Value proposition

The Business and Sustainable Development Commission aims to articulate and quantify the compelling economic case for business to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

With international leaders from business, labour, financial institutions and civil society, the Commission will present a comprehensive report in January 2017 outlining new business and financial models, as well as market opportunities for companies invested in achieving sustainable development. It will also showcase relevant thematic issues core to business and sustainable development throughout 2016 and 2017.

The Commission will conduct foundational research, and engage in fact-finding dialogue with a diverse cross-section of key stakeholders, including business leaders, investors, civil society representatives, social entrepreneurs and academic experts.

The initiative explores current and future disruptive business models and will map out new financing mechanisms the world will need to reach the SDGs. It will investigate changes in core business operations and behaviours that go far beyond traditional corporate social responsibility and voluntary partnerships.

The UN Foundation, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the Overseas Development Institute and The B Team are supporting the effort and helping to mobilise the business community as well as the next generation of entrepreneurs, to support achievement of the Global Goals by 2030.

The Commission was launched at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in January 2016, and is co-chaired by former Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Mark Malloch-Brown and Unilever CEO Paul Polman.