Rio+20 Incorporated? Assessing diplomatic outcomes and private sector actions on sustainable development

Abstract

The May 2012 NTS Alert entitled 'Back to the future: Is Rio+20 a 1992 redux or is there cause for optimism?' explored the prospects for the June 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), arguing that negotiators would struggle to reach consequential agreements but that the meeting would find value through non­state channels. This NTS Insight picks up where the NTS Alert left off. It highlights the emergence of the private sector as a significant driver of innovation and action on sustainability, but notes that optimism on this front must be tempered by caution, as the motivations of the private sector vary widely. Thus, robust official conference outcomes must still be considered relevant for sending signals to a range of stakeholders.

Full text

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Rio+20Incorporated?Assessingdiplomaticoutcomesandprivatesector
actionsonsustainabledevelopment
TheMay2012NTSAlertentitled‘Backtothefuture:IsRio+20a1992reduxoristherecauseforoptimism?’exploredtheprospects
fortheJune2012UNConferenceonSustainableDevelopment(Rio+20),arguingthatnegotiatorswouldstruggletoreach
consequentialagreementsbutthatthemeetingwouldfindvaluethroughnonstatechannels.ThisNTSInsightpicksupwheretheNTS
Alertleftoff.Ithighlightstheemergenceoftheprivatesectorasasignificantdriverofinnovationandactiononsustainability,but
notesthatoptimismonthisfrontmustbetemperedbycaution,asthemotivationsoftheprivatesectorvarywidely.Thus,robust
officialconferenceoutcomesmuststillbeconsideredrelevantforsendingsignalstoarangeofstakeholders.
ByJ.JacksonEwingandTarunGopalakrishnan
Introduction
ResponsestotheJune2012UNConferenceonSustainableDevelopment(UNCSD,or
Rio+20;alsoknownastheEarthSummit)inRiodeJaneirohaverangedfromtepidacceptance
toconsiderablecriticism.Relativeoptimistshavenotedaspositivedevelopmentsthe
commitmenttospecificSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs),thestrengtheningoftheUN
EnvironmentProgramme(UNEP),theencouragementofsustainabilityreportingandgrowth
measurements,andthebolsteringofscienceinpolicymaking(Llana,2012).
Withmanyofitsoutcomesstilltobesolidifiedinsubsequentmeetings,Rio+20isbeingframed
NTSInsightAugust2012
ClickhereforthePDFversion.
ConferenceofficialscelebrateagreementonThefuturewewant,theprimaryoutcomedocumentofthe2012UNConferenceon
SustainableDevelopment.Whilethisnegotiatedagreementhasmetwithbothdisappointmentandguardedpraise,thelegacyofRio+20
maybelargelyformedbyactivitiesthattookplaceoutsideofofficialchannels.
Credit:UNPhoto/EskinderDebebe.
Contents:
lIntroduction
lRio+20:Expectationsand
process
lTheofficialRio+20
outcomes
lSidelinestofrontline:The
privatesector
lConclusion

