B4E Business for the Environment

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The B4E Business for the Environment Summit (commonly abbreviated as B4E or B4E Summit) is an international platform for dialogue and partnership for the environment.

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The acceleration and delivery of such transformative solutions will require a higher level of collaboration between businesses, governments, and non-government organizations (NGOs). B4E aims to facilitate such collaboration through networking, informed discussions, and the creation of innovative partnerships for change.

Issues addressed at these summits include energy, natural resource security, climate change, water management and biodiversity conservation, among others.

Past speakers at Summits include international luminaries like Ban Ki-moon, Al Gore, Helen Clark, and Göran Persson, the current Presidents of South Korea, Indonesia and Guyana, business leaders such as Nam Yong, Ben Verwaayen, Jochen Zeitz, Sir Richard Branson, Barbara Kux and renowned experts like David Suzuki, Janine Benyus and Amory Lovins representing civil society. The Summits also involve international NGOs and agencies like WWF, Greenpeace, the Rocky Mountain Institute, the World Food Programme, and UNDP in their inclusive dialogues.

Official outcome declarations from the Summit discussions reflect commitments from stakeholders on the need to embrace innovative solutions for environmental issues and are used to provide input to the UN Climate Change Conferences and Rio+. [1]

History

Past B4E Summits were convened for the last five years in Singapore, Paris, Copenhagen during the COP 15, Seoul, Mexico City, Cancún during the COP 16 and Jakarta in partnership with the United Nations, WWF, Global Initiatives and host Governments where the summits took place.

B4E Global Summit 2007 & 2008 Singapore

The first and second B4E Summits were held in Singapore. The guest of honour at the event was Singapore's then-Minister for National Development, Mah Bow Tan, and distinguished speakers included Achim Steiner, Georg Kell, David Suzuki, H.E. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Adam Werbach and Zhang Yue. [2]

B4E Global Summit 2009 Paris

Titled “The Green Imperative: Leadership, Innovation and Technology”, B4E Global Summit 2009 took place in Paris, France. Notable speakers at the 2009 summit included Joseph Alcamo, [3] Pavan Sukdev and H.R.H. Prince El Hassan bin Talal, as well as repeated appearances by Achim Steiner and Georg Kell.

B4E Global Summit 2010 Seoul

The B4E Global Summit returned to the Asian continent in 2010, and was held in Seoul, Republic of Korea. With addresses and presentations from Lee Myung-bak, Al Gore, Ban Ki-moon, James Leape and numerous other dignitaries, international attention from the media, policy makers and industry was drawn to the event. [4] [5]

B4E Climate Summit 2010 Cancún

The Climate Summit at Cancún saw a greater and growing partnership between the Summit and international organisations such as WWF and various UN agencies. [6] The outcome statements were favourably viewed upon by industry and non-governmental observers as a feasible avenue for business, government and civil society to gather and discuss business-led targets and solutions for climate change. [7] [8]

B4E Global Summit 2011 Jakarta

Recently concluded in Jakarta, Indonesia, the Global Summit in 2011 took ownership of its location in Jakarta to shift focus to forestry and agriculture, in conjunction with the UN International Year of Forests. A steering committee of business, governmental and civil representatives was formed and gathered first in January to engineer focused discussion panels for the actual Summit in April. The Jakarta Summit included notable speakers such as Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, [9] Helen Clark [10] and Andrew Steer.

The summit once again featured a recurring Youth Dialogue component to encourage students to engage in local environmental projects, with a separate workshop conducted by National Geographic wildlife presenter Hayden Turner. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Environment Programme</span> Agency of the United Nations focused on solving environmental issues

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is responsible for coordinating responses to environmental issues within the United Nations system. It was established by Maurice Strong, its first director, after the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in June 1972. Its mandate is to provide leadership, deliver science and develop solutions on a wide range of issues, including climate change, the management of marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and green economic development. The organization also develops international environmental agreements; publishes and promotes environmental science and helps national governments achieve environmental targets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Union for Conservation of Nature</span> International organization

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. It is involved in data gathering and analysis, research, field projects, advocacy, and education. IUCN's mission is to "influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Global Compact</span> Non-binding United Nations pact

