A Case Study on Businesses in the Swedish Haga Initiative. Antonia Rekman Matilda Söderberg Richter

Transkript

1 Imprving Cmmunicatin frm the UN t the Business Sectr - Hw infrmatin abut sustainability engagements can be custmized in rder t facilitate businesses investment decisins A Case Study n Businesses in the Swedish Haga Initiative Antnia Rekman Matilda Söderberg Richter Bachelr f Science Thesis KTH Schl f Industrial Engineering and Management Energy Technlgy EGI-2015 SE STOCKHOLM

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3 Bachelr f Science Thesis EGI-2015 Imprving Cmmunicatin frm the UN t the Business Sectr - Hw infrmatin abut sustainability engagements can be custmized in rder t facilitate businesses investment decisins A Case Study n Businesses in the Swedish Haga Initiative Apprved Examiner Antnia Rekman Matilda Söderberg Richter Supervisr Date Mark Hwells Cmmissiner Mark Hwells Cntact persn 3 f 72

4 Abstract In an attempt t slve prevailing sustainability issues, the member states f the United Natins have established the High Level Plitical Frum n Sustainable Develpment (UN HLPF), with the mandate t prvide plitical guidance n sustainable develpment. The frum aims t strengthen the science-plicy interface, SPI, by assembling diverse infrmatin and evaluatins in the frm f scientific briefs, which will be included in the Glbal Sustainable Develpment Reprt (GSDR 2015). The UN HLPF intends t enfrce their influence n external stakehlders that have the capability t further develp and invest in suggested sustainability prjects. In this thesis, the authrs fcus n the business sectr as external stakehlder and a case study is perfrmed n businesses within the Swedish Haga Initiative. Businesses put pressure n plicymakers in sustainability matters, and therefre the business sectr culd play an imprtant rle in imprving the science-plicy interface. The thesis includes an empirical study cnsisting f fur deep interviews cnducted with Chief Green Officers, CGOs, frm fur businesses in different sectrs. T enable a cmprehensive analysis f the results, the authrs als cnducted interviews with VINNOVA and tw stakehlders that have insight in the prcess f decisin-making n sustainability prjects within businesses. Furthermre, the authrs attended a seminar in the Swedish parliament t btain mre input n the rle f businesses as key stakehlders fr sustainable develpment. The purpse f this thesis is t investigate hw cmmunicatin f assessed scientific briefs t the business sectr culd be imprved. This must be dne in rder fr the UN HLPF t better serve its purpse as a tl t encurage and mtivate external stakehlders t cntribute in pursuing the Sustainable Develpment Gals, SDGs. The authrs f this thesis aim t prvide a suggestin fr hw the UN HLPF may apprach the present issue f imperfect cmmunicatin t the business sectr. By identifying aspects f the infrmatin that businesses regard as imprtant, and by highlighting these aspects in the cmmunicated infrmatin abut sustainability engagements, the businesses investment-decisins are facilitated. This makes way fr larger cntributins t achieving a sustainable develpment. The authrs suggest that the fllwing five aspects are taken int cnsideratin by the UN when cmmunicating assessed scientific briefs t businesses; Aspect 1: Gegraphical Area, Aspect 2: Effect f the Sustainability Engagement, Aspect 3: Invlvement f Other Businesses and Organizatins, Aspect 4: Cnnectin t SDGs, Aspect 5: Industry-Specific Infrmatin. By highlighting these aspects in the cmmunicatin f the scientific briefs, the UN HLPF can imprve cmmunicatin t businesses and thereby strengthen their influence n businesses which in turn can help imprve the science-plicy interface. Key Wrds: UN HLPF, Science-Plicy Interface, Sustainability, Business Sectr, Cmmunicatin 4 f 72

5 Sammanfattning För att ta sig an rådande hållbarhetsutmaningar har medlemsländerna i FN etablerat ett frum kring hållbar utveckling för plitiker på högsta nivå, The High Level Plitical Frum, UN HLPF. Frumet har sm främsta uppgift att tillhandahålla plitiska riktlinjer för hur glbal hållbar utveckling skall uppnås. Genm att sammanställa ch kmmunicera ut infrmatin m frskning på mrådet hållbar utveckling, ämnar frumet stärka kpplingen mellan vetenskap ch plitik - det så kallade Science-Plicy Interface(SPI). Infrmatinen presenteras i frm av krtare vetenskapliga sammanfattningar sm sammanställs med annan infrmatin m hållbar utveckling i The Glbal Sustainable Develpment Reprt, GSDR UN HLPF har även för avsikt att stärka inflytandet på externa intressenter för att öka engagemanget i de hållbarhetsutmaningar sm presenteras i GSDR Författarna avgränsar uppsatsen till att endast behandla företagssektrn sm grupp av externa intressenter ch en fallstudie görs på företag sm är medlemmar i det svenska Hagainitiativet. Då företag har visat sig vara villiga att sätta press på plitiker ch beslutsfattare i hållbarhetsfrågr, kan företagssektrn anses spela en avgörande rll i förbättrandet av SPI. Uppsatsen innehåller en empirisk studie bestående av fyra djupgående intervjuer med hållbarhetschefer från företag i lika industrier. För att kunna genmföra en mer mfattande analys av resultaten från dessa företagsintervjuer genmfördes ytterligare två intervjuer med företaget 2050 ch den svenska myndigheten VINNOVA - två aktörer sm representerar intressenter med gd insikt i företagens beslutsprcesser kring hållbarhetsengagemang. Dessutm närvarade författarna på ett seminarium i Sveriges Riksdag för att ta del av erfarenheter ch strategier kring företagens rll sm central aktör för att uppnå en hållbar utveckling. Syftet med uppsatsen är att undersöka hur UN HLPF kan förbättra kmmunikatinen av hållbarhetsutmaningar till företagssektrn. En förbättring krävs för att UN HLPF skall kunna fylla sin funktin sm ett verktyg sm främjar ch mtiverar externa intressenters medverkan i att uppnå de av FN uppsatta glbala hållbarhetsmålen, Sustainable Develpment Gals, SDGs. Författarna ämnar ge förslag på hur UN HLPF kan förbättra kmmunikatinen till företagssektrn. Genm att identifiera aspekter av infrmatinen kring hållbarhetsengagemang, sm är viktiga för företagens beslutsfattande m investeringar, ämnar författarna ge förslag på hur FN kan belysa lika delar av infrmatinen kring hållbarhetsengagemang för att förbättra kmmunikatinen till företagssektrn. Författarna föreslår att följande aspekter tas i beaktning av UN HLPF vid kmmunikatin av hållbarhetsengagemang till företag; Aspekt 1: Gegrafiskt Område, Aspekt 2: Hållbarhetsengagemangets Effekt, Aspekt 3: Invlvering av andra Företag ch Organisatiner, Aspekt 4: Kppling till SDGs, Aspekt 5: Industrispecifik Infrmatin. Med en effektivare kmmunikatin stärks UN HLPF:s inflytande på företagssektrn, sm i sin tur kan verka för att kpplingen mellan vetenskap ch plitik kan förbättras.

6 Table f Cntents 1 Intrductin Overview and Main Ideas Prblem Frmulatin and Gal Methd Literature Previus Studies n hw t Imprve the Cmmunicatin f Scientific Briefs t the Business Sectr A Nexus Apprach n the Pst-2015 Agenda GSDR - Glbal Sustainable Develpment Reprt Visin2050 Reprt GSDR 2015 Brief Fertilizer Addictin: Implicatins fr Sustainable Agriculture Interviews Businesses in the Swedish Haga Initiative VINNOVA Seminar A Greener Financial Sectr in the Swedish Parliament Delimitatins Backgrund Sustainable Develpment Gals Call fr Cntributins t the GSDR The UN HLPF and the Science-Plicy Interface Imprving the Science-Plicy Interface by invlving the Business Sectr Businesses as Key Stakehlders fr Sustainable Develpment Businesses in Sweden setting an Example by Reducing CO2 Emissins f 72

7 3 Results Infrmatin that Determines the Relevance f a Presented Sustainability Engagement Benefits f Getting Access t the Scientific Briefs The Invlvement f Other Organizatins and Businesses and its Impacts n the Businesses Investment Decisins Cmmunicating Nexuses Prevailing and Desired ways f Accessing the Infrmatin Cnnectin between the Businesses current Sustainability Engagements and SDGs Discussin Aspects that are f Imprtance t Businesses when taking Decisins n Investments in Sustainability Engagements Aspect 1: Gegraphical Area where the Sustainability Engagement has an Impact Aspect 2: Effects f the Sustainability Engagement Aspect 3: Invlvement f Other Businesses and Organizatins Aspect 4: Cnnectin t SDGs Aspect 5: Industry-Specific Infrmatin Hw the UN HLPF can take Identified Aspects int Cnsideratin when Cmmunicating Assessed Scientific Briefs t the Business Sectr Suggestins fr the UN HLPF n hw t cnsider Aspect 1: Gegraphical Area Suggestins fr the UN HLPF n hw t cnsider Aspect 2: Effects f the Sustainability Engagement Suggestins fr the UN HLPF n hw t cnsider Aspect 3: Invlvement f Other Businesses and Organizatins Suggestins fr the UN HLPF n hw t cnsider Aspect 4: Cnnectin t SDGs Suggestins fr the UN HLPF n hw t cnsider Aspect 5: Industry-Specific Infrmatin Shwcase f hw the UN HLPF can target Businesses with infrmatin frm already Assessed Scientific Briefs f 72

8 4.4 A Reprt is Nt the Desired Channel fr Cmmunicatin t the Business Sectr Cnnectin t already suggested Actins fr Imprving the Science-Plicy Interface Cnclusins and Suggestins fr Further Research Cnclusins Suggestins fr Further Research References Appendix Appendix A - Interview questins fr Businesses in the Haga Initiative Appendix B - Interview questins fr Kim Frsberg at Appendix C - Interview questins fr Jhanna Adami at VINNOVA Appendix D - Frm abut pssible cnnectins between businesses prevailing sustainability engagements and SDGs Appendix E - GSDR 2015 Brief: Fertilizer addictin f 72

