Energy Archives

USCIB Supports Launch of Blue Dot Network to Strengthen Quality Infrastructure Investment 

Published on April 16, 2024
Whitney Baird at the OECD

USCIB President and CEO Whitney Baird spoke during the April 8-9 launch activities for the Blue Dot Network (BDN), a project certification framework that aims to strengthen quality infrastructure investment. The launch activities included a meeting of the Executive Consultation Group, a Leaders’ Dialogue, and the official launch ceremony.  

BDN will certify projects based on robust standards and criteria in economic, environmental, social, and other areas.  The certification applies to infrastructure projects across all major infrastructure sectors including energy, water and sanitation, transport and ICT. It can accommodate projects at different stages of the life cycle, from planning and preparation to construction and operations. Projects developed under a variety of ownership and delivery models (e.g. traditional procurement, public-private partnerships, privatized) can be certified. 

The Blue Dot Network will be hosted at the OECD, but remain an independent entity overseen by the initiative’s Steering Committee governments, currently Australia, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States.  

“There is the potential to make BDN a serious game changer in the infrastructure world. But private sector engagement and creativity is absolutely crucial to any success,” said Baird. “It will take all of us – developers, investors, governments, and communities – to make BDN a success, and we are counting on your support. USCIB is happy to be a part of this process.” 

Baird has been a long-time supporter of the BDN, even prior to her current role leading USCIB.  

“As Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Economic Bureau at the US Department of State, I led our BDN team in its work to develop this initiative,” added Baird. “I traveled, literally, all over the world because the US government believed, and I believed personally, that BDN, if done correctly, could answer a real need for a framework to allow project sponsors and public and private financial institutions to identify good infrastructure projects.” 

USCIB was also on hand for the OECD Infrastructure Forum, immediately following the launch. 

USCIB’s Moving the Needle Creates a Vision for Private Sector Solutions for SDGs, More Effective UN

Published on July 20, 2023

During the first week of the UN High Level Political Forum, USCIB’s Moving the Needle (MTN) Initiative convened a side event at APCO Worldwide, “I for Implementation: SDG9 In Action.” The July 12 event highlighted successful collaborative partnerships reflecting SDG9’s emphasis on Industry, Infrastructure and Innovation. According to USCIB Senior VP for Policy and Global Strategy Norine Kennedy, prioritizing SDG9 will be catalytic to getting society back on track across all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and represents a departure point for concrete sustainability and solidarity initiatives from business.

Speakers from government missions, the UN community, NGOs and USCIB members Bayer, Mastercard and Microsoft highlighted opportunities to mobilize the private sector working with governments and other stakeholders through and with the UN system via collaboration, the deployment of innovative technologies and tools, and an emphasis on resilient infrastructure and related investments.

L-R: Norine Kennedy (USCIB), Jonathan Shrier (US Mission to the UN)

U.S. Deputy Representative to the UN Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC) Jonathan Shrier opened the event with a statement of U.S. commitment to collaborating with business to bring forward and widely deploy practical solutions. He said: “The bottom line is this—we can meet even the most daunting global challenges if we translate our commitment to the SDGs into meaningful action at all levels,” pursuing partnerships with the private sector.

Mastercard and USCIB Board member Ravi Aurora

Mastercard’s Senior Vice President, Global Public Policy & Government Affairs Ravi Aurora, who serves on USCIB’s Board, reflected on the linkages across different forms of infrastructure that innovation makes possible, such as digital access to financial services, and how one innovation in infrastructure has a multiplier effect of benefits to communities.

Dr. Venkata Kishore, VP and global head of veg seeds smallholders and sustainability at Bayer, provided examples of innovation deployment through partnerships with local communities that have enabled energy access and food security.

