In June 2012, world leaders will meet in Rio for the twentieth anniversary of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, which produced Agenda 21, the first comprehensive global blueprint on sustainable development. This is a time for reflection on what has been achieved and what has been left undone by the past generation. 

The objectives of Rio+20 are to

• secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development,
• assess the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development, and
• address new and emerging challenges 

The two themes of the conference are:  

• green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication,
• the institutional framework for sustainable development.

Since the first United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) in Rio in 1992 the role of business in sustainable development has changed considerably. Both the UNCSD and the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+10) have led to the creation of concrete international frameworks and processes which have mostly indirectly influenced the way business operates, such as the: 

• Agenda 21  
• UNFCCC Climate Change process (e.g. Kyoto Protocol)
• Convention on Biodiversity
• the global framework for sustainable production and consumption (SCP)
• ectorial frameworks, such as the Strategic Approach to Internationals Chemicals Management (SAICM)
• other national and regional legal frameworks

Business has already demonstrated considerable success in integrating sustainability into business practices, for example via voluntary codes like the ICC Business Charter for Sustainable Development, which has provided thousands of large and small companies around the world with the basis for sound environmental management and the ICC ten conditions for a transition toward a Green Economy – a part of a longer term Green Economy Roadmap. Other examples include reporting initiatives, such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), standards and guidance such as ISO 14001, voluntary sectorial approaches and “soft law” approaches, such as the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. Companies in all sectors have taken concrete actions, from reducing environmental impacts across value chains to increasing energy and resource efficiency, investing in low-carbon and renewable energy and reducing waste. 

 But more needs to be done if we are to meet economic, developmental and environmental challenges. Efforts by all actors should reconcile the need for short and medium-term profit with longer-term systemic change. Economic growth is and will be essential to provide the resources and social equity necessary to build capacity and finance actions in a transition towards a Green Economy. A “green economy” must ultimately function in a self-sustaining way and become integrated in international and global markets.  

ICC's engagement towards the Rio+20 Conference is channelled through two vehicles 1) ICC Green Economy Task Force and 2) the Business Action for Sustainable Development (BASD) 2012.

1. The Green Economy Task Force, a part of the ICC Commission on Environment and Energy, is developing policy contributions on behalf of ICC, which serve as the basis for ICC policy input into Rio+20 as well as other initiatives on the question of the "green economy". This content constitute an essential part of the ICC contribution to the messages which are channeled by the BASD 2012 initiative. The Task Force is chaired by Martina Bianchini, Vice-President EU Government Affairs and Public Policy, Dow Europe.

Products produced and under preparation

• Business definition on green economy, green growth and green economy   
•  Conditions for a green economy - a summary document describing ten conditions that are required for a transition toward a green economy
• Under preparation: Green Economy Roadmap with concrete recommendations for both business and government on each of the ten conditions for a transition toward a green economy. The roadmap will also contain a platform of case studies/best practices and calls for proposals for new collaborations to accelerate the transition to Green Economy. Please write to the ICC Secretariatif you would like to make a contribution to the roadmap.
• ICC input to the Rio+20 zero draft
• BASD input to the Rio+20 zero draft
• OECD comments on harnessing investment and green growth

2. BASD 2012 is a temporary platform for Rio+20, jointly convened by ICC, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the United Nations Global Compact, which is the recognized voice for business in the Rio+20 process. Laurent Corbier, Chair of the ICC Commission on Environment and Energy, represents ICC Secretary General Jean-Guy Carrier on the BASD 2012 Steering Committee, Carlos Busquets, Deputy Director ICC Department on Policy and Business Practices, Louise Kantrow, ICC Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and Andrea Bacher, Policy Manager Environment and Energy, are the leads for ICC on the BASD 2012 Project Team. Companies participate in BASD through their respective organizations. Please see also section below.

In addition, ICC is linking its green economy work with its thirteen policy commissions (e.g. Intellectual Property Roadmap) and G20 policy work, as well as its practical tools (e.g. model contract on international transfer of technology), and action-oriented platforms such as the Green Growth Trade and Investment Forums (China - May 2012; Dubai – October 2012). In this way, the Green Economy Roadmap and its call for action is becoming the unifying platform on the Green Economy theme. To make a contribution or propose a best practice for the roadmap, please contact the ICC Secretariat.

Please see also ICC "Business ABC" fact sheet More information about ICC activities will be shortly available.

Business Action for Sustainable Development (BASD) 2012 is a temporary, inclusive coalition of business groups convened by ICC, UNGC, WBCSD and joined by numerous partners. BASD 2012 was launched in October 2010 and is chaired by Mr S. Gopalakrishnan (Kris), CEO and Managing Director of Infosys.

BASD has a two folded task:

• Official major group coordinator for all business and industry participants (B&I); please write to lea.felluss@iccwbo.org if you would like to be added on the B&I list to receive updates on Rio+20 provided from the United Nations for circulation, as well as participate amongst other at providing input to Rio+20 B&I statements. 

        >> Past B&I statements

• Organizing of additional meetings, policy input as BASD; participation through the BASD partners;

The ultimate objective of BASD 2012 is to strengthen the overall contribution of Rio+20 to sustainable and inclusive markets and promote joint action between stakeholders – business, government, civil society and consumers towards green growth. Members of BASD conveners and partners work through their organization;

The main events of BASD will be the Business Day during Rio+20 on 19 June. Furthermore a global business consultation (April 2012) and a Rio dialogues will be organized. 

Further information: www.basd2012.org

Trainings/ workshop for business

• ICC webinars – Rio+20 in 60 minutes (first webinar: 13 March 2012)
• Trainings are also organized by the UN – mostly during key UN Rio+20 meetings - www.uncsd2012.org;

Information sources for business

• BASD 2012  
• ICC
  • Green economy   
  •  Rio+20
• UN Rio+20 major group  
• Direct link: overview of key meetings and related outcome documents at a glance  

Other useful links:

• Official Rio+20   
• Reports on Rio+20 meetings
• OECD – green growth   
• UNEP – green economy  
• Stakeholder Forum