9 Abbreviatins AMR - Annual Ministerial Reviews AP4 - The Furth Swedish Natinal Pensin Fund CDM - Clean Develpment Mechanism CER - Certified Emissin Reductin CLEW - (Glbal resurce scenaris f) Climate-Land-Energy and Water CO2 - Carbn Dixide CSD - Cmmissin n Sustainable Develpment DESA - Department f Ecnmic and Scial Affairs DSD - Divisin fr Sustainable Develpment ECOSOC - Ecnmic and Scial Cuncil ENT(ent.) - Enterprises EU - Eurpean Unin GA - General Assembly GSDR - Glbal Sustainable Develpment Reprt HLPF - High-Level Plitical Frum IPCC - Intergvernmental Panel n Climate Change KTH - Kungliga Tekniska Högsklan LDC - Least Develped Cuntry MDG - Millennium Develpment Gal NGO - Nn-Gvernmental Organizatin OECD - Organizatin fr Ecnmic C-peratin and Develpment OWG - Open Wrking Grup SD - Sustainable Develpment SDG - Sustainable Develpment Gal prpsed by the UN SOM - Sil Organic Matter SPI - Science-Plicy Interface SWESIF - Swedish Sustainable Investment Frum SWOT - Strengths, Weaknesses, Opprtunities, Threats UNCED - United Natins Cnference n Envirnment & Develpment 8 f 72

10 List f Tables and Figures Table 2.1 The Sustainable Develpment Gals, surced frm UN DESA Table 2.2 Table 2.3 Table 3.1 Table 3.2 Table 3.3 Table 3.4 Table 4.1 Table 5.1 Review f nine scientific briefs t exemplify the diversity in cntents, submitting institute and pssible SDG-cnnectins. The UN OWG Suggested Evaluatin Criteria f the scientific briefs and their relevance fr the UN GSDR Interview answers abut which infrmatin that is imprtant when deciding whether r nt a suggested sustainability engagement is relevant. Interview answers n benefits frm getting access t infrmatin frm the scientific briefs. Interview answers abut infrmatin n invlvement f ther businesses and rganizatins in a presented sustainability engagement. Interview answers n hw the business access infrmatin abut nexuses. Shwcase f hw the five identified aspects f infrmatin abut sustainability engagement culd be applied t the GSDR 2015 brief: Fertilizer addictin: Implicatins fr Sustainable Agriculture. Five identified aspects that need t be highlighted in cmmunicatin f a sustainability engagement t the business sectr Figure 2.1 Figure 2.2 Figure 3.1 Figure 3.2 Actins suggested by the UN DSD n hw the UN HLPF culd imprve the SPI. The infrmatin flw between the three majr grups f stakehlders related t the UN HLPF. Perceived cnnectin between current sustainability engagements and SDGs, Gal 1 9. Perceived cnnectin between current sustainability engagements and SDGs, Gal f 72

11 1 Intrductin 1.1 Overview and Main Ideas Sustainable develpment meets the needs f the present withut cmprmising the ability f future generatins t meet their wn needs. Seen as the guiding principle fr lng-term glbal develpment, sustainable develpment cnsists f three pillars: ecnmic develpment, scial develpment and envirnmental prtectin. (Ri+20 United Natins Cnference n Sustainable Develpment, 2012) The idea f a sustainable wrld is central in the decisin making f tday. The sustainability issues that have arisen are cmplex and in need f a glbal participatin and a thrugh cmmunicatin. In an attempt t slve these sustainability issues the member states f the United Natins established the High Level Plitical Frum n Sustainable Develpment, UN HLPF, with the mandate t prvide plitical guidance n sustainable develpment. The frum aims t strengthen the science-plicy interface, SPI, by assembling diverse infrmatin and evaluatins invlving the cnstitutin f the Glbal Sustainable Develpment Reprt, GSDR The UN Department f Ecnmic and Scial Affairs, UN DESA, has made an pen call fr cntributins t the GSDR 2015 where scientists are encuraged t highlight issues, research findings r slutins in the frm f scientific briefs that they wuld like t bring t the attentin f plicymakers (UN DESA, 2014). This is dne in rder t assure that the wrk f pursuing sustainable develpment gals cntinues in an adequate way even after These submitted scientific briefs prvide suggestins n sustainability engagements that are cnsidered by the scientific cmmunity t be the mst urgent t initiate. Althugh a lt f effrt has been put int the assembling f these suggestins fr sustainability engagements and n hw plicymakers shuld cnsider them, the scientific briefs will nt have any impact n sustainable develpment unless smene cnsiders them i.e. cnsiders the infrmatin prvided in these briefs fllwed by adpting its suggestins r taking actins that stem ut f these suggestins. Thus the UN HLPF mrever intends t enfrce their influence n external stakehlders such as businesses that have the capability t further develp and invest in suggested sustainability engagements. Hwever, infrmatin in submitted scientific briefs target plicymakers nly (Rehrl, 2015), which makes it difficult fr ther stakehlders t cnvert given infrmatin int actins such as investments. In this thesis, the authrs fcus n businesses as external stakehlders and a case study is perfrmed n businesses in the Swedish Haga Initiative - a netwrk f businesses in Sweden that aims t reduce the carbn dixide, CO2, ftprint in the Swedish industry. In rder t imprve their influence n businesses, the UN HLPF need t fully understand which aspects that are f cncern fr businesses when deciding t invest in sustainable develpment engagements. Furthermre, the UN HLPF needs t incrprate these aspects in the way the cmmu- 10 f 72

12 nicatin t businesses is designed and perfrmed. Hence, the authrs f this thesis attempt t identify such factrs f cncern amng Swedish businesses. 1.2 Prblem Frmulatin and Gal The authrs f this thesis answer the questin: Hw can the UN HLPF imprve the cmmunicatin f scientific briefs t the business sectr? The UN HLPF needs t imprve the cmmunicatin t external stakehlders in rder t strengthen the science-plicy interface (GSDR, 2014). The prblem is that these suggestins d nt cme with any sufficient prpsals fr hw this imprvement shuld be achieved, nr apprached. Weitz et al. state that a mre effective cmmunicatin can be achieved by incrprating a nexus apprach in terms f deciding which infrmatin shuld be cmmunicated. This is needed in rder t btain a sustainable develpment (Weitz, et al., 2014). Yet, n ideas are prvided n hw this infrmatin culd be presented in rder t appeal t external stakehlders, thus this is part f the issue. One way t address this prblem is by prviding a prpsal fr hw the UN HLPF can target businesses with infrmatin frm already assessed scientific briefs. This is relevant since nly a few f the scientific briefs actually have a business perspective in their infrmatin (Rehrl, 2015). By identifying aspects f infrmatin that are cnsidered by businesses t be crucial in making decisins n investments in sustainable develpment engagements, the authrs can prvide suggestins n hw the UN HLPF culd attract businesses t get invlved in certain sustainability engagements, as highlighted by the scientific briefs. Hence, the purpse f this thesis is primarily t find aspects that are f imprtance t businesses when taking decisins n investments in sustainability engagements. Secndly, the purpse is t investigate hw the UN HLPF culd cnsider these aspects by applying them t assessed scientific briefs when cmmunicating these briefs t external stakehlders. The gal is t shwcase hw the identified aspects culd be presented n ne f the assessed scientific briefs. 1.3 Methd T get an enhanced understanding n the cmplexity f the examined questin, the authrs cnducted an in-depth literature review n pertinent subjects cnnected t the area f the bserved prblem (see sectin 1.3.1). Emphasis was given n three pieces f literature ne reprt cnducted by the UN DESA abut SDGs and their wrk twards enfrcing the scienceplicy interface (GSDR, 2014), a secnd article published by The SAIS Review abut the cmplexity with incrprating the nexus apprach when making sustainability decisins (Weitz, et al., 2014) and a third reprt n the imprtance f invlving businesses in achieving a sustainable wrld (WBCSD, 2012). T find prevailing issues and drivers f businesses tday, the authrs cnducted fur in-depth interviews with CGOs frm businesses in different industries in Sweden (see sectin 1.3.2). T further investigate and t enable a mre cmprehensive analysis n these issues and driv- 11 f 72

13 ers f the businesses, the authrs als held tw interviews with key persns frm tw rganizatins that prvided insights n prcesses in which businesses make decisins abut investments in sustainability prjects 2050 AB and VINNOVA (see sectin 1.3.2). Mrever, t btain mre input n the rle f businesses as key stakehlders fr sustainable develpment, the authrs als attended a seminar n sustainability in the finance sectr held in the Swedish parliament by the Haga Initiative and the Swedish Green Party (see sectin 1.3.3). By basing the study n businesses, the authrs are expsing themselves t the risk that the results given frm interviews (with given businesses) are angled t make the businesses lk gd frm a sustainability perspective. Since businesses are basing their peratin n having, keeping and getting mre custmers, and since sustainability tday is smething custmers desire, there is a clear incentive fr businesses t make themselves lk sustainable frm all perspectives. This culd have affected the results in the statistics (see sectin 3.5) where businesses were asked t cnnect their sustainability wrk t the UN SDGs. Althugh, this risk can be disregarded since it is the perceived cnnectin t SDGs that is f imprtance in this analysis. One can als discuss hw it affects the results when the authrs are delimiting interviewed businesses t businesses lcated in Sweden. Since Sweden is a prminent land regarding sustainability questins (The Swedish Institute, ) the shwcase n businesses in Sweden culd represent businesses that are already wrking tward a sustainable future and therefre, tday, culd have use f the assessed briefs that UN HLPF aims t cmmunicate. Therefre these businesses are relevant and may wrk as shwcase fr businesses as stakehlders t the HLPF in general. The authrs used cnducted interviews with businesses t draw cnclusins n which aspects that are f relevance fr businesses when taking decisins n investments in sustainability engagements. The authrs cmpared the answers given frm the different businesses t find cmmnalities, which were categrized int mre verall aspects. Furthermre the authrs discussed identified aspects by applying infrmatin frm interviews with 2050 and VINNO- VA as well as literature and cmments frm attended seminar. T shwcase hw the cnclusin five identified aspects f infrmatin abut sustainability engagement culd be taken int cnsideratin by the UN HLPF when targeting businesses, these aspects were applied t ne f the submitted briefs fr the UN DESA pen call fr cntributins t the GSDR 2015: Fertilizer addictin: Implicatins fr Sustainable Agriculture (Pedercini, et al., 2014). This brief was selected by the authrs t be an example after a review f nine briefs, althugh any f the briefs culd have been used t shwcase the suggestins fr the UN HLPF. 12 f 72