At the halfway point to 2030 when the UN Sustainable Development Goals are due, the UN has assessed that only 12% of the 160+ targets are on track, and most others are at risk of failure without additional action. It was against this backdrop that the last HLPF prior to the SDG Summit in September met to take stock. In addition to SDG9, other areas of discussion at the HLPF included clean water, energy and cities. USCIB was present to inform deliberations with business experience and recommendations to reinvigorate progress towards the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

DPR for Poland Joanna Skoczek speaks on a panel

Addressing the closing session, USCIB Policy Manager for Environment and Sustainable Development Agnes Vinblad called on the HLPF “to prioritize and strengthen problem-solving and practical dialogue involving the private sector at national, regional and global levels, and to empower and mainstream public private partnerships here at the UN.”

“At this time of concern about too slow progress toward the SDGs, USCIB’s MTN initiative has argued that the international community needs to assess where the most impact for implementation can be set into motion, and to enlist the capabilities, expertise and resources that are unique to business,” added Kennedy. This is a major focus of MTN, which is bringing forward private sector tools, metrics and partnerships to advance sustainability, science, innovation and solidarity solutions.

MTN will deliver recommendations to the SDG Summit for inclusive and practical multilateralism that gets the SDG’s moving at pace and scale.

For more information about MTN, contact Carina Sølling Damm.

USCIB Team Hosts MTN Roundtable on Solidarity in Doha During LDC5 

Published on March 23, 2023

USCIB was on the ground in Doha for the 5th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) and to participate in the LDC5 Private Sector Forum (PSF).  USCIB’s Moving the Needle (MTN) Initiative organized a March 8 LDC5 side event in the form of a roundtable on the private sector’s role for solidarity solutions, in partnership with the International Organization of Employers (IOE). 

LDC5, held from March 5-9, focused on accelerating the graduation of LDCs out of the LDC category of the world’s poorest countries. The forty-six LDC countries account for 13% of the world population but only 1.3% of global GDP and less than 1% of global trade and foreign direct investment (FDI).   

The LDC5 Private Sector Forum, co-organized by the United Nations with Microsoft and a business advisory group, emphasized actions and partnerships for LDCs to support the delivery of the new Doha Program of Action and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Forum highlighted important sectors for LDCs, such as agriculture, energy, connectivity and finance and the need to create enabling environments for LDCs to benefit from trade, investment and capacity building. 

USCIB Board Member Chris Sharrock, Microsoft vice president for UN Affairs and International Organizations, opened the MTN Roundtable, stating that “Business plays a key role in delivering inclusive growth, creating opportunities and sustainable development around the world, especially for the 880 million people living across the LDCs.”  He went on to emphasize the necessity of partnerships that are effective, tailored to local needs and goals and that mobilize private sector knowledge and tools.   

The MTN Roundtable featured speakers from USAID, the International Labor Organization (ILO), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and UNIDO, as well as leading IOE employers federation representatives from the DRC, Mali and Zambia.  

USCIB Senior Vice President for Policy and Global Strategy Norine Kennedy, Policy Manager for Environment and Sustainable Development Agnes Vinblad and USCIB MTN Initiative consultant Lea Felluss were in Doha to advance U.S. business views and contributions to the sustainable and resilient graduation of LDCs as essential to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  

According to Kennedy, “Simply put, solidarity means we cannot deliver the SDGs while leaving the LDCs behind.” 

Climate Change & Energy

Published on May 20, 2022

Trends and Challenges Facing U.S. Business:

  • The Paris Climate Agreement builds on UN member countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions, or pledges, in which nearly all countries have committed to lowering greenhouse gas emissions along with other steps in coming years, looking ahead to 2030. However, current national pledges will not deliver necessary reductions to limit anticipated climate change, and pressure is mounting on all countries to take more ambitious action and mobilize public and private resources. In this connection, the right frameworks for transparency to ensure countries are taking the actions pledged will be critical.
  • While business action and technical knowledge is more important than ever, some governments have called for limiting or banning business involvement in the UN climate deliberations. In the absence of a recognized channel for business expertise and engagement in this complex UN structure, neither countries nor the global community will be able to catalyze the needed actions, investments and innovations in the absence of enhanced substantive and technical involvement of business.
  • The Paris Agreement impacts global markets and, subsequently U.S. business, including emissions trading and carbon pricing, trade measures and barriers as result of the “unlevel” playing field resulting from diverse national pledges.
  • US companies continue to face uncertainty and challenges in terms of costs and security of energy access and mix; the OECD and IEA continue to provide analysis and scenarios relating to expected and needed energy infrastructure investment.

