Two decades ago, business and NGOs sat poles apart, wary of each other’s intent and aims. Twenty years on — and with the realization of the need for collective action on environmental and social issues that play out across geographical, political, market and ecosystem boundaries — we see a shifting landscape. But has this move towards a focus on partnerships and collaboration overshadowed the critical tool of activism that is so important for helping companies move in the direction that is needed?
SustainAbility has for many years observed and researched the relationships between NGOs, business and markets. We have seen the rapid transition from an era when suspicion between civil society and business ran deep to the current reality, where much hope and expectation rests on the private sector working closely with traditional activists and governments to co-create solutions to the world’s most pressing social and environmental challenges.
A GlobeScan/SustainAbility Survey on Activism released at the start of the year found that the majority of sustainability experts are convinced that NGOs can be more effective on sustainable development by collaborating with — rather than by confronting — business. They also said that companies should increasingly engage with NGOs to determine how they can best advance the agenda together.
Much-needed environmental, social and economic advancements have in recent years come through business, government and civil society working together to develop solutions, to collectively change understanding and mindsets, as well as to develop a new set of frameworks that support sustainable development. Sir Mark Moody-Stuart observes, in one of the interviews conducted for our video interview series The Regeneration Roadmap: “Many of the big successes — sustainable fisheries, Forest Stewardship Council, Voluntary Principles for Security and Human Rights, the Kimberly Process — they are all products of these alliances.”
In our own strategic advice to companies on how to engage with stakeholders we have been actively pushing for a shift from stakeholder dialogue to collaboration. And indeed, we now see business and NGOs cooperating, working together and co-creating in a way that would have been unheard of two decades ago.
Next page: The need for watchdogs
I took 350.org’s
I took 350.org’s recommendation to shun companies that fund the Heartland Institute one step farther with my phone company; see letter I sent to AT&T below; it relates directly to your article
AT&T,
Account: ??
Two items:
1. Per 350.org, I understand that AT&T funds the Heartland Institute; a shill for the oil companies. Please let me know if you’ve defunded this organization.
2. In reading the newspapers over the past few years, I’ve become sensitive to the fact that most corporations are, in my opinion, socially irresponsible. I’m tired of doing business with these types of entities. AT&T has fared below average in my unscientific review of the newspaper articles and because of your funding of the Heartland Institute. I am looking for new phone services and I’d like to know why I should continue doing business with AT&T.
• I am NOT interested in hearing about measures that AT&T may be doing that won’t allow me to compare your positive attributes with the attributes of other phone providers.
• I am interested in hearing about what AT&T is doing that can be measured using an independent third party process such as:
a. Carbon Disclosure Project
b. Underwriters Laboratories Standard UL880 or UL881
c. Making the use of a Benefit Corporation law. It is my understanding that approximately 6 states have passed a Benefit Corporation law; California’s version is AB361-2011.
• My preference would be for AT&T to choose the most stringent of the available Benefit Corporation laws and become such a corporation under that law. AT&T could eventually discuss how its operations: (1) will improve the life of AT&T’s staff’s grandchilden’s grandchildren and (2) achieved reasonable quarterly profits.
I read a blog a week or two ago; if I recall AT&T has hired Rocky Mountain Institute to try and help improve AT&T’s green image. I’d be interested in being kept in the loop on the progress of this. My email is ???
Certainly price and service are important factors when I spend my hard earned money, however I will also be factoring in the efforts that corporations are implementing that are measurable and verifiable and that can be compared on a level playing field with their competitors.
If AT&T chooses to become a socially responsible corporation, you may send updates to my email at ???. If you have no desire to keep me as a customer, feel free to just ignore this letter.
Thank you