14 1.3.1 Literature Previus Studies n hw t Imprve the Cmmunicatin f Scientific Briefs t the Business Sectr Since the UN HLPF was recently established, nt many studies have been made n the specific tpic f this thesis hw t imprve the cmmunicatin f scientific briefs t the business sectr. The UN DESA has cnducted several studies n why cmmunicatin f these assessed scientific briefs thrugh the UN HLPF shuld r must be imprved (GSDR, 2014) but hw is still an unanswered questin. The prblem frmulatin f this thesis actually stems frm a request made by the UN themselves (Hwells, 2015). There are already sme existing tls that try t address the cmplex task f cmmunicating hw different actins impact sustainable develpment. One example is the 2050 Pathways- Calculatr (The UK Gvernment Department f Energy & Climate Change, 2014). These tls have a large scale verview f gals, actins and effects that des nt apply t stakehlders like businesses. The 2050 Pathways-Calculatr cnsiders the effect f large scietal refrms and changes such as what happens if waste (n a glbal level) is decreased with 20% until This calculatr in particular als has a UK-perspective n changes and impact which culd be f relevance t industry in the UK, but this is unfrtunately nt a cmmn aspect amng ther similar tls. Mrever, the 2050 Pathways-Calculatr wuld need t incrprate far mre than just the UK t be f relevance t all businesses. Althugh these tls are pwerful in shwing hw a cmplex set f actins impacts different fields f sustainable develpment, businesses ask fr mre industry-specific infrmatin regarding impact n the sustainable develpment (Stenmar, 2015) (Sandström, 2015) A Nexus Apprach n the Pst-2015 Agenda T get a mre in-depth insight int the nexus-apprach, the authrs read the article A Nexus Apprach t the Pst-2015 Agenda: Frmulating Integrated Water, Energy and Fd SDGs (Weitz, et al., 2014). Weitz et al. argue that the nexus apprach is crucial in the purpse f ensuring that the develpment is bth scially and envirnmentally sustainable. By cmmunicating the nexuses between different sustainability targets, Weitz et.al. argue that the situatin where ne SDG actin undermines anther can be avided t the extent pssible. Furthermre, the reprt states that a mre effective cmmunicatin can be achieved by incrprating a nexus apprach in the cmmunicated infrmatin (Weitz, et al., 2014). Infrmatin frm this article has been useful fr the authrs when trying t find ut hw the nexus-apprach culd be used t imprve cmmunicatin f briefs t businesses GSDR - Glbal Sustainable Develpment Reprt T get a thrugh backgrund n the frmulated prblem and assciated issues and t fully understand hw the UN reasns n emerging challenges regarding sustainable develpment, the authrs have studied the Prttype fr the Glbal Sustainable Develpment Reprt f 72

15 by UN DESA (GSDR, 2014). The GSDR is an extensive and glbal reprt abut sustainable develpment, cnducted after being requested by Gvernments at the Ri+20 cnference. The reprt aims t prvide scientific inputs (fr the UN HLPF t cnsider) as well as t imprve the science-plicy interface. This makes the GSDR relevant since this thesis aims t find factrs that imprve the cmmunicatin f scientific infrmatin frm the UN HLPF t the business sectr in rder t strengthen the science-plicy interface. In the GSDR, the UN brings up nexus as an imprtant aspect regarding sustainability prjects and highlights the urge fr a mre integrated apprach, but the reprt lacks the aspect f hw t cmmunicate the nexus and wh t target with the cmmunicatin (GSDR, 2014) Visin2050 Reprt The Visin2050 Reprt investigates hw businesses can be invlved in the sustainable develpment prcess and hw this can ensure a mre rapid prgress tward a sustainable wrld. The reprt als brings up the subject that businesses, rather than fllwing changes made by plicymakers, must lead the transfrmatin themselves (WBCSD, 2012). Hence the authrs apprach is that businesses can set the agenda fr plicymakers, and that a strengthened science-plicy interface therefre can be achieved by imprving cmmunicatin t the business sectr GSDR 2015 Brief Fertilizer Addictin: Implicatins fr Sustainable Agriculture The GSDR 2015 brief: Fertilizer addictin: Implicatins fr Sustainable Agriculture (Pedercini, et al., 2014) brings up the tpic f hw future fertilizer scarcity shck scenaris in the Kisii cunty in Kenya culd be avided by adapting industrial agriculture methds t the actual cnditin f the sil (The riginal brief is attached in Appendix E). This brief was subject fr a deeper review in rder t prvide an example f a prpsal fr hw the UN HLPF can target businesses with infrmatin frm already assessed scientific briefs Interviews Businesses in the Swedish Haga Initiative The businesses chsen t participate in this survey are all invlved in the Swedish Haga Initiative. The Haga Initiative is a netwrk f businesses in Sweden that aims t reduce the CO2 ftprint f the Swedish industry. Cmpanies invlved in the Haga Initiative have accepted and adpted the visin fr the Initiative ambitius climate strategies create business advantages and imprve prfitability. The netwrk includes businesses that perate in separate industries Axfd, Cca-Cla Enterprises Sweden, Flksam, Frtum, Green Carg, Lantmännen, JM, Löfbergs, McDnalds, HKScan Sweden, Stena Recycling, Statil Fuel & Retail Sweden, Sveaskg and Vasakrnan (HagaInitiative, 2014). One culd discuss if it is psitive r negative that the businesses perate in separate industries a negative aspect culd be that the results given by different businesses are difficult t cmpare fr this reasn. The authrs d, hwever, believe that this is a mstly psitive aspect f the Haga Initiative since 14 f 72

16 the answers will give a fairer picture f the verall market where businesses in fact are perating in different industries. All businesses in the Haga-initiative had the pprtunity t participate in the study, althugh nly fur had the pssibility t cntribute with their input. The cntributing cmpanies were Cca-Cla Enterprises Sweden, Flksam, Green Carg and Stena Recycling. Questins asked in the interviews are fund in Appendix A. Furthermre, the interviewees were asked t fill in a frm n hw they perceive that their current sustainability engagements can be cnnected t SDGs. This frm is fund in Appendix D T get input frm smene that has experience n the subject f cmmunicating sustainability prjects directly t businesses, the authrs interviewed Kim Frsberg, a cnsultant frm the cmpany wrks in the intersectin between plitics, research and industry in rder t help mre stakehlders prfit frm the transitin t a sustainable sciety within the bundaries f the planet. (2050 AB, 2013) 2050 aims t help mre stakehlders prfit thrugh helping them realize hw t gain n being mre sustainable and 2050 has a visin abut Sweden having n net impact n the climate by year T help businesses understand hw t be mre engaged in sustainability, 2050 presents different sustainability prjects with fcus n climate cmpensatin fr the businesses t chse between (2050 AB, 2013). The prcess where businesses are chsing between externally presented sustainability engagements is attached t the prcess where the UN HLPF are trying t cmmunicate recently assessed briefs t external stakehlders, hence Frsberg culd prvide relevant input n hw t best cmmunicate sustainability prjects in rder t get businesses mre invlved. Furthermre, 2050 is currently prject leading the Haga Initiative the netwrk frm which the interviews with businesses are cnducted which gives this study an in-depth apprach. Questins asked in the interview are fund in Appendix B VINNOVA Since it is f interest hw plicies and sharing f infrmatin can affect businesses decisins n engagements in sustainability prjects, the authrs have cnducted an interview with Jhanna Adami, directr and head f health divisin at VINNOVA. VINNOVA is a Swedish authrity that answers t the Ministry f Enterprise, Energy and Cmmunicatins. Furthermre, VINNOVA has clse cnnectins and cllabratins with the EU Framewrk Prgramme fr Research and Develpment, R&D, where they wrk as a natinal cntact agency. Their missin is t prmte sustainable grwth by imprving the cnditins fr innvatin, 15 f 72

17 as well as funding needs-driven research (VINNOVA, 2014). One f VINNOVA s mst imprtant functins is therefre t assess ideas n prjects that aim t enhance Swedish develpment f innvatins and take decisins n which f these assessed prjects t fund. When VINNOVA are making calls fr applicatins, they can pint cmpanies in certain directins by specifying and highlighting imprtant criteria in the applicatin framewrk. This is an interesting example f hw plicymakers, thrugh cmmunicatin between authrities and businesses, may use drivers fr businesses t invest in prjects that prmte sustainable develpment. VINNOVA affects businesses t incrprate a sustainability perspective in their prjects by writing abut the sustainability aspect in the applicatin-framewrk and als by invlving this aspect as a criterin fr judgement while pushing n the fact that the financial decisins regarding this prject will be based partly n this aspect. Businesses are thereby mre willing t highlight and frmulating hw their prject has an impact n sustainable develpment in their prject descriptin [which leads them t think alng this line]. (Adami, 2015) This interview was f use when analyzing hw cmmunicatin culd be perfrmed in rder t steer businesses twards investing in sustainability prjects cnnected t SDGs. By interviewing Adami the authrs als gt a mre in-depth analysis n factrs that make businesses mre willing t invest in sustainability prjects. Questins asked in the interview are fund in Appendix C Seminar A Greener Financial Sectr in the Swedish Parliament This reprt presuppses that the science-plicy interface culd be imprved by enhancing the interactin between businesses and gvernment fficials. This since they with an imprved cmmunicatin better culd c-develp plicies fr hw t reach a sustainable develpment (WBCSD, 2012). The authrs hence fund it relevant t attend a seminar that brught up precisely the subject f the imprtance f an imprved interactin between business and plicy fr a sustainable future. The seminar was held the 7th f May in the Swedish Parliament by the Haga Initiative in cperatin with the Swedish Green Party. The tpic was A Greener Financial Sectr and the seminar prvided input n the rle f businesses as key stakehlders fr sustainable develpment. This als presented a clearer picture f hw cmpanies and plicymakers interact in rder t wrk twards a mre sustainable future. Participating speakers at the seminar was Swedish Green Party minister in financial markets and cnsumer affairs; Per Blund, Frtum CEO; Anders Englund, Flksam CEO; Karin Stenmar, AP4 CEO; Mats Anderssn, Head f cmmunicatin n AP7 and bard chairman in SWESIF; Jhan Flrén, crdinatr f sustainable investments in the Swedish Church; Gunnela Hahn and Chief ecnmist f the Swedish Centre party; Martin Ådahl. 16 f 72