 

USCIB’s Response:

  • Encourage the US to stay actively involved in the UN climate treaty, and to remain in the Paris Agreement, to defend and advance US economic interests, and to fight against proposals that would undermine US competitiveness, or block business involvement in the UNFCCC.
  • Seek opportunities to design international climate cooperation that works with markets and business to deploy investment and innovation and to encourage companies in all sectors to integrate climate mitigation into their activities, supply and value chains.
  • Work with members to dialogue with foreign governments and UN officials on the private sector’s expertise in measuring, reporting and verification—essential to assess countries’ comparative efforts on climate change policy.
  • Advocates for appropriate regulatory frameworks to protect investments in green technology and deploy technology through trade and commercial transactions.
  • Advocate that UN negotiations must not give rise to barriers to trade and investment or overlook the role financial institutions play in the UN’s efforts to mobilize funds for climate action. In fact, trade encourages climate-friendly investments and broad dissemination of cleaner technologies and energy sources.
  • Highlight and communicate U.S. business expertise and views on more accessible, affordable and cleaner energy systems in the context of environmental risks, climate change considerations, economic growth and free and open markets in international policy deliberations.
  • Promote global energy systems that allow U.S. companies to compete and flourish, to develop and disseminate more sustainable and efficient energy systems and technologies and to manage and improve energy use, conservation and environmental/social impacts, in line with SDG7.
  • Encourage integration of international energy policy issues across other policy areas: promoting enabling frameworks to encourage investment and innovation while promoting more sustainable and environmentally friendly development and commercial activity.
  • Carbon pricing is an important, but not the only, market-based climate policy tool. Countries have unique economic and energy circumstances and goals, so any such pricing at the international level needs to reflect those realities.

 

Magnifying Your Voice with USCIB:

  • USCIB is the only U.S. business association formally affiliated with the world’s three largest business organizations where we work with business leaders across the globe to extend our reach to influence policymakers in key international markets to American business
  • Build consensus with like-minded industry peers and participate in off-the-record briefings with policymakers both home and abroad.

USCIB on LinkedIn

Vice Chairs

Paul Hagen
Director
Beveridge & Diamond, PC

Catherine McKalip-Thompson
Manager of Sustainability
Bechtel Corporation

Justin Perrettson
Head of Sustainability Partnerships, Scouting & Ventures
Novonesis

Staff

Agnes Vinblad
Director, Environment and Sustainable Development
212-703-5082 or avinblad@uscib.org

 

USCIB Welcomes US Intention to Rejoin the Paris Agreement

Published on November 10, 2020

Co-creating a U.S. climate plan to restore economies and to deploy American innovation globally

Washington, D.C., November 10, 2020 — The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) welcomes the intention of the incoming Administration to rejoin the Paris Agreement. Multilateralism matters to business, and nowhere is this conviction more important than in addressing climate change, especially against the backdrop of the pandemic and its economic and social impacts.

For over twenty-five years, USCIB members have supported the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and have been fully committed both to international cooperation and partnership with our government to tackle the impacts of climate change while advancing American private-sector driven economic prosperity and environmental stewardship at home and abroad. In our view, it is critical to continue to focus on and champion substantive engagement of U.S. business in all dimensions of the UNFCCC.

Enabling conditions inside and outside the framework of climate policy will be vital to progress towards the objectives of the UNFCCC and its Paris Agreement. USCIB is ready to recommend synergistic approaches that mobilize trade and investment to support and deploy innovative technologies and forms of energy.

