In a year marked by record-breaking heatwaves and unprecedented geopolitics, the UN Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) in Azerbaijan stood as a critical moment for global climate leadership. Dubbed the ‘Finance COP’, COP29 was set to deliver a new climate finance deal. However, the conference occurred against a […]
CBD COP16 in Cali, Colombia, hosted a record attendance of around 23’000 people, with 3’000 representatives from the business community among them. As promised by Colombia, it was a true “People’s COP” with more than 1 million people participating in the event’s Green Zone located in the city’s centre. This increased popularity of “the Nature […]
How the preparatory meetings outcomes shape the agenda in Cali Ahead of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) COP16 in Cali, Colombia from 21 October – 1 November, two important preparatory meetings took place: Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) and Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI). Both meetings provided an […]
WBCSD and Volans are collaborating to co-create best practice guidance for companies looking to assess, align and activate their trade associations on sustainability-relevant policy issues. This work will build on the many existing resources available to companies – notably the Business Associations Climate Action Guide published earlier this year, which both WBCSD and Volans contributed […]
During the sixth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA6) on March 1st, the International Resource Panel’s flagship report, the Global Resources Outlook 2024 (GRO) was revealed, highlighting the alarming rise in material extraction over the past 50 years, fueling the triple planetary crisis. As natural resource demand surges, businesses face a critical imperative to optimize resource […]
Despite the proliferation of corporate sustainability commitments, a glaring gap remains in how these commitments translate into policy engagement by companies. According to InfluenceMap, 58% of the world’s largest corporations have climate commitments that are being undermined by their policy influence strategies. This discrepancy occurs through direct policy engagement as well as indirectly through trade associations. […]
MONTREUX, Switzerland – The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the Brazilian Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS) today unveiled a new partnership to deliver impactful business engagement and actionable outcomes toward UNFCCC COP30. Over the next 18 months, WBCSD and CEBDS will work together to mobilize the private sector in Brazil and the […]
Why is policy engagement essential for businesses to achieve their sustainability goals? How should ambitious businesses work most effectively with governments? How can public-private cooperation more rapidly unlock investment and scale markets? Here are some of my reflections from my first six months at WBCSD on why policy engagement is becoming essential for ambitious businesses […]
The International Energy Agency has published an update to its Net Zero Roadmap, highlighting the actions needed from the energy sector to align with a 1.5°C scenario and achieve net zero by 2050. The key message is one of urgency – while there has been progress in clean energy technologies, the 1.5°C window is narrowing annually, and […]
Reflections on UNEA 6 and Key Takeaways for the Business Community” encapsulates the essence of discussions held during the United Nations Environment Assembly’s sixth session (UNEA 6) and their implications for businesses.