bysome,includingUNSecretaryGeneralBanKimoon,asthebeginning,ratherthanthe
realisation,ofapathwaytowardsmoresustainableeconomicandsocialsystems(Rio+20a
“failureofleadership”,2012).TwentyyearsonfromthefirstglobalEarthSummit,thisisa
curiousslant;andmanyseethemeetingsaslittlemorethanahollowshell.Over1,000non
governmentalorganisations(NGOs),institutionsandindividualshavesignedapetitioncalling
theoutcomeofthemeetings‘TheFutureWeDon’tWant’(apointedreferencetoRio+20’s
outcomedocument,Thefuturewewant).Theycitefailurestoremovefossilfuelsubsidies,
adequatelyprotectoceans,andaddresswomen’sreproductivehealthamongothers.A
delegationofyouthorganisationsdramaticallywalkedoutoftheRio+20conferenceinprotest
andelderstatespersonsoftheenvironmentalmovement,fromFernandoCardosotoGro
HarlemBrundtland,havedecriedtheconference’sshortcomings(Rio+20isnottheresponse,
2012).
However,despiteanoveralllackofenthusiasticresponses,aswellaswidespread
exasperationfromenvironmentalnongovernmentalorganisations(ENGOs)andfrustrationon
thepartofmanycountries,Rio+20mayyetleaveitsmarkasthetippingpointforprivatesector
actiononsustainabledevelopment.Nonstate,particularlyprivatesector,involvementhasbeen
largelyheraldedfollowingRio+20,andthereisevidencetosuggestthattheconference’smostcompellingstoriestookplaceoutsidethe
mainnegotiatinghalls.ThisNTSInsightreactstoRio+20bycomparingandjuxtaposingdevelopmentsintheofficialnegotiationswith
thoseemergingfromthesidelinesoftheconference(withemphasisgiventoactivitiesfromtheprivatesector).Itconcludesbyquestioning
therelationshipbetweentheofficialandthelessformalisedoutcomes,bothforthefutureofsustainabledevelopmentandenvironmental
summitry.
^Tothetop
Rio+20:Expectationsandprocess
Developmentprioritieswithapoliticalfocus
MomentumtowardsRio+20beganinearnestwithUNGeneralAssemblyresolution64/236of2009,whichsawstatesreaffirmtheneedto
useRio+20tomoreeffectivelybalanceeconomicdevelopment,socialwellbeingandenvironmentalprotectionagendas(UNGA,2010).Ina
statementrepresentativeofdevelopingworldconcerns,BrazilianForeignMinisterAntonioPatriotastatedthat‘[t]hesummitcan’tjustbe
abouttheenvironment…ithastobeaboutdevelopment’(PradaandChestney,2012).Patriota’sstatementreflectsagrowingjuxtaposition
ofenvironmentalanddevelopmentconcernsthathasbeenincreasinglyapparentsincethe2010ConferenceofthePartiestotheUN
FrameworkConventiononClimateChange(UNFCCC)inCancun.PanelChairfortheIntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange(IPCC)
OttmarEdenhofer,forexample,describedthe2010negotiationsas‘notaclimateconference,butoneofthelargesteconomicconferences
sincetheSecondWorldWar…Onehastofreeoneselffromtheillusionthatinternationalclimatepolicyisenvironmentalpolicy.Thishas
almostnothingtodowithenvironmentalpolicyanymore’(Potter,2010;translatedfromGerman,emphasisadded).
Rio+20followedasimilarpath,withtheprimacyofeconomicandsocialpoliciesbecomingquicklyapparent. Excessivefocusonthe
environmentwasgentlycriticisedbytheEuropeanCommission,whichwantedtoupdatenationalsustainabledevelopmentstrategiesthat
‘haveoftenbeentoostrictlyenvironmental’(UNCSD,2012a:responsetoquestionB12).ApartfromwideningthevisionforRio+20outputs,
itwasanticipatedthattheemphasisondevelopmentcouldleadtofreshapproachestoissuesthathavebeenasourceofcontentionat
otherclimatenegotiations.Moreimportantly,thedevelopmentemphasisresonatedwiththeinsistenceofdevelopingcountriesthatsocial
andeconomicadvancementnotfallvictimtothecauseofenvironmentalstewardship.Thesetrendslentthemselvestopoliticallyratherthan
legallyfocuseddeliberations.
Fromtheoutset,Rio+20soughtto‘securerenewedpoliticalcommitmentforsustainabledevelopment’andtocreatea‘focusedpolitical
document’(UNGA,2010:para.20;emphasesadded).Tangibly,thegovernmentsofColombia,GuatemalaandPerulabelledthe
envisionedSDGsas‘concretewaysofgrounding’thepoliticalcommitment,anditwasproposedthatRio+20beaforumforagreeingona
setofsustainabledevelopmentobjectives,amongthemcombatingpovertyand,ininitialproposals,changingconsumptionpatterns(MFR
Colombia,2011a,2011b).GovernmentsthuslargelyskirtedthegoalsthathavedefinedmuchoftheongoingUNFCCCprocess,suchas
thesigningoftreatiesorbindingcommitments.Unsurprisingly,governmentstatementsleadingtoRio+20reflectedthepoliticalinterests
underpinningthenegotiationsandcontributedtothesensethatbindinglegalframeworkswouldnotbeintheoffing(Horner,2012).
Theinstitutionalframeworkforsustainabledevelopment
Intheabsenceofbindingagreements,theneedtostrengthentheinstitutionalframeworkforenvironmentalgovernancebecameoneoftwo
themesfortheconference(theotherbeingthegreeneconomy,discussedinthenextsection).Theemphasisondevelopinganintegrated
frameworkforsustainabledevelopmentflowedfromChapterXIofthe2002JohannesburgPlanofImplementation,which‘highlightedthe
needtoenhancetheintegrationofsustainabledevelopmentintheactivitiesofallrelevantUnitedNationsagencies,programmesand
funds,andtheinternationalfinancialinstitutions’(UNCSD,2012b).Thisseeminglynecessitatedmovingbeyondnebulouspolitical
nConsortiumofNTSStudies
inAsiaWebsite
nRSISCentreforNTSStudies
Website
Recommendedcitation:Ewing,J.
JacksonandTarunGopalakrishnan,
2012,‘Rio+20Incorporated?Assessing
diplomaticoutcomesandprivatesector
actionsonsustainabledevelopment’,
NTSInsight,August,Singapore:RSIS
CentreforNonTraditionalSecurity
(NTS)Studies.
MacArthur
AsiaSecurityInitiativeBlog
Clickhereforupdates!
1

