The Sustainable Development Challenge: Creating new opportunities for business

By the World Business Council for Sustainable Development

The world we inhabit has changed radically in the last two decades. Over the last 20 years attention of the scientific community, governments, civil society and business is focused increasingly on the rapid growth of developing world economies and rising awareness of sustainability issues and their impacts. The world is faced with the seemingly conflicting imperatives of meeting the demands of rapid population growth – most of it in so-called developed countries – while at the same time reducing negative impacts on society and the environment. If we do not get this right, the results could be devastating.

The current global population of 6.5 billion is predicted to grow by half again by 2050 and to reach a staggering 9.2 billion, 85% of whom will be in so-called developing countries. Energy demand to meet the needs of this growing number of people and help them out of poverty is forecast to grow by as much as 50% between now and 2030 requiring investments and infrastructure development worth some US$ 20.2 trillion over the same period. Then there is demand for food and non-food crops which is also rising. At the same time, the world faces very real problems of resource depletion, water scarcity, ecosystem destruction and climate change.

If populations in rapidly emerging economies are to achieve levels of development and standards of living to which they aspire, and if we are to slow and reverse resource destruction and limit climate change impacts, then we will need, by some estimates, to cut our carbon emissions by as much as 50% by 2050. This assessment is now widely accepted.

Another change that has taken place is a new found awareness that far-sighted business is part of the solution and ready to collaborate with concerned stakeholders to tackle these challenges. Members of WBCSD were among some of the most influential pioneers of this change.

Read more on WBCSD's website.

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