18 1.4 Delimitatins This reprt is limited t investigating the perspectives frm businesses in Sweden. By limiting the scpe t businesses in Sweden, different results culd better be cmpared t each ther since the businesses perate under the same set f Swedish laws. Furthermre, the chice f interview subjects is delimited t the Haga Initiative since these businesses have a clearly stated sustainability strategy and strive twards becming mre sustainable. These businesses are relevant t this study since they, by being included in the Haga Initiative, mst likely have experience frm chsing amngst externally presented sustainability prjects and because f their expressed sustainability interest culd be interested in accessing the cmmunicated scientific briefs. 2 Backgrund 2.1 Sustainable Develpment Gals Sustainability is interdisciplinary and has rts in bth the physical and scial sciences. Scial sciences play a majr rle in ur interpretatin and perspective twards sustainability, while understanding the effects f different activities with the natural envirnment is based n advances in areas f the natural sciences. Interactin between ecnmic cnsideratin and scial and eclgical aspects such as CO2 emissins, pllutin and health issues is just ne example f hw sustainability implies challenges t the crdinatin and interactin between stakehlders alng the supply chain (Lintn, et al., 2007). Sustainability has since lng been recgnized by many glbal rganizatin t be an increasingly significant strategic gal (Clss, et al., 2011). Sciety in general tday is mre willing than befre t cmmit t a mre sustainable develpment and aspire t achieve a sustainable wrld. But in rder t facilitate their reach fr sustainability, there needs t be sme kind f guidance n hw t reach this gal. Therefre, t get a clear verview f the prblems that needs t be slved and which gals that must be fulfilled in rder t btain this sustainable wrld, it was decided n the Ri+20 Cnference t initiate a transparent and inclusive intergvernmental prcess t develp a set f Sustainable Develpment Gals, SDGs. This resulted in the creatin f the inter-gvernmental UN Open Wrking Grup, UN OWG, that nw has structured and rganized bjectives n sustainable develpment int seventeen Sustainable Develpment Gals. Each gal is fcused n an identified pririty area fr the achievement f a sustainable future. The SDGs are built upn the earlier Millennium Develpment Gals, MDGs, and aim t address the cmplex task f incrprating bth ecnmic, scial and envirnmental subjects and the interlinkages between them (UN DESA, 2014). 17 f 72

19 Table 2.1 The Sustainable Develpment Gals, surced frm (UN DESA, 2014). Gal N. Sustainable Develpment Gals 1 End pverty in all its frms everywhere 2 End hunger, achieve fd security and imprved nutritin and prmte sustainable agriculture 3 Ensure healthy lives and prmte well-being fr all at all ages 4 Ensure inclusive and equitable quality educatin and prmte lifelng learning pprtunities fr all 5 Achieve gender equality and empwer all wmen and girls 6 Ensure availability and sustainable management f water and sanitatin fr all 7 Ensure access t affrdable, reliable, sustainable and mdern energy fr all 8 Prmte sustained, inclusive and sustainable ecnmic grwth, full and prductive emplyment and decent wrk fr all 9 Build resilient infrastructure, prmte inclusive and sustainable industrializatin and fster innvatin 10 Reduce inequality within and amng cuntries 11 Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 12 Ensure sustainable cnsumptin and prductin patterns 13 Take urgent actin t cmbat climate change and its impacts* 14 Cnserve and sustainably use the ceans, seas and marine resurces fr sustainable develpment 15 Prtect, restre and prmte sustainable use f terrestrial ecsystems, sustainably manage frests, cmbat desertificatin, and halt and reverse land degradatin and halt bidiversity lss 18 f 72

20 16 Prmte peaceful and inclusive scieties fr sustainable develpment, prvide access t justice fr all and build effective, accuntable and inclusive institutins at all levels 17 Strengthen the means f implementatin and revitalize the glbal partnership fr sustainable develpment 2.2 Call fr Cntributins t the GSDR 2015 The UN has created the OWG that has presented seventeen Sustainable Develpment Gals t tackle the wrlds sustainability prblems. But the mst difficult task remains t achieve them. Therefre, the UN OWG has made an pen call fr scientific cmmunities t cntribute t the upcming UN Glbal Sustainable Develpment Reprt with scientific briefs (Rehrl, 2015). These crwdsurced scientific briefs are shrt descriptins f different prblems, findings r research effrts n sustainable develpment cnnected t the SDGs, which are highlighted by authrs frm scientific cmmunities arund the wrld. These scientific briefs are cnnected t all f the three sustainability dimensins ecnmic, eclgical and scial alng with interlinkages between these areas. Fcus in the briefs varies frm current issues within these areas t findings r slutins t these identified issues (OWG UN DESA, 2014). Hence these scientific briefs are very diverse with what they cntain and their fcus (tpic and pssible SDGcnnectin) depends n the authrs preferences, backgrund and knwledge. This becmes evident even by reviewing nly a few f the briefs, as shwn in table 2.2. Since the briefs are crwdsurced, the inputs t are very miscellaneus, which in pint f fact was the purpse f cllecting and assessing briefs in this manner the UN OWG wanted t expand their input n which issues the scientists find mst relevant t reslve (LeBlanc, 2015). Scientists frm acrss the wrld hereby gt an pprtunity t highlight specific research and, fr the first time, be heard by plicymakers at the highest level f the UN (UN DESA, 2014). When making the call fr scientific briefs, the UN OWG evaluates the briefs and their relevance in a peer review with five main aspects in mind - scientific level, balance in apprach, nvelty, effectiveness and accessibility (See Table 2.3) (UN OWG fr GSDR2015, 2014). All scientific briefs that pass thrugh the peer review will be used in the upcming UN Glbal Sustainable Develpment Reprt with the purpse f strengthening the science-plicy interface in cnjunctin with the UN High-Level Plitical Frum n Sustainable Develpment, HLPF (Rehrl, 2015). 19 f 72

21 Table 2.2 Review f nine Scientific Briefs t exemplify the diversity in cntents, submitting institute and pssible SDG-cnnectins, cnducted by the authrs f the thesis. Brief Tpic Assessed by Pssible SDG- Cnnectin (Table 2.1), Gal N.: Planetary Bundaries German Advisry Cuncil n Glbal Change (Germany) 13 Data Cllectin Risk reductin by understanding culture and cntext Sacred natural sites Sustainability f lcal prductin systems Inter- and Trans-disciplinary Research: A Critical Perspective Austrcedrus frests f Suth America are pivtal ecsystems at risk due t the emergence f an extic tree disease: can a jint effrt f research and plicy save them? Fertilizer addictin: Implicatins fr Sustainable Agriculture Frm cnspicuus cnsumptin t cnspicuus accmplishment Institute fr Water Research At Rhdes University (Suth Africa) Stckhlm Envirnment Institute (Sweden) Clby Cllege, University f Maine, Bahir Dar University, Califrnia Academy f Sciences (USA and Ethipia) Natinal Inter-University Cuncil (Argentina) Lancaster Envirnmental Centre (UK) CONICET-Universidad Nacinal de la Patagnia SJB/CONICET-Centr de Investigación y Extensión Frestal Andin Patagónic/University f Califrnia Berkeley (Argentina/CA, USA) The Millennium Institute (Internatinal institute) Mukul Sanwal, frmerly UN-staff , 9, 16 15, , f 72

22 Table 2.3 The UN OWG Suggested Evaluatin Criteria f the scientific briefs and their relevance fr the UN GSDR 2015 Aspect Scientific level Balance in apprach Nvelty Effectiveness Accessibility Suggested Evaluatin Criterin Is the brief factual and based n peer-reviewed literature? Des it cnsider a wider range f scientific perspectives? Des it reflect ecnmic, scial and envirnmental aspects? Des it present an issue that is typically nt adequately cnsidered in the glbal sustainable develpment plicy debate? Des the brief prvide useful suggestins fr plicymakers? Des it utline alternative plicy ptins? Is the brief well-written and easily understandable? 2.3 The UN HLPF and the Science-Plicy Interface The high-level plitical frum n sustainable develpment created in Ri+20 is t prvide high-level guidance and recmmendatins t advance sustainable develpment. It is als t prmte the sharing f best practices and experiences including successes, challenges and lessns learned. (UN DSD, 2014) In 1992, mre than 178 participating gvernments at the United Natins Cnference n Envirnment and Develpment agreed t adpt Agenda 21, the Ri Declaratin n Envirnment and Develpment, and the Statement f principles fr Sustainable Management f Frests (UNCED, 1992). Agenda 21 serves as a cmprehensive plan f glbal, natinal and lcal actins that are t be taken by rganizatins f the United Natins System, gvernments and majr grups in all areas where humans have an impact n the envirnment. Twenty years later, in 2012, wrld leaders alng with thusands f participants frm gvernments, the private sectr, NGOs and ther stakehlders gathered in Ri de Janeir t further shape hw the wrld can beat pverty, bring frward scial equity and secure envirnmental prtectin (Ri+20 United Natins Cnference n Sustainable Develpment, 2012). 21 f 72

