of historic proportions. My name is Kris Gopalakrishnan and I head the Business and Industry Major Group. Businesses of every size and from every corner of the world have been part of this journey.
At every entry point during these eighteen months of consultation and negotiation, business made the case that the Rio outcome needed to provide key deliverables that would drive the transition to sustainable development. But regardless of the outcomes at Rio, Business will continue innovating, and bringing solutions to market that support inclusive and green growth. The intensity of these commitments, the eagerness to scale up and the willingness to partner was in evidence during the June 19 BASD Business Day which brought together over 800 business, government and United Nations leaders.
Regardless of company size or location, corporate leaders understand how sustainability issues affect the bottom-line. Companies view sustainability issues from both, a risk management perspective, and the increasingly evident benefits and opportunities – particularly associated with green growth and poverty alleviation. In short, the business case for sustainability has strengthened as a response to the deep interdependencies in today‘s globalized world.
Throughout the negotiations, Business and Industry made the case that Governments should promote enabling policy frameworks for inclusive and green growth, with special attention to research, innovation, technology, and investment. Such frameworks will support sustainable economic growth in developed and developing counties. At the global level, business must be included in policy action beyond Rio and looks to the UN to develop
BASD page 2
substantive and clear channels for engaging with business on sustainable development issues.
Business understands that improvements in efficiencies of all types are key to addressing sustainability challenges, enabling us to do more with less. This will be accomplished through regular, continuous improvement of existing technologies and processes and through the development of reliable breakthrough technologies.
Business is a critical player in the introduction, commercialization and dissemination of technology and will form partnerships with governments, academic and civil society organizations to leverage resources and benefits. Governments should encourage more public‐private partnerships, particularly at the local and city level, to address the critical challenge of sustainable development. The transition towards a green economy is a shared responsibility by all actors in society. No one stakeholder group, whether business and industry, governments or society, can do this on their own.
Excellencies, regardless of the outcome here at Rio, the private sector will continue its transition to greener and more sustainable industries. Think how more expansive and rapid this transition would be if our energies were being harnessed with yours.
OPENING PLENARY STATEMENT
20 JUNE 2012
FIRST DRAFT FOR DISCUSSION
Mr. Secretary General, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen
Together we have traveled many roads to Rio. We have come together in Cairo, Santiago, Addis Ababa, Seoul, Geneva, New York and now in Rio for this summit of historic proportions. My name is Kris Gopalakrishnan and I head the Business and Industry Major Group. Businesses of every size and from every corner of the world have been part of this journey.
At every entry point during these eighteen months of consultation and negotiation, business made the case that the Rio outcome needed to provide key deliverables that would drive the transition to sustainable development. But regardless of the outcomes at Rio, Business will continue innovating, and bringing solutions to market that support inclusive and green growth. The intensity of these commitments, the eagerness to scale up and the willingness to partner was in evidence during the June 19 BASD Business Day which brought together over 800 business, government and United Nations leaders.
Regardless of company size or location, corporate leaders understand how sustainability issues affect the bottom-line. Companies view sustainability issues from both, a risk management perspective, and the increasingly evident benefits and opportunities – particularly associated with green growth and poverty alleviation. In short, the business case for sustainability has strengthened as a response to the deep interdependencies in today‘s globalized world.
Throughout the negotiations, Business and Industry made the case that Governments should promote enabling policy frameworks for inclusive and green growth, with special attention to research, innovation, technology, and investment. Such frameworks will support sustainable economic growth in developed and developing counties. At the global level, business must be included in policy action beyond Rio and looks to the UN to develop
BASD page 2
substantive and clear channels for engaging with business on sustainable development issues.
Business understands that improvements in efficiencies of all types are key to addressing sustainability challenges, enabling us to do more with less. This will be accomplished through regular, continuous improvement of existing technologies and processes and through the development of reliable breakthrough technologies.
Business is a critical player in the introduction, commercialization and dissemination of technology and will form partnerships with governments, academic and civil society organizations to leverage resources and benefits. Governments should encourage more public‐private partnerships, particularly at the local and city level, to address the critical challenge of sustainable development. The transition towards a green economy is a shared responsibility by all actors in society. No one stakeholder group, whether business and industry, governments or society, can do this on their own.
Excellencies, regardless of the outcome here at Rio, the private sector will continue its transition to greener and more sustainable industries. Think how more expansive and rapid this transition would be if our energies were being harnessed with yours.