agreementsandtowardsamoreconcreteframework.ShaZukang,headoftheUNDepartmentofEconomicandSocialAffairs,andlater
SecretaryGeneralofRio+20,articulatedthiswhenhestatedthat‘theworldmightneedsomethingmorethananegotiateddeclarationof
politicalcommitmenttoadvancetheimplementationof[the]sustainabledevelopmentagenda’(BureauofthePreparatoryProcessforthe
UNCSD,2011).DevelopinganinstitutionalframeworkwasthusmorethananideologicalaspirationbutratherahopedforRio+20
outcome.
PreRio+20discussionsofaninstitutionalframeworkcentreduponhowbesttorealignexistinginstitutionstobalanceeconomic,social
andenvironmentalprioritiesandhowanysucheffortsshouldbeimplemented.Therewasrelativeconsensusthat‘reformstoinstitutional
arrangementscouldbebasedontheexistingstructure,whileenhancingcoordination,coherence,andsynergies’(UNCSD,2012c).There
wereavarietyofinputsonhowtoupdatetheseexistingstructures.SomestatesfavouredstrengtheninginstitutionssuchastheUN
CommissiononSustainableDevelopmentand/ortheUNEP,whileotherssoughttocreateanewumbrellaorganisationtocoordinatethe
workofUNbodies.
Withanyorganisationalframe,however,therewasrecognitionthatinternationalbodiesmustsetupeffectivemechanismstohelp
developingcountriesachievesustainabledevelopmenttargets.Suchdiscussionslargelymirroredthedebatesabout‘greenfunding’that
havebeencommonatclimatechangenegotiations.Thebroadobjectivewastocreateaninternationalregimeinwhichdevelopingnations
areincentivisedtomeetsustainabledevelopmenttargetsthrough‘technologytransfer’and‘adequateandpredictablefinancing’(UNCSD,
2012c).StatementsbyChina(2011),India(2011)andBrazil(2011)duringtheRio+20leaduphighlighttheserequirementsasprioritiesin
aworkableinstitutionalframework,andreflecttheinsistenceofdevelopingstateactorsthatnewframeworksfacilitatetheflowoftechnology
andfinancedeemedessentialforenteringintotargetsand/orcommitments.
Agreeneconomy
ThesecondprimarythemeofRio+20wasthesocalledgreeneconomy,whichselfreferentiallysitsattheintersectionofenvironmentaland
economicconcerns.Whiletheoverarchingaimofthegreeneconomyistoachievesustainablepatternsofproductionandconsumption,the
conceptdoesnotlenditselftoprecisedefinition.Itwasagreedthattheconceptshouldnotreplacesustainabledevelopmentasagoal,but
shouldratherbeseenasavehicleforachievingbroadsustainabilityaims.Thisbeingsaid,anddespitetrumpetingbytheEuropeanUnion
(EU),definitionalambiguitiessurroundingthegreeneconomymiredconversationsbothleadinguptoandduringtheRio+20process
(Llana,2012),andrevealedkeyspacesbetweenleadingdevelopinganddevelopedcountrypositions.
TheinfluentialGroupof77(G77)developingworldcoalitionremainedfirmthatpovertyalleviationmustbeapriorityforsustainable
developmentstrategies.Meanwhile,stakeholdersfromdevelopedstatessuchastheUS,whileacknowledgingtheimportanceoffocusing
onthepoor,alsohighlightedtheneedtoadoptmarketmechanisms.Developinganddevelopedstatesfoundsomecommongroundonthe
issueoftradeprotectionism,arguingthatprotectionismneededtobereducedaspartofthedrivetowardsagreeneconomy.Yetanother
oftrepeatedviewpointwasthatnationsshouldbelefttodeterminetheirprioritiesandnotfallvictimtoonesizefitsallapproaches.This
flexibilitywouldpresumablyextendtoareasoftraderegulation,subsidiesandsoforthwhichareatthecruxoftheprotectionismissue.
Largelybecauseofsuchobscurities,andtradeprotectionismprovidesonlyoneexample,itremainedunclearwhataglobalcommitmentto
thegreeneconomy–accompaniedbyaroadmapdefiningconcretestepsattheinternationalandnationallevel,aswellasabestpractice
guideofactions,instruments,indicators,casestudiesandpolicies–wouldactuallyentail.
^Tothetop
TheofficialRio+20outcomes
ExaminingThefuturewewant
Rio+20wasplaguedbysignificantpreemptorydiplomaticposturinganddeficientprioritisationbysomeoftheworld’smostinfluential
players.Oneobserverlamentedthe‘weeks[spent]hagglingovereventhemostanodynewording’anditwasreportedthatultimatelythe
Brazilianhostdelegationresortedto‘ramming’throughaversionofthesocalledZeroDraft(theRio+20negotiatingdocument)by
incorporatingonlyuniversallyagreedsuggestions(Lean,2012).Thelackofanypronounceddiplomaticbreakthroughswasworsenedby
thenonattendanceofseveralprominentworldleadersincludingUSPresidentBarackObamaandUKPrimeMinisterDavidCameron.This
stoodinstarkcontrasttothelargehighlevelrepresentationenjoyedbytheoriginalEarthSummitin1992.Thepresenceofgloballeaders
atanearbyGroupof20(G20)meetingonfinancialreformsfurtherprovidedanemotivesignalastotheplaceofsustainabledevelopment
inthehierarchyofinternationalpriorities.
TheprimaryoutcomeofRio+20isadocumenttitledThefuturewewant(UN,2012).Thedocument,asearliernoted,representsadegreeof
progress.Therealtestofthedocumenthoweverliesnotinwhatwassaidbutwhatwasleftout.Inthecontextofthegreeneconomy,the
ZeroDraftspecificallyoutlinesaframeworkforactionwhichacknowledgesthatmaking‘significantprogresstowardsbuildinggreen
economieswillrequirenewinvestments,newskillsformation,technologydevelopment,transferandaccess,andcapacitybuildinginall
countries’(UNCSD,2012e:para.42).Statesagreetospecificcommitmentstowardsaninternationalframeworkforgreeningeconomies.
Thesectiondisappearsinthefinaldocument,whichcontentsitselfwithrecognisingthebenefitsofthegreeneconomyapproachandtakes

