More and more companies are finding the business case for doing good as they partner with nonprofits and development organizations on social and environmental causes. But are these initiatives enough to address the daunting threats posed by climate change and a host of related challenges?
Peter Dauvergne, author and professor of International Relations at the University of British Columbia, paid a visit to American University in Washington DC last week and cautioned development professionals about the limits to private sector led sustainability initiatives, as well as corporate partnerships with NGOs.
“This is about sustainability of business, not sustainability of the planet in terms of what’s motivating these big companies forward,” Dauvergne said during his talk “Will Walmart Save the World? The Reality of Corporate Social Responsibility” hosted by the American University’s School of International Service in Washington, D.C.
About the author
Jeff Tyson@jtyson21
Jeff is a former global development reporter for Devex. Based in Washington, D.C., he covers multilateral affairs, U.S. aid, and international development trends. He has worked with human rights organizations in both Senegal and the U.S., and prior to joining Devex worked as a production assistant at National Public Radio. He holds a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in international relations and French from the University of Rochester.