Many businesses find the term sustainable development abstract, a concept with which it is difficult to connect. It matters because the need for growth is as great as ever especially in the developing world and with the world s population forecast to increase from 6 to 9 billion over fifty years. Yet the environment is struggling to cope even with current levels of consumption.
Climate change is just the latest and loudest of a number of wake-up calls.
We have to find a new way forward new ways of meeting people s needs, expectations and aspirations to ensure that our economy, our society and our environment grow and develop in harmony. Making a Commitment Achieving sustainable development will depend in part on the ingenuity and commitment of business. That is why the Government has re-launched the Making a Corporate Commitment Campaign, known as 'MACC2'. It focuses on resource efficiency - and in particular greenhouse gases, waste generation and water consumption as each of these links business with environmental performance and reflects issues of national and international concern. Adopting best practice works, and it can improve productivity and profitability significantly.