greatpainstoprioritisenationalsovereigntyinimplementation(UN,2012).Meanwhile,oncelaudedconceptssuchas‘naturalcapital’
failedtomakethefinalagreement,andproposalsfornewGDPmeasurementswereleftvagueevenintheZeroDraft.
TheinstitutionalframeworksectionofThefuturewewantshowsgreatersubstance.Thefinaltextcontainsaconcreteagreementforthe
establishmentofa‘universalintergovernmentalhighlevelpoliticalforum’whichwouldeventuallyreplacetheUNCommissionon
SustainableDevelopment(UN,2012:para.84).Ongoingintergovernmentaldiscussionscouldbeaboonforsustainabledevelopment,
providedthattheRio+20mandateisfurtherdefinedandadequatelyempoweredbyfuturemeetingsonthetopicattheUNGeneral
Assembly.Themonitoringandevaluationoftheseagreementswillremainkey.However,theproposalintheZeroDrafttousetheUN
EconomicandSocialCouncil(ECOSOC)asamonitoringagencyforsustainabledevelopment(UNCSD,2012e:para.48)waseventually
sacrificedforstrengtheningtheECOSOC‘withinitsmandateunderthe[UN]Charter’(UN,2012:para.83).Thisensuredthatoneofthe
strongestinternationalforumswillcontinuetoescapecommittingtoanovertlyenvironmentalfocus.
TheColombianproposalonSDGswaslargelyadoptedasitwas,possiblybecauseitdidnotrequireadefinitionofpositionsatthispointin
time.ThedocumentmerelyagreestoinitiateaprocesstowardsdraftingtheSDGsinconcertwiththeprocesstoreworktheMillennium
DevelopmentGoals(MDGs)by2015(MFRColombia,2011a,2011b).
Matchingoutcomesagainstaspirations
ShaZukangoutlinedhisaspirationsfortheconferencebysayingthat‘Rio+20mustbetheplacewheredecisionsonthefutureoftheplanet
aremadeforthenext10or20years.Itcannotbeanothertalkshop.Worldleadersneedtoadoptanambitiousandyetpracticaloutcome
thatequalsthemagnitudeoftoday’schallenges’(Zhang,2012).Bythismeasurement,Rio+20issomewhatwanting.Thefuturewewant
doesnotshiftanyparadigms;sustainabledevelopmentasaconcepthasbeenaroundforalongwhile.Nordotheofficialoutcomesmake
concretecommitmentstofurtheringthecauseofsuchdevelopment.Voluntarycommitmentsfromstatesarelikewiseunderwhelming;
around20nationsregisteredatotaloflessthan50commitments(UNCSD,2012d).
Moregenerally,Rio+20soughttomovebeyondtheintractabilityofclimatechangenegotiationstodevelopconsensusaroundthethree
pillars(social,economic,environmental)ofsustainabledevelopment.Giventhatclimatechangediscoursemenacinglycentresupon
preventingadestructivefuture,shiftingthediscussiontowardsprogressiveandproactivemethodsofdevelopmenthasalogical
attractiveness.ThenegotiationsavoidedimpasseandfoundamodicumofsuccessintheformofThefuturewewant,butdidsothrough
noncommittalandthusuncontentiouswording,puttingoffquestionsaboutimplementationtofuturemeetingsandchasingawhitewhale
intheformofthegreeneconomy.Thislatterprovedtobealessthananidealchoiceforframingdiscussionsonsustainabledevelopment,
andledtoadevolvingdiscussionaboutwhether‘Western’economicmodelsoughttobeupdatedorfundamentallyrethought.
InthewakeofRio+20,keyquestionsremainabouthowtomanage
theinterconnectinggoalsofeconomicprogress,environmental
stewardshipandsocialresponsibility.Thisisunsurprising;there
hadbeenfewrecentsignsthatRio+20wouldbetheplacefora
paradigmaticshiftindevelopmentapproaches.Moreover,
negotiationswouldhavebeendifficultevenwithoutthis
enthusiasmdeficit.Rio+20’spredecessor,the1992EarthSummit,
wasviewedbymanyassignallingsuchashift,anditslukewarm
legacyservesasacautionarypointaboutthedifficultyofreforming
fundamentalelementsofinternationalsystems(Ewing,2012b).
Progressininternationalenvironmentalnegotiationswillcontinue
tobenonlinear,subjecttofitsandstarts,andcaptivetoprevailing
globaltrendsanddomesticpoliticalclimates.
Lesspredictablearethemovementsofnonstateactorsinvolved
inthesustainabledevelopmentequation.Thesestakeholders,
particularlythosecomingfromtheprivatesector,pursuedtracksat
Rio+20thatrevealimportantlessonsforcurrentglobal
environmentalsummitry,andprovidecuestothelikelyfutureof
sustainabledevelopmentparadigms.
^Tothetop
Sidelinestofrontline:Theprivatesector
Businessas(un)usual?
InstarkcontrasttothedissatisfactionvoicedthroughmediaandENGOchannels,theprivatesectoremergedfromRio+20witharangeof
positivenarrativesemphasisingtheirownimportanceanduniquecapabilities.Whilethemeetingwasspurned(fortheG20)bymanyofthe

Representativesfrommultipleyouthorganisations‘walkout’of
theRio+20meetingsinprotestagainstwhatmanyviewedasan
unambitious,ineffectualandcooptednegotiationprocess.
Credit:youthpolicy.org.

