Moving Forward: Introducing the Sustainable Growth Initiative
by Marian Hopkins, Business Roundtable on 06.30.08
There is no question that the world of today is a much different place from just a few years ago. And one of the most exciting policy developments we’ve seen over the past few years is the progress we’ve made on global climate change.
And Business Roundtable strongly believes we should keep moving forward.
I am proud to say that Business Roundtable – an association of chief executive officers of 160 of the largest companies in the world, representing every sector of the economy – has been out in front on this issue. Our CEOs worked hard to come to agreement on the need to address climate change early on. They understood the importance of addressing energy and environmental issues from an economically sustainable perspective.
Business Roundtable had two dedicated task forces to reflect our members’ understanding and commitment to these issues and to bring together top experts to develop realistic solutions to our nation’s challenges; the Energy Task Force and the Environment, Technology & the Economy Task Force.
The Roundtable’s Environment, Technology & the Economy Task Force advanced Business Roundtable’s commitment to the mutually reinforcing goals of environmental protection and economic growth by helping companies set and realize challenging goals for environmental and societal improvement.
With energy costs consistently ranking as one of the top cost pressures facing U.S. businesses, Business Roundtable established the Energy Task Force in 2006 to address the impact of high energy costs on economic growth, advocate for economically sustainable policies, call for increased investment in R&D and promote energy efficient technology development.
These task forces proved quite successful at pushing sustainable goals to the top of the agendas of our member companies and policymakers. Yet, today’s consensus on climate change and energy security necessitates a new model.
So, recognizing that the winds have changed, we have adjusted our sails accordingly to better serve the needs of our members and society at large.
The 160 CEOs of Business Roundtable are proud to announce the establishment of the Sustainable Growth Initiative.
The founding principles behind this initiative are similar to those of our former task forces on energy and the environment. The objective is to advocate a comprehensive approach to the challenges of energy security, climate change and water quality that draws upon the best available technologies and assures stewardship of our environment and greater prosperity for all.
The new Sustainable Growth Initiative is organized to serve member companies and help them solve today’s challenges by developing a holistic business approach that emphasizes both energy efficiency and sustainable use of natural resources. Coupled with common-sense government policies, our members will be better able to promote the proactive voluntary measures necessary to meet America’s energy and environmental needs and ensure a higher standard of living for all.
At Business Roundtable, we recognize that daunting challenges lay ahead; from addressing climate change and assuring energy security to promoting an economy that is healthy. Yet, we are optimistic that the world of tomorrow will be one of which we can be proud – where our air is clean and healthy, our energy is stable and domestic and our policies are sound and constructive.
Businesses can – and must – be leaders in a greener and more prosperous future. The Sustainable Growth Initiative is another way for America’s dynamic companies to help steer our nation on its sustainable journey.
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"Businesses can – and must – be leaders in a greener and more prosperous future"
Sorry, you're several decades too late to lead. And because of the single pointedness of the profit imperative in business,it is extremely inappropriate for business to lead. Business must learn how to integrate into social/ecologically balanced structures and design in which the common good-for the sustainability of the complex ecosystems on which Earth-based life depends,is more important than short term profits. Yes business must be part of the picture.But not in charge. We need whole systems design that integrates various needs and interests ,in a balanced way and has more than mere dollar value of the moment as the mechanism to decide what's worth keeping,and what can be liquidated. The current business model reduces everything to numbers,,and has no means to understand what it takes to sustain life. Bio-systems aren't simple linear systems that are analyzable by simplistic profit loss models.
I've been involved in promoting what we used to call ecological principles,and are now called Green ,since encountering Buck minster Fuller's ideas in 1968. Anyone who want;s to really go for sustainability ,should really read Fuller's Whole Systems stuff. If business leaders are sincere,I certainly welcome that. but the idea that business leaders are out in front is ridiculous hype. Business interests have until very recently been mostly actively opposed to environmentally healthy approaches. Like I say I welcome any genuine change, I very much believe in building bridges between different segments,factions and interest groups in society, but spare me the ** .
I find this a refreshing article. I am sure that for many of these 160 companies this is just greenwashing. But others must acknowledge that companies that are profitable in the long run- the ones that stay around a long time- meed to make sure they continue to live in a world that values and can afford their products. Henry Ford paid his workers more, thereby creating a market for his own goods. Everyone benefited.
When businesses think long term they will realize that going green is ultimately the profitable thing to do, because green companies can exist forever- and make money forever. On the other hand, unsustainable practices will, in the long run, not be sustained. Raw materials used and then thrown away eventually become scarce and expensive. Environmental pollution has a cumulative economic burden that eventually becomes unpayable or eats into resources previously used for production and other economic goods. Really simple, actually. Maybe businessmen, who have incentive to look at the state of the world past the next election year, really can show the foresight that politicians either lack or choose to hide. If they lie, they only hurt themselves and their companies.
There is more clean energy out there than fossil fuel energy, and we are learning how to harness it. That, my friends, is a recipe for economic growth as good as any you will ever find.