The United Nations Global Compact is a non-binding United Nations pact to get businesses and firms worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies, and to report on their implementation. The UN Global Compact is the world's largest corporate sustainability and corporate social responsibility initiative, with 13000 corporate participants and other stakeholders over 170 countries. The organization consists of a global agency, and local "networks" or agencies for each participating country. Under the Global Compact, companies are brought together with UN agencies, labor groups and civil society. Cities can join the Global Compact through the Cities Programme.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Climate Group</span> UK climate change organization

The Climate Group is a non-profit organisation that works with businesses and government leaders aiming to address climate change. The Group has programmes focusing on renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Achim Steiner</span> German politician and public servant

Achim Steiner is a Brazilian-born environmentalist who currently serves as the administrator of the United Nations Development Programme and vice-chair of United Nations Sustainable Development Group.

The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) is an independent policy research institute whose stated mission is to "build a fairer, more sustainable world, using evidence, action and influence in partnership with others." Its director is Dr Tom Mitchell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mondi</span>

Mondi plc is a multinational packaging and paper group employing around 21,000 people with around 100 production sites across more than 30 countries, predominantly in Europe, North America and South Africa. Group offices are located in Weybridge, United Kingdom and Vienna, Austria. Mondi is fully integrated across the packaging and paper value chain; from the growing of wood and the manufacturing of pulp and paper, to the conversion of packaging papers into corrugated packaging, industrial bags, extrusion coatings and release liner. It has listings on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange, and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Felix Dodds</span> British author, futurist, and activist

Felix Dodds, born Michael Nicholas Dodds, is a British author, futurist, and activist.

Sustainia, formerly the Copenhagen Climate Council, is a global collaboration between international business and science founded by Erik Rasmussen founder of the leading independent think tank in Scandinavia, Monday Morning, based in Copenhagen. The councilors of the Copenhagen Climate Council have come together to create global awareness of the importance of the UN Climate Summit (COP15) in Copenhagen, December 2009, and to ensure technical and public support and assistance to global decision makers when agreeing on a new climate treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol from 1997.

Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) is an annual week-long energy conference for interested parties. The week comprises several exhibitions, workshops, and networking sessions focused on fundamental issues within the energy industry. The first event was held in 2008. Singapore's Energy Market Authority (EMA) organized the event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon Tay</span>

Simon Tay Seong Chee is a Singaporean lawyer and legal academic who served as a Nominated Member of Parliament between 1997 and 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avoided Deforestation Partners</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brianna Fruean</span> Samoan activist

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative</span> United Nations organization

The Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) initiative promoting corporate investment in sustainable development. It is a project of the United Nations (UN) co-organized by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the United Nations Global Compact, the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI) and the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inger Andersen (environmentalist)</span> Danish economist and environmentalist

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Action for Climate Empowerment</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Global Goals Week</span> Event for awareness for Sustainable Development Goals

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References

  1. "United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 3-14 June 1992".
  2. "B4E: Caring for the Environment Can be Good for Business". Knowledge@SMU. Knowledge@SMU. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  3. "Green Business: A Key to Protecting Climate" (PDF). UNEP. UNEP. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  4. Kwon, Mee-yoo (15 April 2010). "Business Leaders to Gather in Seoul for B4E Summit". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  5. Tobias, Chris. "B4E Summit: Energy critical to get right". Eco-Business.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  6. "B4E Climate Summit 2010 Statement (UN Global Compact)" (PDF). UN Global Compact. UN Global Compact. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  7. Malkin, Elizabeth (6 October 2010). "Businesses Seek Clarity on Climate Goals". NYTimes.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  8. "B4E Panel Discusses Solutions for a Low Carbon Future". Environmental Leader. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  9. Satriastanti, Fidelis E. (29 April 2011). "B4E Summit: Adviser Explains What SBY Meant by 'Balls'". Jakarta Globe. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  10. "UNDP Administrator Addresses B4E Summit". Climate Change Policy & Practice. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  11. Christie, Shirley (30 April 2011). "Students Get Primer on Conservation". Jakarta Globe. Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2011.