23 The Ri+20 Cnference resulted in a fcused plitical dcument which recgnized that since the adptin f Agenda 21, many cmmitments and effrts have been and are being made t achieve sustainable develpment. T further prvide guidance and recmmendatins t prmte sustainable develpment, Ri+20 als created the high-level plitical frum n sustainable develpment (UN HLPF, 2014) (UN DSD, 2014). Besides the prviding f guidance and recmmendatins, the UN HLPF is meant t prmte the sharing f best practices and experiences frm earlier wrk twards reaching a sustainable develpment. The UN HLPF will cnduct regular reviews, which in 2016 will be replacing the natinal vluntary presentatins that are held in the cntext f the Annual Ministerial Reviews, AMR, f Ecnmic and Scial Cuncil, ECOSOC. The reviews will fcus n the fllw-up and implementatin f sustainable develpment cmmitments and bjectives. Like the existing natinal vluntary reviews, the reviews cnducted by the UN HLPF will als be vluntary, state-led, and prvide a platfrm fr partnerships amng majr grups and relevant stakehlders such as NGOs, academia and businesses (UN General Assembly, 2013). The aim t prvide a platfrm fr multi-stakehlder partnerships academia, businesses, NGOs and gvernments is an apprach initiated by the UN t increase the level f participatin frm these stakehlders in terms f getting invlved in the wrk twards reslving the SDGs. The UN believes that multi-stakehlder partnerships will strengthen the implementatin f the pst-2015 develpment agenda, the agenda that is being prepared by the UN ECOSOC in rder t accelerate the prgress in reaching the MDGs (ECOSOC, 2013) and facilitate the pursuit f reaching the SDGs. Furthermre, the UN reprts that the UN HLPF will be essential fr supprting and evaluating the applicatin f the SDGs and the pst-2015 develpment agenda. Glbal cmmitments need t be cnverted int sustainable develpment results and actins n a natinal level, and the UN HLPF must ffer guidance n hw this transitin shuld be perfrmed. Therefre, a strng interface between science and plicy is crucial in the establishing f the UN HLPF as a frum frm which prper plicy guidance n sustainable develpment emerges (UN HLPF, 2014). A sufficient SPI enables infrmatin frm scientists t be cmmunicated in a way that facilitates decisin-making amngst plicymakers this much because an imprved SPI ensures that the scientists and plicymakers speak the same language in reprts and briefs. This results in an better understanding where plicymakers can fully cmprehend what scientists are trying t highlight and pull frward in rder t btain a sustainable develpment. By imprving the SPI, plicymakers can make faster decisins n sustainable develpment-issues and questins which facilitate the wrk tward a sustainable wrld (UNCCD, 2013). 22 f 72

24 There are several actins suggested fr the UN HLPF t take in rder t strengthen the science-plicy interface (LeBlanc, 2015). These actins are suggested by the authrs t be gruped in three different tasks; Cllecting and analyzing data, prviding a Platfrm/frum and Cmmunicatin and advisry (see Figure 2.1). In Figure 2.1, the green, blue and red areas are each filled with actins suggested by the UN DSD n hw the UN HLPF culd imprve the SPI (LeBlanc, 2015). It is the authrs wn suggestin that these actins culd be divided int three tasks. Actins that have pssible cnnectins t tw f the tasks are placed in nexus areas between these tasks. There might als be actins that cmbine all three f the tasks and the actins culd als be cnnected t ther tasks that are nt suggested by the authrs. Figure 2.1 is a suggestin n hw these actins can be presented in rder fr the reader t get an idea f what the UN HLPF is aiming fr by taking these actins. 23 f 72

25 Figure Actins suggested by the UN DSD n hw the UN HLPF culd imprve the SPI (LeBlanc, 2015) 24 f 72

26 2.4 Imprving the Science-Plicy Interface by invlving the Business Sectr In SAIS Review f Internatinal Affairs 2014, Weitz et al. explain in an article that bth scientists and plicy analysts in recent years have stressed the imprtance f cnsidering linkages between water, energy and fd and that they encurage an integrated nexus apprach t planning in these sectrs. Althugh scientific evidence and a lng histry f systems analysis certify this integrated apprach, it is nly beginning t affect plicymaking and planning (Weitz, et al., 2014). A reasn fr this culd be that the flw f infrmatin between scientists and ther stakehlders is insufficient. In rder t strengthen the SPI, all parts f the cmmunicatin need imprvements, nt nly the infrmatin flw between scientists and plicymakers. The flw f infrmatin between the three majr grups f stakehlders fr the UN HLPF is visualized in Figure 2.2. Figure 2.2 The infrmatin flw between the three majr grups f stakehlders related t the UN HLPF (Surce: The authrs wn visualizatin based n infrmatin given by Prfessr Mark Hwells and Senir Ecnmic Affairs Officer at UN DESA Richard A. Rehrl (Hwells, 2015) (Rehrl, 2015)) By understanding that the businesses cnstitute a stakehlder grup that perates between science and plicy, it becmes clear that invlving businesses in the cmmunicatin can further strengthen the science-plicy interface. 25 f 72

27 The Wrld Business Cuncil fr Sustainable Develpment states in the Visin2050 reprt that business-as-usual cannt get us t sustainability r secure ecnmic and scial prsperity. In ther wrds, t reach sustainability businesses must change the way they interact with ther stakehlders such as academia, nn-gvernmental rganizatins, ther businesses and gvernments. Thrugh multi-stakehlder cllabratin alng with systemic thinking and cinnvatin, businesses, cnsumers and plicymakers will find slutins t a sustainable wrld achievable and desirable (WBCSD, 2012). Emerging frm this multi-stakehlder cllabratin is the need fr easy accessible infrmatin n what the targets and gals are and hw they are t be achieved. Decisin makers need t be prvided with infrmatin that has an integrated apprach in rder t supprt sustainable develpment pathways (Weitz, et al., 2014). C-innvatin is pssible nly if the flw f infrmatin between the different grups f stakehlders is sufficient. Scientists prvide the research that is needed in rder t identify and understand the issues in sustainable develpment and hw they shuld be apprached. This infrmatin is handed n t plicymakers and t external stakehlders such as businesses. Fr bth plicymakers and businesses, the research cnstitutes an essential basis fr decisin-making. But the flw f infrmatin ges bth ways plicymakers impact and smetimes even direct the science and academia by requesting research n certain subjects r by impsing plicies fr fields f research that shuld be funded. In an interview Frsberg at 2050 agrees t this and tells that businesses act in a similar way twards science and academia but as plicymakers usually have a slwer decisin-making prcess, businesses are smetimes able t act faster. This implies that businesses play an imprtant rle in imprving the SPI, since they can adapt t the latest research faster and put pressure n plicymakers t d the same (Frsberg, 2015). The flw f infrmatin between plicymakers and businesses culd als be seen as a mutual input n which issues shuld be targeted. Althugh, infrmatin frm scientists ges t bth plicymakers and businesses, the infrmatin abut sustainability issues tends t target plicymakers nly. The scientific briefs n sustainability issues that were submitted t the UN DSD d nt have a business perspective in the way they cmmunicate their cntents and suggested actins (Rehrl, 2015). This des nt directly imply that the briefs are useless t businesses, but nr d businesses crave such general infrmatin (Frsberg, 2015). Infrmatin abut sustainability engagements needs t be custmized in rder t facilitate the businesses investment decisins. 2.5 Businesses as Key Stakehlders fr Sustainable Develpment The awareness n sustainability is grwing and ver the last decade businesses have experienced an increased pressure t fcus nt nly n financial perfrmance but als n the sustainability and accuntability in business perfrmance. Businesses feel an urge t make their management mre sustainable in cncern fr lss f sales and a ptential decline in reputatin that culd ccur if businesses d nt have a tangible cmmitment t crprate sustainability management. Mrever, scietal mandates incrprated in regulatins are included in the surces f the demand fr sustainability management (Lee & Farzipr Saen, 2012). 26 f 72

28 In an article frm 2007 Mats and Hall states that firms play an imprtant stewardship rle in addressing sustainable develpment cncerns and that the key challenge fr these firms is t balance cnflicting pressures created by sustainable develpment firm-level ecnmic perfrmance versus envirnmental and scial aspects (Mats & Hall, 2007). In a glbal survey f mre than 1,500 crprate executives and managers abut their perspectives n intersectin f sustainability and business strategy, cnveyed by BCG and MIT Slane Management Review in 2009, ne f the findings was that there is a strng prevailing cnsensus that the underlying drivers fr sustainability are...cmplex, interrelated, and lasting. Furthermre, the crprate sectr was identified t play a key rle in reslving the issues related t lng-term glbal sustainable develpment (Bems, et al., 2009). Businesses are thus identified as ne f the key stakehlder grups in terms f driving and develping the cncept f sustainability. Yet, many businesses are nt acting decisively t fully explit the pprtunities that sustainability presents, nr d they mitigate the risks that cme with nt invlving in the wrk tward a sustainable future. But a munting pressure frm stakehlders frm thrughut the entire value chain - tgether with media, the gvernment and sciety verall - requires the businesses t act. Previusly, businesses have been knwn t simply react t plicies and regulatry changes, but as plicies that endrse sustainability are develping at a higher rate, businesses are als re-psitining themselves t practively pursue sustainability initiatives and thus businesses als becme less vulnerable t plicy changes (Bems, et al., 2009) Businesses in Sweden setting an Example by Reducing CO2 Emissins Sme cmpanies are implementing the sustainability strategy t a larger extent than thers and the sci-ecnmic climate in the cuntries in which they are perating might play a rle in the variatin. The Glbal Develpment Research Center, GDRC, suggests that cuntries with a higher quality f the sci-ecnmic ambiance have been mre successful than thers (with a lwer quality level f the sci-ecnmic ambiance) with respect t the eclgical sustainability f their develpment plicies (GDRC, Nvartis Fundatin - Sustainable Develpment Prgramme, 2010). Sweden is cnsidered t be ne f these cuntries, where plicymakers are successful in implementing scilgical and eclgical sustainability when cnstituting develpment plicies (OECD Better Life Index, 2014). Cmpanies in Sweden have a histry f being prgressive in CSR wrk and Sweden is viewed as a pineer within the field. In 2013 RbescSAM Cuntry Sustainability Ranking, which ranks 59 cuntries based n 17 envirnmental, scial and gvernance indicatrs, put Sweden n tp (The Swedish Institute, ). An example f a prgressive apprach twards sustainable develpment and active CSR wrk is the Swedish Haga Initiative. The Haga Initiative is a netwrk f businesses in Sweden that aims t reduce the CO2 ftprint in the Swedish industry (HagaInitiative, 2014). The businesses invlved in the Haga Initiative have prnunced strategies fr incrprating sustaina- 27 f 72