As the U.S. affiliate of Business at OECD (BIAC), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the International Organization of Employers (IOE), and with its own standing at the UNFCCC and at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), USCIB is uniquely placed to scale and amplify these opportunities across the UN system, and in the OECD and the WTO.

As it re-engages, we encourage the Biden Administration to work closely with the full diversity of U.S. business across every sector of the economy. This will be essential to deliver a U.S. Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) that advances U.S. economic growth, energy security, job creation and climate action, for the widest benefit of all in our society.

While this might take time, we believe it is worth the effort to consult and reflect the views and expertise of USCIB members and other business stakeholders on economic, social, energy and environmental dimensions of U.S. actions at home and abroad in this critical area.

We look forward to this new chapter of vigorous American involvement and cooperation towards a successful COP26 climate meeting in 2021, and to U.S. involvement in the UNFCCC process into the future.

About USCIB: USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and prudent regulation. Its members include U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms with operations in every region of the world. USCIB has represented U.S. business at the UNFCCC since 1993. Furthermore, as the U.S. affiliate of leading international business organizations and as the sole U.S. business group with standing in ECOSOC, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment. More at www.uscib.org.

USCIB Issues Recommendations to EU on a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism

Published on November 4, 2020

The European Union concluded a public consultation last month on a proposed Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), part of the EU’s ambitious Green Deal, focusing on deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. USCIB submitted its members’ response on October 28, drawing on the expertise of its Committees on Customs, Environment, Taxation as well as Trade and Investment.

“The EU CBAM proposal is complex, seeking to “level the playing field” by imposing extra costs on imports from countries with different climate change policies” said USCIB Vice President for Environment, Energy and Strategic International Engagement Norine Kennedy. “In our comments, we addressed climate change, trade and technical aspects of the proposal which we believe to be most relevant to American companies doing business with, and in, the EU.”

One critical recommendation was on timing; USCIB encouraged the EU to undertake thorough consultative and data-based economic and trade impact assessments, especially with regards to developing countries, to avoid unintended and counter-productive consequences on livelihoods. “As countries continue to experience the fall out and economic disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, we believe governments should proceed cautiously before adding stresses to the global trading system,” warned Eva Hampl, USCIB senior director for trade, investment and financial services.

USCIB also stressed the importance of ensuring compatibility with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, warning that some elements of the EU CBAM proposal are unclear, which may lead to time-consuming disputes and delay the positive potential for deployment of innovative technologies and materials vital to climate change action, as well as hinder economic growth and recovery.

Hampl added: “Any further development of this currently counter-productive proposal must avoid and head off climate disputes at the WTO that may lead to unpredictable or unintended negative outcomes in environment, climate and trade negotiations.”

On technical practicality and administrative burdens, USCIB’s recommendation included reducing those burdens and the associated costs of compliance, which would inevitably subtract from resources available for other areas of environmental improvement.

USCIB believes that synergies between trade and environment protection should be the focus of international cooperation, and unilateral measures should be discouraged.

“Open trade advances economic prosperity and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and it is an essential vehicle to achieve widespread and rapid deployment of climate-related investments and cleaner and more efficient technologies and forms of energy,” emphasized Kennedy. “To meet the commitments and objectives of the SDGs, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, it is clear that more trade will be needed.”

For more information:

Earlier this year, USCIB published a paper Seeking Synergies: Environment, Climate and Trade Policy.

USCIB Congratulates Colombia on Formally Becoming OECD Member

Published on April 30, 2020
Pictured from left: Iván Duque Márquez, President of the Republic of Colombia and Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of the OECD (Photo: OECD/Victor Tonelli)

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) announced that Colombia has formally become an OECD Member as of April 28, 2020. Colombia is the 37th country to do so in the Organization’s near 60-year history.

According to the OECD, Colombia has now completed its domestic procedures for ratification of the OECD Convention and deposited its instrument of accession. This brings to a successful conclusion an accession process that began in 2013.

