Globalisation has strengthened the business case for sustainability and a wide range of tools are already in use to measure environmental, social and governance impacts

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.

Looking ahead, BASD has submitted input to the compilation document for Rio+20 and established leading priorities for governments to maximise the contribution of business, not only at Rio+20 but also beyond. While the BASD Zero Document follows the focus of the two themes of Rio+20 - green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication and institutional framework for sustainable development - BASD 2012 continues to bring forward a wide range of private sector experiences and expertise on the following submitted specific topics:

• Access to energy

• Agriculture and food security

• Ecosystems and biodiversity

• Food-water-energy nexus

• Science, technology, and innovation

• Social development, human rights, and the role of business

• Resource and materials management

• Transformational partnerships

• Urbanisation

• Water for green economy and poverty alleviation

A growing number of companies around the world have already put sustainability at the forefront of their agenda, recognising the growing relevance and urgency of global environmental, social and economic challenges. Engagement by the private sector can help ensure that Rio+20 is a launching ground for widespread global action in support of sustainability, green growth and poverty eradication.

Regardless of company size or location, corporate leaders understand how sustainability issues affect the bottom-line and, thus, are looking beyond traditional business and financial factors. For example, market disturbances, civil unrest or ecological strains which are happening nearby or far away can have wide-ranging and material impacts through the value chain, capital flows, public opinion or employee productivity.

Companies view sustainability issues from both, a risk management perspective, and the increasingly evident and appealing 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 globalised world.

(World Business Council for Sustainable Development / Guardian.co.uk, 03/02/2012)

Nota do Ambiente JÁ: para saber mais a atuação da BASD, do ICC e da WBCSD nas Cúpulas da Terra de 1992 e 2002, além de detalhes sobre o Global Compact, sugerimos o livro earthsummit.biz - The Corporate Takeover of Sustainable Development.