257
© The Author(s) 2019
T. S. Rosenstock et al. (eds.), The Climate-Smart Agriculture Papers,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92798-5_22
Chapter 22
Realising Ambitious Targets and Metrics
for Private-Sector Action on Climate Risks
Sonja Vermeulen
22.1 The Climate-Smart Agriculture Initiative of the World
Business Council for Sustainable Development
Millions of small and large businesses interact to transform agricultural inputs into
the food we consume each day. Agrifood value chains involve a wide range of business interests, including suppliers, farmers, logistics companies, manufacturers and
processors, retailers, caterers, financial services, and researchers. Harnessing the
collective interest and input of this diverse private sector will be critical to achieving
a lasting impact at global scale in climate-smart agriculture and food systems.
Large companies with an international reach are leading the way on partnerships
for large-scale action on climate risks. Central to this global effort is the ClimateSmart Agriculture initiative of the World Business Council for Sustainable
Development (WBCSD). WBCSD is a membership organization of companies
organized into 70 national councils across the world, working together to accelerate
the transition to a sustainable world. The Climate-Smart Agriculture initiative
involves self-selected WBCSD member companies that are active in agrifood, in all
continents, with a focus on Brazil, Ghana, India, Southeast Asia, and the United
States of America. Successes in these places, which are called the ‘road-test countries’, may be scaled up in future.
Announced at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, the
WBCSD Statement of Ambition on Climate-Smart Agriculture (WBCSD 2015)
draws on multiple sources—most importantly, the United Nation’s Sustainable
Development Goals coupled with regional consultations with farmers, businesses,
governments, civil society organizations and research institutes. The Statement of
S. Vermeulen (*)
Hoffmann Centre for Sustainable Resource Economy, London, UK
e-mail: sonja.vermeulen@wwf.org
© The Author(s) 2019
T. S. Rosenstock et al. (eds.), The Climate-Smart Agriculture Papers,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92798-5_22
Chapter 22
Realising Ambitious Targets and Metrics
for Private-Sector Action on Climate Risks
Sonja Vermeulen
22.1 The Climate-Smart Agriculture Initiative of the World
Business Council for Sustainable Development
Millions of small and large businesses interact to transform agricultural inputs into
the food we consume each day. Agrifood value chains involve a wide range of business interests, including suppliers, farmers, logistics companies, manufacturers and
processors, retailers, caterers, financial services, and researchers. Harnessing the
collective interest and input of this diverse private sector will be critical to achieving
a lasting impact at global scale in climate-smart agriculture and food systems.
Large companies with an international reach are leading the way on partnerships
for large-scale action on climate risks. Central to this global effort is the ClimateSmart Agriculture initiative of the World Business Council for Sustainable
Development (WBCSD). WBCSD is a membership organization of companies
organized into 70 national councils across the world, working together to accelerate
the transition to a sustainable world. The Climate-Smart Agriculture initiative
involves self-selected WBCSD member companies that are active in agrifood, in all
continents, with a focus on Brazil, Ghana, India, Southeast Asia, and the United
States of America. Successes in these places, which are called the ‘road-test countries’, may be scaled up in future.
Announced at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, the
WBCSD Statement of Ambition on Climate-Smart Agriculture (WBCSD 2015)
draws on multiple sources—most importantly, the United Nation’s Sustainable
Development Goals coupled with regional consultations with farmers, businesses,
governments, civil society organizations and research institutes. The Statement of
S. Vermeulen (*)
Hoffmann Centre for Sustainable Resource Economy, London, UK
e-mail: sonja.vermeulen@wwf.org