“Colombia is an important market for many companies, and we commend Colombia on successfully concluding this lengthy process and committing to the high standards of the OECD,” said USCIB Senior Director for Trade, Investment and Financial Services Eva Hampl. As the official voice representing U.S. business in this process, USCIB was actively involved in providing input into Colombia’s accession process via Business at OECD (BIAC), the official business voice at the OECD.

OECD Member countries formally invited Colombia to join the Organization in May 2018, following a five-year accession process during which it underwent in-depth reviews by twenty-three OECD Committees and introduced major reforms to align its legislation, policies and practices to OECD standards. These spanned the breadth of policy fields including labor issues, reform of the justice system, corporate governance of state-owned enterprises, anti-bribery, trade, and the establishment of a national policy on industrial chemicals and waste management.

Michener Shares USCIB’s COVID-19 Response with ICC Americas Group

Published on April 29, 2020

At a recent virtual meeting of the ICC Americas group, USCIB Vice President for Product Policy and Innovation Mike Michener discussed USCIB’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, which first and foremost, is to continue important functions as the entire USCIB team works from home in the New York and Washington metro areas.

“We are still representing member interests in multilateral institutions while highlighting individual company responses in tandem with international organizations, and featuring the important work of global affiliates such as International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), as well as the International Organization of Employers (IOE) and Business at OECD (known as BIAC),” said Michener.

According to Michener, USCIB is also flexing its institutional muscle as a thought leader in the nexus between business and the multilateral system, publishing op-eds and press releases, and promoting partnerships with international organizations through its new venture Business Partners for Sustainable Development (BPSD).

Michener outlined how USCIB is fulfilling its function in representing member interests through virtual events; all committee meetings have been converted into a virtual format and USCIB continues to engage with global partners on events, such as the one held on April 29 with the UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs on SDG 17 & Public-Private Partnerships: COVID-19 Response & Recovery in the Framework of the 2030 Agenda.

“We are proud to share the work being done related to COVID-19 across the world by our global network of affiliates on our web page, in particular focusing on ICC’s partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), the ICC campaign to Save our MSMEs and ICC actions via the G20,” added Michener.

USCIB continues to spotlight what member companies are doing to address the COVID-19 crisis; featured companies include ExxonMobil, Qualcomm, Procter & Gamble, Nike, SAP, Google, Amazon, Apple, CenturyLink, IBM, AT&T, Pfizer, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Mastercard, Salesforce, Microsoft and HanesBrand, with additional spotlights in the pipeline.

More information can be found on this web page: Ensuring Business Continuity During COVID-19

IOE Hosts Digital Conference of COVID Impact on Global Trade, Supply Chains, Employment

Published on April 9, 2020

The International Organization of Employers’ (IOE) hosted a digital conference on the impact of COVID-19 on global trade, supply chains and employment on April 8. The conference addressed the “pause button” placed on the global economy in efforts to limit the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and endeavored to answer questions such as: whether trade activities will return to normal, how many jobs will be lost, whether companies can continue producing and whether global production chains will be revamped after the crisis.

USCIB Senior Director, Investment Trade and Financial Services Eva Hampl participated as a speaker.

In her comments, Hampl emphasized the importance of maintaining an open trade and investment climate, pointing to these conditions as being necessary to rebuild the economy post crisis.

“USCIB is working with our various partners and affiliates to develop policy that looks toward addressing the current problems, but also retaining the structures that work, and rebuilding those that were affected by the crisis,” said Hampl. “Right now the global economy is still in triage and international cooperation is key at this moment. High level statements like the G20 leaders’ statement committing to work with the World Health Organization (WHO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, United Nations and others to address the crisis, or the World Trade Organization (WTO) and World Customs Organization (WCO) coming together in a joint statement pledging to work together to facilitate trade in essential goods such as medical supplies, food and energy, are necessary and welcome to business at this time. As the global economy deals with this crisis and looks to rebuilding, business will be a key driver and partner of the recovery process.”