29 bility in their value-chains and they are actively wrking fr an increased cntributin t the sustainable develpment f the planet. The businesses in the Swedish Haga Initiative als cnstitute a rather peculiar example since they are smewhat pineers in the way that they demand frm Swedish plicymakers t take lead in the questins cncerning climate change and sustainable develpment n the internatinal plitical arena (Frsberg, 2015). Chief executive fficers, CEOs, frm the participating businesses put pressure n Swedish gvernment fficials t be mre practive in their wrk n develping plicies fr sustainable develpment. One f the reasns fr this is that businesses that already have altered their business mdel in rder t cntribute t a mre sustainable develpment want fairer playing rules s that investments in sustainability engagement is als rewarded by the scietal system. Mrever, theses CEOs claim that they are willing t cntribute t sustainable develpment by setting an example f hw CO2 emissins culd be reduced by 40 percent by 2020 (Strålman, et al., 2012). Hw Swedish businesses and gvernment fficials interact in rder t c-develp plicies fr sustainable develpment culd als be seen as an example f hw businesses and gvernments may cperate in rder t better the chances f pursuing glbal sustainable develpment gals. Mrever, this example culd be applied t larger rganizatins such as the UN High Level Plitical Frum and is therefre f interest even t businesses and plicymakers utside Sweden. Sir David King, UK s Special Representative fr Climate Change, puts the benefits frm cllabratin between businesses and plicymakers this way: I think what is the mst psitive actin is that the business cmmunity becming fully engaged with plicymakers, s that as we rll ut ur plicies twards zer carbn dixide emissins, we are taking the business cmmunity with us and the pliticians are wrking clsely with them. If we can deliver that, that means that we have a sciety in which we can still grw ur ecnmy, grw ur wellbeing f the citizens and manage climate change. (Sir David King, 2014) 28 f 72

30 3 Results 3.1 Infrmatin that Determines the Relevance f a Presented Sustainability Engagement Table 3.1 Interview answers abut which infrmatin that is imprtant when deciding whether r nt a suggested sustainability engagement is relevant. Aspects f infrmatin that is imprtant when deciding upn the relevance Business f a sustainability engagement. In ther wrds What defines a relevant sustainability prject? That the prject is initiated at a lcal level, in clse cnnectin t the gegraphical Cca-Cla areas the cmpany is perating in. ent. SE (Bdr, 2015) That the prject really des well That the prject is in accrdance with the UN SDGs. That there are clear targets fr prject mnitring and evaluatin - that the prject includes distinct quantificatin f targets. That the prject is clsely related t the cre-business. That the prject is f relevance t the business and cnnected t the business benefits e.g. a micr financing prject in Guatemala. That the prject is f benefit t the custmers and culd easily be cmmunicated s that custmers understand the business engagement in the prject. That the prject is f benefit t the emplyees f the business and culd be easily cmmunicated t them. That risks, especially resurce related nes, are presented in a specific manner. (such as Strength-Weakness-Opprtunities-Threats-analysis, SWOT) That specific impact n climate and ther sustainability issues are taken int accunt and are cmmunicated. That the prject is initiated at a natinal level. That the prject is f high relevance t the cre-business. That the prject is cmmunicable - that gals and targets are easily understandable. That the purpse f the prject is clear - that gals and targets are distinct. That risks and a scale f severity - if the issue related t the prject is left unslved - are presented and cnnected t a timeline That the prject is f internal benefit t the business. That the strategic impact f the prject is in line with prevailing strategy fr bth sustainable develpment and prfitability. That the prject cntributes t the cmpetitiveness f the business. That the prject is cnnected t benefits fr the custmers. That the prject is quantifiable. Flksam (Stenmar, 2015) Green Carg (Sandström, 2015) Stena Recycling (Våg, 2015) 29 f 72

31 3.2 Benefits f Getting Access t the Scientific Briefs Table 3.2 Interview answers abut benefits frm getting access t infrmatin frm the scientific briefs. If and why the infrmatin frm the scientific briefs (distributed by the UN HLPF) is beneficial t the businesses: Business Yes. Infrmatin frm these scientific briefs is f use t the business in rder t establish a trustwrthy value f sustainability prjects with the UN. Access t this kind f infrmatin [briefs] wuld be a way t strengthen the credibility and t prve that the sustainability prjects the business invests in are cnnected t issues that are in fact priritized by the UN. Yes, depending n hw well the infrmatin is framed t the receiving cmpany r industry. The UN is cnsidered t be an rganizatin f high reputatin and t achieve custmized infrmatin [frm them] wuld be a way fr the business t feel exclusively selected and hence mre eager t fllw guidelines in the infrmatin and take actin. In rder t be beneficial the infrmatin needs t be framed t be relevant fr the certain business r industry e.g. industry-specific guidelines and prpsals are interesting. Mrever, a persnal letter t the CEO is a pwerful way t frame the infrmatin t a certain business. Yes, but nly if the briefs are cmmunicated as easily freseeable prjects. The infrmatin frm the briefs lse sme f the relevancy t businesses if they are cmmunicated as part f a heavy reprt, since the impressin is that very few businesses take their time t read the reprt. Althugh, if the briefs are cmmunicated with a clear summary and the infrmatin is cmpressed the briefs wuld be f high relevance t the business. Difficult t see a cnnectin between the infrmatin in the briefs and the sustainability wrk that is dne by the business. The business has little use f accessing infrmatin directly frm the UN since peratins are at first managed t fllw natinal laws and guidelines. If the infrmatin in the briefs included inputs n research fr new recyclingtechnlgies, and if the business als was able t give specific feedback n this directly t the HLPF, the infrmatin in the briefs wuld be f benefit t the business. Cca-Cla ent. SE (Bdr, 2015) Flksam (Stenmar, 2015) Green Carg (Sandström, 2015) Stena Recycling (Våg, 2015) 30 f 72

32 3.3 The Invlvement f Other Organizatins and Businesses and its Impacts n the Businesses Investment Decisins Table 3.3 Interview answers abut infrmatin n invlvement f ther businesses and rganizatins in a presented sustainability engagement. If infrmatin n invlvement f ther businesses and rganizatins is f Business relevance when making the decisin t invest in specific sustainability engagement: Yes, t have knwledge abut ther businesses and rganizatins invlvement in sustainability prjects is abslutely f interest prjects that are initiated by custmers culd be f higher relevance t invest in and prjects that cmpeting businesses are invlved with culd be f less interest if negative aspects are cnsidered t prevail when the business perhaps gets assciated with its cmpetitrs. But, in many cases there might als be psitive aspects f invlving businesses frm the same industry in the same prjects. Cca-Cla ent. SE (Bdr, 2015) Yes, it is crucial t get access t this kind f infrmatin and it is f even higher imprtance if cmpeting businesses are invlved. Businesses in the Haga Initiative are each alne in representing their wn industry, which is als way t use sustainability wrk as a tl fr increased cmpetitiveness. Als in wnership questins, it is imprtant t knw that bth the wning cmpany and the business being wned are trying t pursue the same sustainability gals. Yes, this kind f infrmatin is smetimes abslutely crucial t the investments in sustainability prjects. It is very imprtant t knw which stakehlders the business is ging t be assciated with and especially if cmpeting firms are invlved. Flksam (Stenmar, 2015) Green Carg (Sandström, 2015) Yes, it is f imprtance t the business knw what cmpeting businesses are investing in. Stena Recycling (Våg, 2015) 31 f 72

33 3.4 Cmmunicating Nexuses Prevailing and Desired ways f Accessing the Infrmatin Table 3.4 Interview answers n hw the business access infrmatin abut nexuses Hw des the business get infrmatin abut nexus in fd, water and energy when deciding upn a sustainability engagement? Hw des the busi- Business ness wish fr this infrmatin t be presented: The perceptin is that infrmatin abut nexus is well cmmunicated by peple that are clsely cnnected t develpment plicy making and sustainability issues and mst peple d understand the nexus-cncept even if they are nt using the actual wrd. 3rd party verificatin f a prject is ne way t assess trade-ffs and synergies related t nexus. Certificatin f a prject shuld guarantee that nexus related trade-ffs has been taken int cnsideratin withut severe negative cnsequences befre initiating the prject. Thrugh 3rd party verificatin, nexus is suppsed t be taken int cnsideratin fr the prjects that the business gets invlved with. Infrmatin needs t be kept distinct and shrt, thus an easily accessible SWOT-analysis that highlights nexuses related t a specific prject, is a preferable way t present this infrmatin. Cca-Cla ent. SE (Bdr, 2015) Flksam (Stenmar, 2015) Nexus between fd, water and energy is nt always being taken int cnsideratin when the business is making decisins abut invlvement in sustainability prjects. But if nexus-related trade-ffs and synergies were presented in a mre distinct manner, it wuld prbably be mre crucial t the decisins. Infrmatin that is being presented by smene wh is independent frm e.g. NGOs with certain agendas is t prefer since a neutral apprach adds credibility t the infrmatin. Mrever, the infrmatin needs t be cmpact. The wrd nexus is nt used in the cmmunicatin within the business, but the business has fr example very strict requirements fr hw much water that is being used in the prductin and they are well aware f nexus effects between water and energy. Requirements are made by the Swedish gvernment and EU, wh are expected t take nexus int cnsideratin when drawing up plicies fr the businesses, thus infrmatin abut nexus shuld be embedded in these plicies. Green Carg (Sandström, 2015) Stena Recycling (Våg, 2015) 32 f 72

34 3.5 Cnnectin between the Businesses current Sustainability Engagements and SDGs Figure 3.1 Perceived cnnectin between current sustainability engagements and SDGs, Gal 1 9. Gal 1. End pverty in all its frms everywhere 0% 25% 75% Gal 2. End hunger, achieve fd security and imprved nutritin and prmte sustainable agriculture 25% 25% 50% Gal 3. Ensure healthy lives and prmte wellbeing fr all at all ages 25% 25% 50% Gal 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality educatin and prmte lifelng learning pprtunities fr all 25% 25% 50% Gal 5. Achieve gender equality and empwer all wmen and girls 0% 25% 75% Gal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management f water and sanitatin fr all 25% 25% 50% Gal 7. Ensure access t affrdable, reliable, sustainable and mdern energy fr all 25% 25% 50% Gal 8. Prmte sustained, inclusive and sustainable ecnmic grwth, full and prductive emplyment and decent wrk fr all 25% 25% 50% Gal 9. Build resilient infrastructure, prmte inclusive and sustainable industrializatin and fster innvatin 0% 25% 75% Yes this is applicable t activities that we are currently invlved with Yes but nly in a farfetched way N 33 f 72

