Structural institutional change needed for a successful green economy

There is a need for structural change within institutions to enable business and organisations to deliver sustainable development goals
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Improving institutions and their ability to enable the right frameworks is crucial for sustainable development. Photograph: Purestock/Getty Images/Purestock


Improving institutions and their ability to enable the right frameworks is critical so that all actors can deliver on their shared responsibility and ensure better coordination and policy implementation. The Business Alliance for Sustainable Development (BASD) believes that the following key points should be considered in the Rio+20 compilation document:

1. A system-wide strategy for sustainability across the United Nations system, including strengthening synergies across the various bodies involving the economic, social and environmental pillars of sustainable development. Sustainability challenges, such as climate change, food, resource scarcity, water, energy, waste management, corruption and social inclusion, poverty eradication, awareness, employment, education, call for an integrated, strategic approach and collective United Nations vision. The BASD encourages the development of synergies between compatible multilateral environmental agreements, while recognising that preserving and complementing the independence and tailored nature of multilateral agreements should be a priority.

2. Enhancement of the engagement of business and business organisations at global, regional and national levels. Business is a primary contributor to prosperity as recognised in Agenda 21, article 30.1.

3. Strengthening of the science-policy interface within international institutions, with the full and meaningful participation of developing countries. This must also include channels for credible and robust science from stakeholders, particularly in business and industry.

4. Identification of priorities by United Nations institutions and concentration on their specific expertise. In the past two decades, a number of new challenges to sustainable development have surfaced that have required the international community to develop collaborative, global efforts. Climate change, the loss of biodiversity, water management, the spread of desertification and land degradation and damage to marine life are all issues that have been prioritised by the United Nations in an effort to offer concerted solutions. A clear process leading to a thorough assessment of emerging issues would assist in the allocation of tasks and responsibilities amongst a variety of actors within and outside the United Nations.