Op-Ed: Business Must Come Together to Respond to COVID-19 Now

Published on March 30, 2020

Op-Ed by Scott C. Ratzan MD, Executive Director of Business Partners for Sustainable Development

Earlier this month, nearly 500 experts in public health, law and human rights wrote an open letter to U.S Vice President Mike Pence to act swiftly, fairly and effectively, warning that “the COVID-19 outbreak is unprecedented in recent American history, and there is no playbook for an epidemiological event of this scope and magnitude.”

Yet, just weeks later, we all are living with unprecedented turmoil from this novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

While the virus was named a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization (WHO), this is the seventh time we have had such a proclamation in the last two decades. H1N1 influenza, polio, ebola in West Africa and in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zika, all abated and did not cause as much havoc. Financial markets are on a roller coaster, planes grounded and many of us sheltering in place or in a self-imposed or government-recommended quarantine.

The future of our public health and economy depend on how government officials, policymakers, leaders and our fellow citizens react.

This includes honest, coherent, transparent, and timely communication while providing adequate funding and support for the response. The health care system needs immediate resources for equitable and effective infection control and the means to effectively manage the disease.

As 24/7 news, interactive websites, social media and alerts fill our day, the virus continues to spread. Unfortunately, without a clear treatment or cure, fear and uncertainty results in a rich environment for misinformation and misguided actions.

COVID-19 is a test of our system’s ability to address a legitimate public health threat with an unknown trajectory. Multiple sectors must leverage knowledge, expertise, networks and resources to produce better public health outcomes. Being prepared with a plan and being proactive is the name of the game in prevention, mitigation and management of risk and the adverse consequences of any threat.

Business must play a critical role in planning, implementing and adapting to this crisis due to its wide reach, resources and impact on employees, partners and markets.

Communication from employers on coronavirus is the most credible source of information, according to a recent Edelman ten-country study (March 6-10). This is consistent with a 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer, which showed that “my employer” is the most trusted institution by 18 points over business in general and NGOs, and by 27 points over government and media.

Employers are central in communicating the response. The public needs the assurance that as more is learned, information will be shared accurately and clearly from sources they trust.

This emergent threat challenges our society to cooperate amongst all sectors, including government, media, technology platforms and the private sector.

We know that large scale communication campaigns that employ behavioral economics, health literacy and communication levers (mass and social media) can drive citizens toward healthier decisions. As COVID-19 continues to spread, the business sector’s historical hallmarks of innovation, efficiency and management can help address the challenge we face today.

There are some promising examples:

  • A COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator supported by Mastercard will join with the WHO, government and private sector funders and organizations to speed the response to the COVID-19 epidemic by identifying, assessing, developing and scaling-up treatments.
  • The USCIB is leveraging existing networks to catalyze partnerships to address challenges, such as COVID-19. This includes working with the International Organization of Employers (IOE) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) to distribute WHO guidance on simple and low-cost measures for creating a healthier and more productive workplace.
  • The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Business at OECD (BIAC) are also working on the design of an action plan to reach millions of businesses with recommendations to help governments deal with the threat to the global economy.
  • The Global NGO Business Fights Poverty is collaborating with Business Partners for Sustainable Development (BPSD) to develop an online “challenge” discussion on how business should tackle the coronavirus challenge.
  • NBCUniversal, Viacom/CBS, iHeartMedia, The Atlantic, Disney/ABC Television and the Ad Council will donate advertising inventory for campaigns that will advise consumers about social distancing, steps that can be taken to protect the public and more.

While the WHO was established to advance “informed opinion and active cooperation on the part of the public” we have now learned that health issues are not confined to one organization or sector.

Only by working together, with the public and private sectors, we can advance a society where our livelihoods are not threatened by similar future outbreaks and create a resilient society capable of responding to any future threat we may face.

Scott C. Ratzan MD is Executive Director of Business Partners for Sustainable Development. He is Former Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government.