Björn Stigson

Rio+20: an opportunity to accelerate sustainable development

With governments, business and civil society all busy preparing for Rio+20 next June, I can’t help but reflect back to the very first Earth Summit in 1992. It’s on the eve of that Summit that we founded the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Our aim was simple: to represent the voice of the global business community at the forum.

Business solutions for a sustainable world

A few weeks ago, the WBCSD adopted a new tagline: “business solutions for a sustainable world.” Compared to our previous tagline, “dedicated to making a difference,” this may seem like a minor change. But I can assure you, it involves much more than wordsmithing.

Our new tagline highlights the commitment to action and the strong solutions focus, which we all need to embrace to create a more sustainable world. It also emphasizes the leadership role that we and our members—more than 200 leading companies around the world—will undertake as we transition to the future.

Peter Bakker appointed as new WBCSD President

Last year, I informed the Executive Committee (ExCo) of my intent to step down as President following my turning 65 in August 2011. By the end of this year, I will have served as President of the WBCSD for 17 years.  It has been a privilege to lead the council from its inception in 1995 until today. 

The ExCo has conducted a search for my successor and at an extraordinary meeting on September 6, Peter Bakker, former CEO of TNT, was appointed new WBCSD President as of January 1, 2012. 

Where Are We Going?

I have seldom seen the kind of confusion and disarray in international politics that I experience today in the energy and climate area, following the Fukushima disaster and the German decision to stop nuclear power. Discussions that I have participated in lately have more resembled religious debates than factual discussions about technology options, supply and demand of fuels and capabilities and costs for alternative energy infrastructures.

Whose responsibility is it?

During the last month, when I look at what’s going on in the world, I increasingly ask myself the question:  “Whose responsibility is it?” Who decides what risks are worth taking and who is responsible for the consequences when reality turns out to be worse than the risk assessment?

Transitioning during the “Turbulent Teens”

The world is facing challenges that require a major transformation in how we manage companies and govern the world, particularly in the next 10 years, “The Turbulent Teens” as the WBCSD calls this period in its Vision 2050 report.

Welcome to the “Turbulent Teens”

Welcome to 2011 and to the “Turbulent Teens,” as we call this decade in our Vision 2050 report. In the report, we outline the innovations and transformations needed in the next 10 years to put the world on track to a sustainable future by 2050. We also define “must-haves” by 2020 – milestones that will indicate that we are heading in the right direction. 

The challenge is that we live in a “nobody-in-charge world” at the moment, and it is unlikely we will see any effective global governance emerge in the next 10 years.

It seemed like a good idea at the time

The governments came further in Cancùn than I and many others expected and managed to keep the “negotiations train on the tracks”. The Cancùn Agreement needs a lot of refinement and further details but it provides a roadmap for where to go. It is “a balanced” package and it was endorsed through speeches by all the major delegations at the final plenary. 

Focussing on Asia & the environment

Two important developments will have profound impacts on business and on future WBCSD activities: The first is Asia’s growing prominence on the world’s political and economic stage. In November, I will spend two weeks in Asia in connection with the Ministerial meetings of the G20 and APEC. In my next blog I will reflect on Asia and sustainable development. The second is that environment is recognized as a key limiting factor for the expansion of global human and economic activities. The COP10 of the Biodiversity Convention held in Nagoya in October, and the ongoing climate change negotiations with COP16 in Cancun in December, are part of this recognition. The Green Race, which is about who will be the leading suppliers of resource efficient, low-carbon solutions to the world, is a logical consequence.

There is a lot of soul searching going on …

After my recent visits to Australia, Turkey, Japan and Korea and my discussions with international business leaders, I am struck by how many countries (and companies) are searching for their role in a changing global landscape.

The financial crisis, the economic recession, the rise of Asia, the failing of national elections to create strong governments, the realization of the effects of long-term demographic trends, religious tensions, and looming currency wars (and the list could be longer) have created a sense of uncertainty in many countries.