The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) recognized a critical gap between companies’ sustainability commitments and their policy engagement strategies. A recent InfluenceMap report found that 58% of the world’s largest corporations have climate commitments undermined by their own lobbying efforts. This misalignment occurs through direct lobbying and indirectly via industry associations.

This inconsistency threatens to derail progress towards the Paris Agreement and Montreal-Kunming Agreements’ goals. Additionally, it poses financial and reputational risks for companies, hindering their transition plans according to PRI reports.

Responding to these concerns, the WBCSD announced the launch of a new “Positive Policy Engagement” workstream. This initiative will be guided by an Advisory Board tasked with developing resources and knowledge to bridge the gap between commitments and policy advocacy. The Board’s focus will be on ensuring companies’ policy engagement aligns with climate, nature, and equity goals.

The workstream builds upon the WBCSD’s previously supported “Reporting Post-Engagement Framework” and ongoing collaborations with the UN-backed Race to Zero.

Positive Policy Engagement Advisory Board Co-Chair:

• Jules Peck, Partner, ERM

Advisory Board Members:

• Caroline Boin Margerit, Advocacy Director, Global Public Affairs, Danone
• Charmian Love, Global Director of Advocacy, Natura
• Cody Taylor, Group Head of Government Relations and Public Affairs, ABB
• David Laurent, Director, EpE
• Fiona Duggan, Global Sustainability Senior Manager, Unilever
• Linda Dempsey, Vice President of Public Affairs, CF Industries
• Lucie Lhopital, Global Head for Crop Protection Policy and Advocacy, Syngenta
• Malin Pettersson-Beckeman, Head of Sustainability Partnerships, Inter IKEA
• Maria Jois, Sustainability Senior Specialist, EDP
• Miguel Rodriguez, Head of Climate Policies and Alliances, Iberdrola
• Richard Ali, Director Corporate Affairs, Strategy and Stakeholder Relations, Tetra Pak
• Suzanne van Tilburg, Head of Food and Energy Networks, Rabobank
• Theodor Waddelow, Head of Sustainability Policy, Visa
• Tom Smith, Director, Global Government Affairs and Business Diplomacy, Walmart

Areas of Focus for the Advisory Board:

• Engagement with Trade Associations
• The Business Case for Positive Policy Engagement
• Transparency and Disclosure
• Education and Capacity-building

Related Article: Golden Agri-Resources Partners with WBCSD to Advance Sustainable Agriculture

The Positive Policy Engagement Advisory Board aims to bridge the gap between corporate sustainability commitments and policy engagement. The Board will develop resources to ensure companies’ advocacy aligns with environmental and social goals. This initiative seeks to leverage government policies to drive systemic change towards a sustainable future.