35 Figure 3.2 Perceived cnnectin between current sustainability engagements and SDGs, Gal Gal 10. Reduce inequality within and amng cuntries 25% 25% 50% Gal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 25% 25% 50% Gal 12. Ensure sustainable cnsumptin and prductin patterns 0% 50% 50% Gal 13. Take urgent actin t cmbat climate change and its impacts 0% 0% 100% Gal 14. Cnserve and sustainably use the ceans, seas and marine resurces fr sustainable develpment 25% 25% 50% Gal 15. Prtect, restre and prmte sustainable use f terrestrial ecsystems, sustainably manage frests, cmbat desertificatin, and halt and reverse land degradatin and halt bidiversity lss 25% 25% 50% Gal 16. Prmte peaceful and inclusive scieties fr sustainable develpment, prvide access t justice fr all and build effective, accuntable and inclusive institutins at all levels 0% 50% 50% Gal 17. Strengthen the means f implementatin and revitalize the glbal partnership fr sustainable develpment 0% 25% 75% Yes this is applicable t activities that we are currently invlved with Yes but nly in a farfetched way N 34 f 72

36 4 Discussin 4.1 Aspects that are f Imprtance t Businesses when taking Decisins n Investments in Sustainability Engagements Time and csts are the usual suspects when discussing which aspects are f imprtance when cnsidering an investment in a prject f any kind. Return n investment is the crucial aspect that drives all investments (Adami, 2015). Hwever, that this is all that the businesses leaders care abut is nt true. Frm the results, the authrs fund that there are several ther aspects that are f high imprtance fr the businesses when making decisins abut investments in sustainability engagement. This fits in very well with previus literature that anticipates that business leaders will stp viewing lcal and glbal challenges as additinal csts and that businesses will start regarding investments in sustainability engagements as a way t find slutins fr the issues and t realize pprtunities (WBCSD, 2012) Aspect 1: Gegraphical Area where the Sustainability Engagement has an Impact After analyzing the answers given frm the interviewed businesses, the authrs cnclude that it wuld greatly facilitate the businesses decisins upn investments in sustainability engagements if the gegraphical aspect was t be better cmmunicated. Sandström at Green Carg explains that it is imprtant that the prjects that Green Carg invests in are initiated at a natinal level (Table 3.1). This indicates that Sandström needs infrmatin abut in which gegraphical area the prject will be initiated and where it will have an impact befre taking decisins upn investment. Fr Bdr at Cca-Cla ent. SE, the gegraphical aspect is indispensable. Bdr asserts that it is f utter imprtance that the prject is initiated at a lcal level and in clse cnnectin t the gegraphical areas the cmpany is perating in. Flksam has, as well as Cca-Cla ent. SE, a fcus n certain gegraphical spts where Stenmar gives an example f a current micr financing prject that Flksam has initiated in Guatemala (Table 3.1). Våg at Stena Recycling is mre vague in her aspire fr a cmmunicated gegraphical aspect n the presented sustainability engagement. The authrs althugh draw the cnclusin that Stena Recycling wuld have use f a mre deliberately cmmunicated gegraphical aspect fr the suggested sustainability engagement. This since Våg implies that it is f imprtance that the prject is cnnected t custmer benefits and that it cntributes t cmpetitiveness fr the business (Table 3.1). Since Stena Recycling is a lcally perating firm, Våg believes that the business nly has a need fr infrmatin abut lcal and specific sustainability prjects. Hence the infrmatin abut sustainability engagements needs t highlight the exact gegraphical area in rder t be beneficial t lcally perating firms such as Stena Recycling. By highlighting the gegraphical aspect, it can be shwn t these businesses hw they can invest 35 f 72

37 in sustainable engagements that will have a lcal impact. It is imprtant that businesses such as Stena Recycling see that nt all externally presented prjects are n a glbal r internatinal level. It wuld facilitate decisin-making fr all interviewed businesses if the gegraphical aspect was clearly cmmunicated. In that way, it wuld easily be understd by businesses where a pssible sustainability engagement is suppsed t be initiated and where it will have an impact. This cnclusin is reinfrced by Kim Frsberg at 2050, wh states that businesses will have mre incitements t take better and faster decisins n investments if the infrmatin cntains facts abut which specific gegraphical areas the prject will have an impact in Aspect 2: Effects f the Sustainability Engagement Frm the results, it appears that there exists an verall desire amngst interviewed businesses t get the expected effects f the sustainability engagement, including bth pssibilities and risks, clearly presented when taking decisins n investments in sustainability engagements. Hence the authrs suggest that this is anther aspect t highlight when cmmunicating pssible sustainability engagements t businesses. When speaking abut risks, the businesses refer t negative effects that wuld fllw frm nt investing in the prject. Sandström expresses a wish that risks and a scale f severity - if the issue related t the prject is left unslved - culd be presented and cnnected t a timeline, which is an example f hw the interviewed businesses wishes fr the risks t be presented. Stenmar at Flksam als expresses a wish fr a distinct cmmunicatin f risks, especially resurce related nes, t be presented. Stenmar highlights the SWOT-analysis tl as an example fr hw she culd imagine risks t be cmmunicated in an effective way (Table 3.1). Bth Bdr at Cca Cla ent. SE, Våg at Stena Recycling and Stenmar at Flksam als utter the imprtance f highlighting the psitive effects frm actually investing in the sustainability engagement. Bdr expresses that it is f great imprtance that the prject really des well, and in rder t invest it must therefre be cmmunicated hw the prject des well. Våg implies that the strategic impact f the prject must be in line with prevailing strategy fr bth sustainable develpment and prfitability. Hence, Våg needs t knw bth the psitive and the negative impact by investing in the prject. This als applies t Stenmar, as she states that she wishes fr the infrmatin abut the specific impact n climate and ther sustainability issues t be clearer. This invlves the cmmunicatin f bth pssibilities and risks (Table 3.1). Frsberg agrees that bth risks and pprtunities are imprtant t cmmunicate in a mre distinct way when presenting a sustainability engagement t external businesses (Frsberg, 2015). The imprtance f cmmunicating existing risks bth by investing and by nt investing in a sustainability prject was als highlighted by Green Party minister Per Blund at the seminar A Greener Financial Sectr that was held in the Swedish parliament. Blund stated that the cmmunicatin f existing risks is a key factr fr getting businesses t invest in sustaina- 36 f 72

38 bility prjects. Blund s beliefs are shared by Karin Stenmar wh, at the same seminar, expressed that Flksam mainly invests in prjects where effects can be clearly measured (Anderssn, Blund, Englund, Stenmar et al., 2015). Anther angle n the effects f the sustainability engagement is the nexus apprach, which highlights hw the engagement has an effect n ther sustainability gals r prjects in terms f bth synergies and tradeffs. Frsberg implies that an enhanced cmmunicatin f nexuses wuld make mre businesses keen n engaging in sustainability prjects (Frsberg, 2015). Adami at VINNOVA agrees. Adami states that businesses if nexuses were t be mre clearly prnunced in suggested sustainability prjects wuld be mre willing t engage in reslving sustainability issues, since they culd see new business mdels appear when examining nexuses alng the entire value-chain (Adami, 2015). Mats Anderssn, CEO at AP4, spke at the same seminar as Stenmar and Blund and expressed that if businesses get access t mre infrmatin they can make better decisins (Mats Anderssn, Seminar: A Greener Financial Sectr, 2015).This is relevant fr the nexus-apprach since cmmunicatin f nexuses extends the infrmatin given t businesses n pssible sustainability engagements. Anderssn further meant that businesses tday are taking large risks by nt invlving in sustainability engagements smething that indicates that the risks are nt cmmunicated clearly enugh. He stated that: We are prepared t take risks with the climate that we wuld never take therwise. There is a prevailing risk n 1.6 % that the glbal temperature will raise with 6 degrees Celsius. 1.6 percent may sund insignificant, but it gives yu a perspective when this risk is equal t the risk f 1500 airplanes wuld crash every day. We wuld never even cnsider taking that risk when it cmes t airplanes, s why are we taking it s lightly regarding the climate? (Mats Anderssn, Seminar: A Greener Financial Sectr, 2015) All interviewed businesses agree that a mre clear cmmunicatin f existing nexuses wuld be f great imprtance t cnsider when taking decisins n investments in sustainability prjects (Table 3.4). T summarize a cmmn wish amng all interviewed businesses is t get distinct infrmatin abut risks and pprtunities cnnected t a specific sustainability issue. The interviewees als mean that it wuld add value t and facilitate the decisin making if nexuses was t be presented mre patently Aspect 3: Invlvement f Other Businesses and Organizatins Accrding t all f the interviewed businesses, the infrmatin abut invlvement f ther businesses and rganizatins in sustainability engagements was cnsidered t be highly imprtant. Mst relevant was the infrmatin regarding cmpeting businesses t knw what cmpetitrs were engaging in culd either be a reasn t refrain frm investing in a prject r actually be the reasn fr investing. All f the interviewees regard investments in sustainability engagement as a tl fr cmpetitiveness (Table 3.3). This is smething that is in align- 37 f 72

