For the World’s Profit

This book argues that the world is at a key juncture for considering how the targeted pursuit of business profits can better add up to the world’s profit, broadly defined.

The edited volume brings together a remarkable array of distinguished corporate, investor, government, academic, and nonprofit perspectives to reflect on the issues. The authors tackle such questions as how businesses can work more effectively with governments, financial institutions, and civil society to mitigate their own enterprise risk alongside risks to people and planet; how private resources, innovation, and networks can be mobilized to create value in solving major social and environmental challenges; and what types of accountability structures are needed to set boundaries, provide oversight, and create positive incentives for business performance.

Their perspectives offer insights into how sustainability can be introduced into business practices, finance and policymaking in a way that expands market opportunities and accelerates progress toward global sustainable development.

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Contents

1. For the world’s profit: Overview
   Homi Kharas, Koji Makino, John W. McArthur, Jane Nelson (editors)

Part I | Business actors

2. What next for sustainable development? Business, courage, and the need to accelerate
   Paul Polman
3. Strengthening small businesses to support sustainable development
   Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli
4. Key actions for corporate boards in accelerating sustainable development
   Emily Farnworth and Eldrid Herrington
5. Industry and multisector alliances to achieve system-level impact
   Jane Nelson

Part II | Financial actors

6. Scaling sustainable finance: The role of asset owners
   Sasja Beslik
7. Aligning international banking regulation with the SDGs
   Liliana Rojas-Suarez
8. Stewarding a resilient future: Why insurance matters
   Ekhosuehi Iyahen

Part III | Policymakers and regulators

9. Global sustainability and reporting standards: On the threshold of a new era of internationally coherent regulation?
   Rick Samans
10. Assurance and its contribution to sustainable development
    Tom Seidenstein and Warren Maroun
11. The institutionalization of corporate contributions to the SDGs in India
    Katsuo Matsumoto
12. The “lobbying gap” in the SDG agenda: Aligning corporate political engagement with global sustainable development
    Alberto Alemanno
13. How the Japanese business community has embraced sustainability
    Ichiro Sato and Kei Endo