world’smostinfluentialheadsofstate,andwithministersoffinance,commerceandplanningfewandfarbetween,ChiefExecutiveOfficers
(CEOs)ofmultinationalsteemedtheRiosidelines(Bigg,2012).Theprivatesectorprovidedkeyplayerstomeetingsbothbeforeandduring
Rio+20,suchastheRio+20CorporateSustainabilityForum,andgatheringshostedbytheWorldBusinessCouncilforSustainable
Development,theEuropeanEconomicandSocialCommittee,andBusinessActionforSustainableDevelopment.Otherinitiativessuchas
theUNHighlevelGrouponSustainableEnergyforAllbroughttogetherdiverseactorsfromthebusiness,finance,governmentandcivil
societysectorsinrelativelyinformal,oratleastnonbinding,forumsfordiscussion.TheGreenIndustryPlatform,coorganisedbytheUN
IndustrialDevelopmentOrganizationandtheUNEP,exemplifiedthestrangebedfellowsthatdefineRio’ssecondtier.ThePlatformcounts
amongitssignatoriescompaniesfromMicrosofttoBangladesh’sViyellatexGroup,andcountriesfromSwitzerlandtoNigeria.Alltold,over
700voluntarycommitmentsestimatedtobeworthmorethanUSD500billioninactionsemergedfromtheseavenuesatRio+20(Hohnen,
2012).
Theseprivatesectoreffortscoalescedaroundseveralbasic
points,thefirstofwhichwasthatprivatesectoractionisessential
totheearnestandeffectivepursuitofsustainabledevelopment.
ThissentimentconvergedneatlywithRio+20’sofficialnegotiated
outcomes,whichemphasisedatvariouspointstheneedformulti
stakeholdercollaborationandprivatesectorinvolvement.
Specifically,Thefuturewewantstatesthatsustainable
development‘canonlybeachievedwithabroadallianceofpeople,
governments,civilsocietyandprivatesector’(UN,2012:para.13).
Thedocumentgoesontorecognisethe‘importanttoolofpublic
privatepartnerships’,support‘nationalregulatoryandpolicy
frameworksthatenablebusinessandindustrytoadvance
sustainabledevelopmentinitiatives’,and‘urgegovernmentsto
createenablingenvironmentsthatfacilitatepublicandprivate
sectorinvestmentinrelevantandneededcleanerenergy
technologies’(UN,2012:paras46and127).
Suchplatitudinousofficialstatementsaboutprivatesector
engagementnotwithstanding,therewasalsoapalpablesensein
Riothattheprivatesectorhasthecapacitytotakeaction,andis
doingso,intheabsenceofmomentousdiplomaticaccords.The
perceivedpoortrackrecordofofficiallynegotiatedstrategiesduringprecedingdecadesgaveoxygentothesesentiments(Ewing2012b).
TomBigg(2012)oftheInternationalInstituteforEnvironmentandDevelopmentjuxtaposesdiplomaticshortcomingswiththeemergent
privatesector:
Ifanything,theSummitconstitutedastepbackinthedecadeslongeffortthatstartedwiththeBrundtlandCommissioninthelate
1980s,toplaceequity,sufficiencyandinternationalcollaborationattheheartofglobalandnationalpolicy…Bycontrast,headsof
corporationssuchasUnilever,Puma,andthebiggestBraziliancompanieswereubiquitousinRio,somebullishlyassertingthatif
governmentswon’ttakestepstofixglobalproblemsthentheywillstepintothegap.
FrancesBeineckeoftheUSbasedNationalResourcesDefenseCouncilwasevenmoreexplicitabouttheneedforprivatesectorandcivil
societyactorstoovercomediplomaticquagmireswhenshestatedthatRio+20outcomesshowthat‘wecan’trelyonlyontheslowwheels
ofbureaucracyandgovernmentnegotiatorstoaddresstheurgentproblemsfacingourplanet.Wemuststartdoingitourselves,andRio
provedthatweare’(Davidson,2012).
Tobuttressthesesocalledbullishassertions,privatesectoractorscitedindependentactionsthathavehadtangibleimplicationsfor
sustainability.TensieWhelanandPaulPolman(2012),respectivelyPresidentoftheRainbowAllianceandCEOofUnilever,declaredina
jointeditorialthat‘[i]ntheyearssincethefirstEarthSummit,businessesandNGOslikeourshavebeenworkingtoscaleupsustainable
resourceuseandengageproducersandcommunitiesworldwide’,aprocesswhichis‘quietlytransformingglobalmarkets’andhasledto
‘threepercentoftheworld’sworkingforests,10percentoftheworld’steaproductionand15percentoftheworld’sbananas’comingunder
sustainablemanagement.TheyclaimthatUnileverandhundredsofotherglobalbusinessesare‘committedtosourcing100percentofthe
commoditiestheyuse’fromcertifiedsustainablesources,andconcludethatRioprocesseshavethus‘sensiblyevolvedawayfrom
governmentdecreeandturnedtowardtheprivatesectortobuildagreeneconomythatcanimplementsustainabilityonaglobal
scale’(WhelanandPolman,2012).
Suchsuccessesarepresentedasacontrasttotheseeminglyintractablediplomaticdebatesofenvironmentalsummitryandalsosuggest
thatchannelsoutsideofofficialnegotiationsholdpromiseasincubatorsofinnovationandcollaboration(AndonovaandHoffman,2012;
Ewing,2012b).TheRio+20meetingsprovidedtheprivatesectorwithasubstantialplatformtohighlighttheirtechnologicalsolutionsandto
sharetheirideasonaddressingsustainabilitychallenges(Vorhies,2012).UNEPHeadAchimSteineracknowledgedthesepossibilities
whenhestatedthatwhile‘wecan’tclaimonanymajorindicatorsthatwe’veturnedthecorner…underneaththeglobalmetalevelof

