Initial discussions at UN in New York on the zero draft of outcome document
Statement on Behalf of Business and Industry Major Group

January 26, 2012

Thank you Mr. Chairman

Business and Industry is pleased to join member states and other stakeholders at this important consultation.  The private sector has a key role to play in helping to achieve the goals of sustainable development, in particular poverty eradication.  This fact is noted in paragraph 19 of “The Future We Want”.  Multitudes around the world are part of the “private sector”, whether as self-employed, entrepreneurs, farmers, or small and medium sized as well as large multi-national enterprises.  The private sector generates most of the goods and services that are utilized every day and therefore must be actively engaged to address the implementation gaps that have limited achievements of the sustainable development goals.

Mr. Chairman, Business and Industry welcomes the zero draft’s practical and integrated approach, building on past progress and tracking implementation.  We appreciate the many references to the private sector throughout the draft.  We highlight that in many instances Business and Industry is a tool for implementation of sustainable development and Green Growth policies, but needs clear policy and regulatory frameworks from governments that support and facilitate that role.  We look forward to working with you to develop outcomes that encourage widespread adoption of sustainability approaches by businesses of all sizes, by other sectors and through corresponding action on the part of governments and other stakeholders. …read more

Business calls on governments to set policies that accelerate progress toward a green economy

November 1, 2011 - BASD has submitted the formal Business and Industry Major Group  input to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development compilation document. The BASD submission outlines priorities for governments to maximize the contribution of business, not only at Rio+20 but beyond. More sector-specific topics were submitted by selected conveners and partners to complement the joint submission.

Overall, the submission reaffirms the business commitment and achievements in support of sustainability, green growth and poverty eradication. It calls on governments to work with business and others in implementing measures that support market solutions, provide incentives, and address risk and regulatory issues.

The submission focuses on the two key themes that will be debated in Rio. The section on the green economy outlines 10 high-level system conditions for moving toward a strong and competitive green economy, based on social, environmental, economic innovation, as well as complementary cross-cutting elements. The section on institutional frameworks for sustainable development describes the mutually reinforcing nature of this topic with the green economy and calls for a structural change in institutions in order to improve coordination of efforts and policy implementation.

Meeting with Under Secretary-General Sha and Ambassador Ntwaage
Statement on Behalf of Business and Industry Major Group

November 3, 2011 - Louise Kantrow, ICC Permanent Representative to the United Nations, joined the other Major Groups at the request of Under Secretary-General Sha and provided a summary of the BASD Zero Draft input