The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a coalition of 120 international companies which provides a business voice on sustainable development issues and seeks to encourage high standards of environmental management in business itself.

The WBCSD was established in 1995 through a merger between two organizations, the Business Council for Sustainable Development (BCSD) in Geneva and the World Industry Business Council for the Environment (WICE) based in Paris. The BCSD was founded in 1990 by Swiss industrialist Stephan Schmidheiny to provide a business and industry perspective to the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The WICE was founded in 1993 at the initiative of the International Chamber of Commerce to be an industry voice in the follow-up to UNCED.

The WBCSD seeks to provide business leadership as a catalyst for change toward sustainable development and to promote eco-efficiency by encouraging high standards of environmental and resource management in business. It acts as a business advocate for issues pertaining to the environment and sustainable development, and helps to formulate policy recommendations that are favorable to business.

The work of the WBCSD is overseen by an executive committee of CEOs. Its activities are managed by a president in Geneva. The organization maintains close links with the International Chamber of Commerce, as well as with a range of inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations.

Budget: The WBCSD is financed by membership fees, financial support for individual working groups, and in-kind support through the active participation of members in the work program and secundments from the members.

Internet
www.wbcsd.ch
An overview of WBCSD's work and aims. List of Members.

Address
4, Chemin des Conches
CH-1231 Conches, Geneva
Tel. 839.3100
Fax: 839.3131