SteveWaygood(left),ChiefResponsibleInvestmentOfficerat
AvivaInvestors,speaksattheRio+20sidelinelaunchoftheUN
EnvironmentProgramme(UNEP)report,Sustainablereturnon
investment:Thebusinesscaseforagreeneconomy.Joinedby
MarkLee(right),ExecutiveDirectorofSustainAbility,Waygood
wasonevoiceamongmanyfromtheprivatesectorpromoting
moresustainablebusinesspractices.
Credit:UNPhoto/NicoleAlgranti.

analysis[Rio+20facilitated]extraordinaryinnovation’(Bigg,2012).Suchinnovationandcollaborativeopportunitieswereseenbymanyto
transcendanyofficialnegotiatedoutcomes.
Despitesuchclaimsofparallelprogress,however,privatesectorvoicesatRio+20wereunambiguousintheircallsforclearsignalsfrom
policymakingcommunities.WhelanandPolman(2012),forexample,urgeddelegates‘toprovideaframeworktodesignandfund
incentivesforsustainableproductionandconsumption– onethatsupportsinvestmentsinenvironmentalandsocialimprovements’,
statingthatsuchaframeworkcouldmobilisebillionsinprivateinvestment.BrunoBerthon,GlobalManagingDirectorforAccenture
SustainabilityServices,extendedthissentimentbeyondRio+20bycallingfordelegatestocreateamoreefficientandimpactfulglobal
environmentalorganisation,citingthesixcurrentlyoperatinginternationalconventionsonbiodiversityasanexampleoftheconvolutionand
disorganisationthatcanbecripplingforprivatesectoraction(Vorhies,2012).
Insum,itwasthepositioningoftheprivatesectorvisàvisthenegotiationprocessthatcametorealisegreatermaturityatRio+20.Ifthe
1992EarthSummitwasaboutgovernmentscallingonnonstateactorstoaltertheirbehaviour,Rio+20sawmanyprivatesectorplayers
callingongovernmentstojointhemincreatingfurtherprogress(Bendell,2011).Despitethismaturation,however,itisclearthat
entrenchedprivatesectordynamics,includingthosethatareanathematosustainabledevelopment,willnotdissipatequietly.
What’sinitfortheprivatesector?
TherearereasonsforbothcautionandoptimismwhenevaluatingtheRio+20privatesectornarratives.Therearecertainlydisparate
motivesfortheproactivepositionsofdifferentprivatesectoractors,rangingfromaltruisticsocialresponsibilitytodisingenuous
greenwashing;andexploringplausibleprivatesectorintentionsremainsvitalforassessingthesector’slikelycontributionstoSDGs.
Themostdirectanddigestiblereasonforprivatesectorinterestcentresonthepremisethatsustainabilitymeasureswouldleadtocost
savingsforbusinesses.Thedaytodayoperationsofmultinationalsareoftenenergy andresourceintensivewhenmeasuredin
aggregate;andemphasisingefficiencyinproductionaswellasindistributionandmarketingchainspresentsrelativelyuncontentiouslow
hangingfruit.Moreover,introducingefficienciesthroughsustainablepracticescannotonlyimprovecorporatebottomlinesbutalsoreduce
environmentalstresses,makingitaneasysellstrategically.
Privatesectoractorsalsohaveavestedinterestinbeingfirstmoversinemergentsustainabilityindustries.Businessestargeting
renewableenergy;theenergyefficiencyofbuildings;water,forestandsoilconservation;agricultureandfoodsecurity;oceanecosystem
andfisherymonitoring;sustainablewastemanagement;naturalresourceextractionandthelikeallhaveastakeinbuildingnetworks,
beingexposedtonewtechnologiesandapproaches,andpromotingsustainablepolicies(Bendell,2011).Rio+20,andotherglobal
environmentalsummits,providesanidealvenueformeetingtheseobjectives.Hereagain,potentialprofitslineupreadilywith
environmentalstewardship.
Further,privatesectoractorshaveareputationalstakeinappearingtobesociallyandbyextensionenvironmentallyresponsible.As
environmentalawarenessincreasesamongconsumers,driveninnosmallpartbyinternationalenvironmentalsummitry,incentives
emergeforbusinessestoappeartosupportsustainability.Inanidealscenario,thiscontributestosymbioticinteractionsinwhich
sustainabilitylendscompaniesgreaterefficiencyandrobustnessintheiroperationswhileallowingcustomerstoenjoyproductsthatare
consistentwiththeirsocialandenvironmentalvalues.Morecynically,thedesiretoprojectaprosustainabilityimagecouldleadto
incompleteordeceptiveinformationaboutbusinesspractices,ortoactionsthatfocusonthemostvisibleformsofsustainablepractices
overthemostbeneficial.
Finally,themostdifficultyetimportantareaforanalysingprivate
sectoractiondealswiththeirlargerstrategicoutlooksregarding
profitableenvironmentalsystemsandresources.Some
businessesmayshowaninterestinavoidinglevelsof
environmentaldegradationandresourceexhaustionthatcan
underminetheiroperationsinthelongerterm.Inthewordsof
AndrewDeutzofNatureConservancy,‘[m]anyofthebusinesses
[atRio+20]arerecognizingthatenvironmentaldegradationcanbe
amajorbusinessriskiftheydon’tdealwithit’(Llana,2012).By
couchingissuesintermsof‘risk’,businessesareplacing
environmentalconcernsinfamiliarterritory.Giventhatprivate
sectorresourceextractionforshorttermeconomicgainshaslong
beencriticisedasenvironmentallyuntenable(WCED,1987),
movementstowardslongertermstrategicenvironmental
considerationsareaboonforsustainabledevelopment.
Conversely,however,perverseincentivesforrapidlyand
unsustainablyexploitingresourcesandenvironmentalsystems
remainentrenched(Brand,2012;Ewing,2012b).Manycompanies
willcontinuetosubjugateenvironmentalandsocialfactorsto

