Creating More Widely Shared Prosperity
Over the coming decade, business should promote more widely shared economic opportunity while also partnering to create an equitable pact between citizens and employees, business, and government that spreads prosperity and well-being more widely.
Aligning New Technology with Human Rights and Ethics
Business has both a responsibility–and an opportunity–to realize the full potential of new technologies by ensuring they are developed in a manner that is consistent with human rights and ethical principles.
Decisive Action on the Climate Crisis
We’re experiencing the impacts of climate change sooner, and with more ferocity, than predicted. Meanwhile, emissions continue to grow, and we remain off-track to achieve peak emissions by the end of this year. It is essential that business set–and work towards–ambitious climate targets, including science-based targets, to align their business strategies with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C objective, on the way to net zero emissions.
Aligning Business Purpose with Societal Objectives
A sustainability agenda that is not supported and reinforced by valuations, targets, and accountability will never reach its full potential. Boards must begin to design corporate purpose, business strategies, lobbying efforts, and incentive systems in order to tackle the challenges of this new climate for business.
Ensuring Diverse and Inclusive Workplaces and Societies
In spite of important and meaningful steps forward, harmful narratives and stereotypes continue to exist in society and in our workplaces. Corporate action on diversity and inclusion, as well as the need to defend equality and fairness, has never been more important. Companies should be clear on their commitment to diversity by reinforcing corporate values and making it clear where they stand on equal rights and inclusion. The business case is clear: Companies embracing diversity and inclusion will benefit from increased innovation, enhanced business performance, and improved talent attraction and retention.
Combatting Threats to Open Societies
Business has always supported open markets, which in turn depend on open societies. At a time when many leaders are promoting division and xenophobia, business must use its voice to preserve open societies that enable creativity, connection, and trade to flourish. The challenge for business is to understand how, and where, to defend and support the institutions upon which open societies depend.
