China Joins WBCSD Partnership
In a continued effort to promote business involvement in sustainable development worldwide, the China Business Council for Sustainable Development officially became the 48th member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development's Regional Network.
In a continued effort to promote business involvement in sustainable development worldwide, the China Business Council for Sustainable Development officially became the 48th member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development's Regional Network. The China BCSD is the first organization of this kind in the country, bringing together a cross-section of national and foreign companies.
The China BCSD, the result of a joint effort with the China Enterprise Confederation (CEC), aims to implement more sustainable practices in the country. Its priorities for 2004 include:
Over 200 high-level representatives from all sectors attended last week’s launch event in Beijing, including China Economic and Social Council president Chen Jinhua; CEC executive vice-president Zhang Yanning; Charles Nicholson, BP senior advisor to the chief executive and chair of the WBCSD's China Task Forcel; and WBCSD president Björn Stigson.
"China's businesses face major challenges to implement more sustainable practices, such as improving resource and energy efficiency to support their current pace of spectacular economic growth," said Stigson at the press conference. "Another challenge is the need to restructure industry sectors to achieve economies of scale to afford environmentally friendly modern technology."
CEC's Zhang Yanning also pointed to the value of the national BCSD in helping China cope with some of the key challenges resulting from structural transformation, rapid growth, and increasing international economic integration.
Stigson added that the government's aim to quadruple China's GDP by 2020 adds to the challenges ahead, and also means that the growing demand for resources is likely to affect prices of natural resources on the world markets." Global sustainability is not possible without a sustainable China," he said. "We are looking forward to cooperate with our Chinese counterparts in their journey toward sustainable development."
The China BCSD, the result of a joint effort with the China Enterprise Confederation (CEC), aims to implement more sustainable practices in the country. Its priorities for 2004 include:
- Raise awareness and build capacity on sustainable development in management schools and public administration institutions
- Promote higher environmental standards and eco-efficiency within Chinese industry
- Cooperate actively with Chinese authorities on policy development
Over 200 high-level representatives from all sectors attended last week’s launch event in Beijing, including China Economic and Social Council president Chen Jinhua; CEC executive vice-president Zhang Yanning; Charles Nicholson, BP senior advisor to the chief executive and chair of the WBCSD's China Task Forcel; and WBCSD president Björn Stigson.
"China's businesses face major challenges to implement more sustainable practices, such as improving resource and energy efficiency to support their current pace of spectacular economic growth," said Stigson at the press conference. "Another challenge is the need to restructure industry sectors to achieve economies of scale to afford environmentally friendly modern technology."
CEC's Zhang Yanning also pointed to the value of the national BCSD in helping China cope with some of the key challenges resulting from structural transformation, rapid growth, and increasing international economic integration.
Stigson added that the government's aim to quadruple China's GDP by 2020 adds to the challenges ahead, and also means that the growing demand for resources is likely to affect prices of natural resources on the world markets." Global sustainability is not possible without a sustainable China," he said. "We are looking forward to cooperate with our Chinese counterparts in their journey toward sustainable development."