AworkerincentralThailandinspectspanelsonthelargestsolar
photovoltaicprojectintheworld.Emergentindustriessuchas
thoserelatingtorenewableenergycanbringprofitsfor
companiesthatfindastrategicnicheandtakeadvantageof
incentivesthatpromotemoresustainableproductionpractices.
Credit:AsianDevelopmentBank.

bottomlineinterests,arealitythatcontrastsdirectlywiththe
integrativeprinciplesofsustainability.
Athreadrunningthroughthesefactorsimpellingprivatesectoractionistherejectionofnotionsthatslowergrowthandlowerconsumption
shouldfeatureinthepushforsustainability.AreportpublishedbytheWorldBusinessCouncilforSustainableDevelopment,whichwas
chairedbytheCEOsofDuPontandProcter&Gamble,encapsulatesthissentiment,arguingthatamodelbasedonnogrowthandlow
consumptioncannotimprovethequalityoflifeforcitizensaroundtheworld(HollidayandPepper,2012).Suchcontentionspromote
expandingconsumerchoicetoincludemoresustainableproducts,buthavelittletonotruckwithaskingpeopletogetbywithless.The
doingwell(makingprofit)bydoinggood(beingenvironmentallyandsociallyprogressive)modelimplicitlyemphasiseseconomicgrowth
andprofitseeking.Suchapproachesaremetwithtrepidationbythosewhoarguethatreininginconsumptionandexorbitantlifestylesare
imperativeforachievingsustainability(Monbiot,2012;Skidelsky,2012).Giventhatsustainableproductionandconsumptionfeaturedheavily
inRio+20discussions,thisimportantdebateoverwhethersustainabilitycanbeachievedbyrelyingonconsumptionpromoting
approaches(favouredbyprivatesectorinterests)willcertainlycontinue.
^Tothetop
Conclusion
The1992EarthSummitsoughttoshifttheprioritiesofgovernmentsandpeoplesbyfullyintegratingenvironmentaldimensionsinto
decisionmakingineverysphereofactivity(UN,1993).Thisarguablydidnothappen(Ewing,2012b).AtRio+20,itwasagainapparentthat
thereareclearlimitationstoofficialhighleveldiplomacy,yetsignsofactionwerevisibleinmorepluralistic,inclusiveandunboundparallel
channels.
TheofficialnegotiationsatRio+20mademodestcontributionstomoresustainablesocialandeconomicsystemsforthefuture,butthey
alsoconvergedonarelativelylowcommondenominatortoreachcompromiseamongpartieswithwidelydiverginginterests.Thisprocess
echoesthatofthe2010Cancunand2011Durbanclimatechangenegotiations,whichavoided‘failure’bymitigatingexpectations,moving
incrementallyanddelayinghighlycontentiousdecisions(Ewing,2011,2012a).Suchapproachesshouldnotbelamentedoutright.
Internationaldiplomacythataddressesissuesasfundamentaltotheorganisationofsocietiesassustainabilityisboundtoexperience
discord.Theinherentlimitstothenegotiationprocessarenotsettowane– despitethesometimesvitrioliccriticismsfromtheENGO
communityandfrustrationfromstateandnonstatevoicescallingforstrongeraction.
Thisrealityfuelsthesensethatprivatesectoractionscanandmustsupplement,extendandattimescircumventandusurpofficial
negotiatingplatformsfortrueshiftstowardssustainabilitytotakehold.Therearereasonsforcautiousoptimismalongthesefronts,asthe
presenceofinfluentialbusinessleadersatRio+20andthewealthofagreementsreachedandconnectionsmadedemonstrate.However,
thisdoesnotmeanthatthequestforinternationallyrecognisednormsandregulationsisantiquatedorirrelevant.Themotivationsofprivate
sectoractorsininvestinginsustainabledevelopmentinitiativesarevaried,andquestionsexistastotheextenttowhichtheirinterests
convergewithpublicgoals.Governmentsshouldthereforesendclearsignalstotheseactors,andtheremustexistenforceablestatutesto
effectivelyguideandmodifytheiractions.Suchstructuralforcesareessentialfornudgingcountries,organisationsandpeoples,whichare
atthesametimeinterconnectedanddisparate,towardsbroadlyconstructedcommondevelopmentgoals.
^Tothetop
Note
1. Forexample,stakeholdersfromtheEuropeanCommission,incompletingaseriesofquestionnairesduringtheleaduptoRio+20,usedthewords
‘sustainable’,‘development’,‘economic’and‘social’farmorethaneither‘climate’or‘environment’(UNCSD,2012a).

