Business backs summit goals

Sir Mark, who heads the Business Alliance for Sustainable Development (BASD), told world government leaders: “We in business are committed to working to make it happen, to deliver sustainable development, together with you as governments and other major groups.”

The former Shell chairman said that, using technology developed through the creativity of markets, business could work to deliver the utility that consumers need, but with “radically lower impact or use of resources.”

He added: “But to do this, we will need new technologies and we call on the NGOs, scientists and governments to work with us to gain acceptance of these technologies based on sound science.”

Sir Mark said one of the summit’s successes had been in demonstrating the power of partnerships. As examples, he quoted the Global Mining

Initiative, Responsible Care in the chemical industry, the Sustainable Forest Initiative, Sustainable Fisheries, and partnerships in agriculture and health or in biodiversity.

“Such partnerships, together with initiatives such as the Global Reporting Initiative, create the standards against which international business will be judged. The outcomes will also inform legislative processes,” the BASD chief said.

Sound governance was a further key to sustainable development, Sir Mark said. For business, this meant the societal institutions and structures through which all sectors of society feel that their views have been taken into account and that whatever outcomes these institutions deliver, they were fair.

“This naturally includes the sound governance of business and the equitable sharing of economic development in the interests of society.

“This sound governance creates the environment in which businesses large and small, international or domestic, can flourish.”

BASD was set up by the International Chamber of Commerce and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development to represent business at the summit.