| Sustainable Development – Background | Post-WWII Capitalism & Development
Industrialization, modernization, economic growth.
Increased employment in the West, Europe, parts of Asia.
However, exacerbation of global inequalities:
Widening gap between Global North & Global South.
Poverty & income inequality.
Environmental degradation. |
| Birth of the Environmental Movement | Key moments:
The Limits to Growth (1972):
Questioned infinite economic growth on a finite planet.
UN Conference on the Human Environment (1972):
Established links between economic growth, technology, and environmental impact.
The Stockholm Declaration: Recognized environmental concerns. |
| Brundtland Commission & Report (1987) | Defined Sustainable Development as:
“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
Key ideas:
Sustainable Development – Meeting present needs without harming future generations.
Key Idea – Environmental, social, and economic issues must be tackled together.
Social Sustainability – Fighting poverty & inequality is essential for solving environmental problems. |
| The Earth Summit (1992) | UN Conference on Environment & Development.
The Rio Declaration: Framework for sustainable policies.
Business involvement started to grow. |
| Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) | UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
Aimed to reduce poverty & improve social development.
Came from the UN Millennium Declaration.
Criticized for lacking focus on environment & economy. |
| What are the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? | Successor to MDGs.
17 goals addressing global challenges.
Focus on people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnerships.
Private sector |
| Business as a Development "Agent" | Why involve businesses in SDGs?
Innovation.
Efficiency.
Resources.
Responsiveness.
Key question:
Can business truly help achieve SDGs, or will it be "business as usual" with more profits for some and missed opportunities for others? |
| : Business & the SDGs – Background | Rio+20 Summit (2012) introduced:
Triple bottom line: People, Planet, Profit.
Emphasis on environmental sustainability and inclusive economic growth.
Recognition of non-material aspects of development. |
| Business & the SDGs – Role of Corporations | Big companies, governments, and civil society all play a role in global development. However, Western multinational corporations (MNCs) have the most influence, especially in major industries.
Key Points:
Who dominates? – Large Western companies, especially in mining, oil, tech, pharma, and food industries.
Voluntary sustainability – Companies choose to be sustainable rather than following strict government rules.
Government role – Instead of forcing companies to act responsibly, governments often support businesses and encourage them to lead sustainability efforts. |
| Business as Development Agent (Blowfield & Dolan) | Shift from business as a development "tool" to business as a development "agent".
Three criteria:
Capital – Businesses must invest resources into development, not just donate or support passively.
Pro-poor primacy (SDG primacy) – Business activities should prioritize helping the poor and align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Accountability – Businesses must be responsible for their impact, ensuring their development efforts are ethical and effective. |
| Business & SDGs – Tensions & Limitations | Neoliberalism Dominance
-Free-market capitalism, privatization, deregulation.
-Sustainability framed as an economic growth strategy.
-Soft measures (voluntary action) vs. systemic changes (regulation).
Problems with Partnerships
-Power imbalances between corporations, governments, and communities.
-Different values, goals, and operational methods.
Short-term Business Models vs. Long-term Sustainability
-Businesses prioritize short-term profits.
-Challenges in long-term investments in communities and workers' rights.
Failure to Move Beyond the "Business Case"
-Sustainability as a side benefit rather than a core goal.
-Driven by competition, reputation management, supply chain risks. |
| Summary & Key Takeaways | Sustainable development movement emerged to fix economic, social, and environmental problems.
Brundtland Report (1987) formalized the definition of sustainable development.
UN SDGs (post-2015) popularized the triple bottom line.
Business moved from a "tool" to an "agent" of sustainable development.
While business has potential, tensions and contradictions remain. |