References
Andonova,LilianaB.andMatthewJ.Hoffman,2012,‘FromRiotoRioandbeyond:Innovationinglobalenvironmentalgovernance’,The
JournalofEnvironment&Development,Vol.21,No.1,pp.57–61.http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1070496511436278
Bendell,Jem,2011,‘TowardsRio2012andcollaborativegovernanceforsustainabledevelopment’,SocialSpace2011,pp.36–41.
http://www.lcsi.smu.edu.sg/downloads/SocialSpace2011Towards%20Rio%202012%20and%20Collaborative%20Governance%20for%
20Sustainable%20Development%20%20Jem%20Bendell.pdf
Bigg,Tom,2012,‘Fivethingswe’velearntfromRio+20’,InternationalInstituteforEnvironmentandDevelopment,3July.
http://www.iied.org/fivethingswevelearntrio20

2011,‘Cancunandclimatesecurity:Newapproaches,mixedresults’,NTSAlert,January(Issue1),Singapore:RSISCentreforNon
TraditionalSecurity(NTS)Studies.http://www.rsis.edu.sg/nts/HTMLNewsletter/alert/NTSalertjan1101.html
2012a,‘FromKyototoDurban:Thefitsandstartsofglobalclimatechangenegotiations’,NTSInsight,February,Singapore:RSIS
CentreforNonTraditionalSecurity(NTS)Studies.http://www.rsis.edu.sg/nts/HTMLNewsletter/Insight/NTSInsightFeb1201.html
2012b,‘Backtothefuture:IsRio+20a1992reduxoristherecauseforoptimism?’,NTSAlert,May,Singapore:RSISCentreforNon
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20the%20SDG%20Proposal%20ENG%20DEC11.pdf
Brand,Ulrich,2012,‘Greeneconomy–Thenextoxymoron?Nolessonslearnedfromfailuresofimplementingsustainabledevelopment’,
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SecondMeetingofthePreparatoryCommitteeoftheUnitedNationsConferenceonSustainableDevelopment,NewYork,8March.
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withtheprincipals/representativesofECESAPlus,Geneva,7July2011’,UNCSD.http://www.uncsd2012.org/content/documents/Note%
20of%20Bureaus%20Dialogue%20with%20ECESA%20Principals%20_7%20july_.pdf
China,2011,‘StatementbytheChinesedelegationoninternationalinstitutionalbuildinginpromotionofsustainabledevelopment’,
presentedattheSecondMeetingofthePreparatoryCommitteeoftheUnitedNationsConferenceonSustainableDevelopment,NewYork,
8March.http://www.uncsd2012.org/content/documents/chinainstframe.pdf
Davidson,Michael,2012,‘“Cloud”recordsover200commitmentstosustainabilityatRio+20EarthSummit’,blog,Switchboard,25June.
http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/mdavidson/cloud_records_over_200_commitm.html
Ewing,J.Jackson,
Hohnen,Paul,2012,‘Rio+20:GlobalGreenIndustryPlatformseemspromising’,GuardianProfessional,6July.
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frameworkforsustainabledevelopment”,presentedattheSecondMeetingofthePreparatoryCommitteeoftheUnitedNationsConference
onSustainableDevelopment,NewYork,8March.http://www.uncsd2012.org/content/documents/indiainstframe.pdf
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/9341645/TheRioEarthSummitisitdestinedtofailtheworld.html
Llana,SaraMiller,2012,‘Rio+20:5keytakeaways’,TheChristianScienceMonitor,22June.
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1993,Theglobalpartnershipforenvironmentanddevelopment,NewYork,NY:UNPublications.
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2012a,‘EuropeanCommission’,ResponsestoquestionnaireonobjectivesandthemesoftheUNCSD.
http://www.uncsd2012.org/index.php?page=view&type=12&nr=83&respondent=18&menu=21&group=1
2012b,‘Institutionalframeworkforsustainabledevelopment’.http://www.uncsd2012.org/index.php?
page=view&type=12&nr=228&menu=63
2012c,‘Cochairs’summary:SecondPreparatoryCommitteeMeetingoftheUnitedNationsConferenceonSustainableDevelopment’.
http://www.uncsd2012.org/index.php?page=view&nr=217&type=12&menu=24&template=435
2012d,‘Voluntarycommitments’.http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/allcommitments.html
2012e,Thefuturewewant–Zerodraftoftheoutcomedocument.http://www.uncsd2012.org/content/documents/370The%20Future%
20We%20Want%2010Jan%20clean%20_no%20brackets.pdf
^Tothetop
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,translated
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notresponseweneedsafeguardpeopleandplanet
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UN,
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oftheWorldSummitonSustainableDevelopment,A/RES/64/236,ResolutionadoptedattheGeneralAssembly.
http://css.escwa.org.lb/GARes/64236.pdf
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Whelan,TensieandPaulPolman,2012,‘Yes,therearethingstheRiosummitcanaccomplish’,Reuters,21June.
http://blogs.reuters.com/greatdebate/2012/06/21/yestherearethingstheriosummitcanaccomplish/
WorldCommissiononEnvironmentandDevelopment(WCED),1987,Ourcommonfuture:ReportoftheWorldCommissionon
EnvironmentandDevelopment,Oxford:OxfordUniversityPress.
Zhang,Moran,2012,‘Rio+20preview:Notthebesttimeforsustainabilitytalks,expertssaytoexpectless’,InternationalBusinessTimes,18
June.http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/353517/20120618/rio20previewbrazil1992earthsummit.htm
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TheCentreforNTSStudies,basedintheS.RajaratnamSchoolofInternationalStudies(RSIS),wasinauguratedbytheAssociation
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