In June 2009, the OECD Council Ministerial, through a Declaration signed by 30 countries plus several non-member economies, launched the OECD Green Growth Strategy. BIAC welcomed the launch of the Strategy and organized a high-level panel discussion on the occasion of its annual consultation with OECD Ambassadors in December 2009. To acces the BIAC statement to Ambassadors on Green Growth, please click here. 

BIAC's key messages on green growth include the following:

All industrial sectors have the potential to develop green approaches: For business, there should not be a separation between “green” and traditional industries, as all industrial sectors have the potential to develop green approaches. Business investment has and is happening in a wide range of sectors, leading to major improvements in efficiency. The Green Growth Strategy should therefore explore opportunities both in traditional industries and so-called “green” sectors. What business needs is clarity and an international framework where it can invest with confidence

Green growth should be viewed broadly: Green growth needs to consider the range of pressing environmental challenges and take into account other major global challenges, such as food security, water, health, energy, and poverty eradication.

Greening of growth is needed throughout the world: The success of the OECD Green Growth Strategy will also depend very much on the active involvement of major emerging economies. BIAC strongly recommends involving key non-member countries on an “equal footing” in OECD discussions and policy recommendations.

Green Growth requires innovation, major investments and a long-term vision: Green growth will require innovation and investments in a wide range of areas. What is needed is a long-term global signal supported by predictable policy frameworks to encourage market-based solutions, enabling investors to allocate the scarce investment resources.