39 ment with the Visin2050 Reprt. The reprt states that businesses will be frced t put effrts in engaging in sustainable develpment since externalities such as envirnmental impact will be built int the marketplace fr all cmpetitrs and because general reward systems will recgnize sustainable behavir (WBCSD, 2012). Befre investing, businesses make trade-ffs between negative and psitive aspects. The invlvement f a cmpetitr in the same engagement culd be a negative aspect since businesses rarely want t be assciated with their cmpetitrs (Table 3.3). Businesses are keen n being in cntrl f which ther businesses and rganizatins they are assciated with. Stenmar at Flksam expressed that Flksam is selective in which rganizatins they decide t c-wrk with in sustainability engagements (Stenmar, 2015). Bth Bdr at Cca-Cla ent. SE and Sandström at Green Carg highlight that there might be psitive aspects t investing in sustainability engagements that especially invlve partners r custmers r ther stakehlders that the business wants t be assciated with (Table 3.3). Fr VINNOVA, the specific cnstellatin f players in an innvatin prject is cnsidered t be a majr aspect when deciding n whether t finance the prject r nt. Crss-industry cllabratin is prmted as a way f dealing with trade-ffs and synergies impsed by a certain prject, and t have knwledge abut all stakehlders alng the value-chain gets mre and mre imprtant (Adami, 2015). Kim Frsberg at 2050 believes that many businesses base their decisins fr investments in sustainability engagement n infrmatin abut which cmpeting businesses that perates in a specific gegraphical area. If a cuntry already has strng and prfitable businesses within a certain industry, this cuntry might nt be attractive t invest in fr a freign business in the same industry, even if the cuntry needs supprt twards a sustainable develpment the freign business rather turn t a less develped cuntry (ften a Least Develped Cuntry, LDC) fr investments because f fear f being utcmpeted by the existing businesses in the same industry (Frsberg, 2015). As in the case fr VINNOVA, businesses d have reasns t care abut the cnstellatin f stakehlders in all eventual prjects. Thus easily accessible infrmatin abut which ther rganizatins and businesses that are invlved is a facilitating factr fr businesses when making decisins abut investments in sustainability engagements. Engagements that assciates the business with partners and custmers, r ther stakehlders that the business wants t be assciated with, are mre likely t be subject fr investment. Mrever, there may als be synergies fr the business in c-wrking with cmpetitrs in rder t btain sustainable slutins fr cmmn resurces such as water (Table 3.3) Aspect 4: Cnnectin t SDGs The results frm interviews with businesses in the Haga Initiative shw that it wuld be f interest fr the interviewees t get an idea f the glbal perspective when investigating a pssible sustainability engagement. When a business makes investments n a lcal level, the business may have a hard time seeing hw this investment cntributes t reslving sustaina- 38 f 72

40 bility issues n a glbal level. Thus, it is imprtant t highlight hw a sustainability engagement is cnnected t glbal sustainability gals. If businesses clearly see their cntributin t reslving SDGs, it is pssible that the businesses are encuraged t increase their investments in sustainable develpment. Hence, the authrs suggest that the cmmunicatin f a pssible sustainability engagement highlights hw it is cnnected t SDGs. Bdr at Cca Cla ent. SE states that the prject alignment with UN SDGs is an imprtant aspect t be cmmunicated n sustainability engagements (Table 3.1). Sandström at Green Carg agrees by saying that gals and targets shuld be easily understandable when getting a sustainability engagement presented (Table 3.1). Stenmar and Våg als express a desire fr the cmmunicatin f cnnectin t existing sustainability gals. Stenmar tells that specific impact n climate and ther sustainability issues must be taken int accunt and be cmmunicated. Våg develps this by adding that the strategic impact f the prject must be in line with the business prevailing strategy fr sustainable develpment (Table 3.1) Aspect 5: Industry-Specific Infrmatin Frm the interviewed businesses, the results shwed that there is a prevailing cnsensus n the fact that infrmatin that is specified t apply t a certain business r t a certain industry is f mre relevance in terms f encuraging businesses t take actin. All interviewed businesses state that an imprtant aspect when cnsidering investments in sustainability engagements is that the prject is cnnected t r clsely related t their cre business. Mrever, the results shwed that there is a strng wish specifically fr getting infrmatin abut sustainability engagements that have recgnizable cnnectins t benefits fr the business custmers and emplyees. Karin Stenmar at Flksam remarks that the UN is cnsidered t be an rganizatin f high reputatin hence, if the UN was t bring custmized infrmatin t a certain business r industry, this business wuld be mre eager t fllw guidelines and take actin. Industry-specific guidelines and prpsals are thus preferable ver general infrmatin abut glbal sustainability challenges (Table 3.2). Cecilia Våg at Stena Recycling agrees by stating that infrmatin in scientific briefs wuld be f interest if presented in an industryspecific way that fr example highlights research n new recycling technlgies that Stena Recycling culd have use fr (Table 3.2). The finding that all businesses stress the imprtance f business r industry-specific infrmatin n sustainability engagements is als highlighted by Kim Frsberg, cnsultant at Frm Frsberg s experience, many businesses express an urge t invest in sustainability engagements, althugh they in mst cases lack the cmpetence and the resurces t investigate all cnsequences cnnected t a certain sustainability prject. This makes it t difficult fr the businesses t make decisins abut this kind f investments. Mrever, this implies a risk that their eagerness t invest is damaged. T avid this, the infrmatin t businesses needs t specifically target hw a certain business r industry shuld engage in reslving a 39 f 72

41 sustainability issue. Frsberg als states that businesses tend t vary their fcus-areas in sustainability as general trends in sciety shift, even if they always try t keep fcus-areas clse t cre-business (Frsberg, 2015). Jhanna Adami at VINNOVA agrees t the aspect f businesses being sensitive t trends and expresses the pinin that a trendy sustainability prject culd be mre attractive fr businesses t invest in. Fr VINNOVA themselves, it is easier t decide t invest in a prject if it has a descriptin f hw it is cnnected t existing trends (Adami, 2015). This remark that prjects with a clear-cut cnnectin t current trends are regarded by VINNOVA as mre mature investments culd als be cmpared t and unified with the businesses willingness t invest accrding t current trends. Accrding t statistics drawn frm questins abut the businesses perceived cnnectin t the 17 SDGs, it is prbable that businesses frm different industries have diverse cnnectins t the SDGs. Only ne f the 17 SDGs lead t a unanimus answer n hw well the SDG was cnnected t the businesses present sustainability engagements (Fig. 3.1). Cmbatting climate change by prmting climate cmpensatin and CO2-ftprint reductin is the main tpic f the Haga Initiative (HagaInitiative, 2014). This culd explain why gal N. 13 T take urgent actin t cmbat climate change and its impacts was the nly gal cnsidered by 100% f the interviewed businesses t be applicable t activities that the businesses are currently invlved with. Althugh an eventual influence f the Haga Initiative culd be expected, the businesses answers did divide n the remaining 16 SDGs (Fig. 3.1, Fig 3.2). This culd be seen as a strng reasn t adjust infrmatin abut sustainability engagements t be mre specific t each industry. Businesses frm a certain industry will prbably regard their cnnectin t be strnger t a certain set f SDGs and this aspect culd be used in the cmmunicatin in rder t better suit the businesses request fr industry-specific infrmatin. 40 f 72

42 4.2 Hw the UN HLPF can take Identified Aspects int Cnsideratin when Cmmunicating Assessed Scientific Briefs t the Business Sectr Suggestins fr the UN HLPF n hw t cnsider Aspect 1: Gegraphical Area The authrs have identified a desire amng the businesses t get the gegraphical aspect clearly presented in the infrmatin abut a sustainability engagement that the business is taking decisins n investing in. This aspect culd be cnsidered by the UN thrugh highlighting the gegraphical area in which the sustainability engagement will have an impact when presenting assessed briefs t businesses. Interviewed businesses push n the fact that the gegraphical aspect is imprtant since they have activities in specific areas, either dmestic r abrad, and that it thus is imprtant fr them t learn abut available engagements that have an impact in these certain areas (Table 3.1). It shuld be quite simple fr either the OWG at the UN DSD r fr the authrs f the briefs t specify where the brief is assumed t be initiated and where it is assumed t have an impact since the gegraphical aspect is already embedded in the text f the assessed briefs. Mre difficult t determine is the eventual impact that ne scientific brief culd have n a gegraphical area as a result f a nexus with anther sustainability engagement. In rder t fully cmmunicate the gegraphical aspect, the challenge f identifying nexuses fr the assessed briefs needs t be tackled. The identificatin and analysis f existing nexuses may require added resurces, but culd hwever substantially imprve the cmmunicatin f the gegraphical aspect Suggestins fr the UN HLPF n hw t cnsider Aspect 2: Effects f the Sustainability Engagement Mrever, interviewed businesses clearly state that they want the effects cnnected t a sustainability engagement bth risks and pssibilities t be mre bviusly cmmunicated. The UN culd address this desire by adding a list t a scientific brief where the mst severe risks by nt reslving the specific issue alng with the mst evident pprtunities by investing in the suggested sustainability engagement are accunted fr. This culd fr example be presented as a list f risks and pssibilities in rder t keep the infrmatin cmpressed, where the actual length f the list needs t be decided by the researchers n each sustainability issue. The cmplicated part is t incrprate the cmplex aspect f nexus t the cmmunicatin f the effects f the brief. A suggestin frm the authrs is t ask the scientists t fill in a framewrk that prmpts them t try and identify nexuses fr their suggested fields f sustainability engagements. 41 f 72

43 Våg at Stena Recycling means that requirements are made by the Swedish gvernment and the EU t take nexus int cnsideratin when they draw up plicies fr the businesses, thus infrmatin abut nexus is expected t be embedded in these plicies (Table 3.4). This idea is reinfrced by Adami, wh states that it is up t the gvernment t take tradeffs int cnsideratin, since this is nthing the businesses want t d nr have the time t d (Adami, 2015). Frsberg believes that a gd way t cmmunicate nexus culd be by invlving a third party that culd d sme kind f verificatin that the presented sustainability engagement is cnsidering all aspects f the nexuses. Fr example this third party culd give suggestins n hw the businesses shuld cmpensate fr eventual trade-ffs by making further investments r take similar actins. Frsberg means that the existing CDM-prjects with CER-verificatins cnstitute a path in the desired directin but that the cncept f a third party verificatin need t evlve in rder t incrprate all aspects including nexuses (Frsberg, 2015). Anders Englund, CEO at Frtum Heat, reinfrced Kim Frsbergs thughts n a third party verificatin, by stating that transparency and a third party verificatin is the tw mst imprtant things fr defining fr an external party what really frms a green/sustainable investment. He implied that third party verificatin is needed in rder t verify that a sustainability engagement really is sustainable. Englund believes, as well as Frsberg, that this cncept must be develped further and that the develpment f the third party verificatin is essential in rder t in the future guarantee that a sustainability engagement is truly sustainable (Englund, 2015). T incrprate the aspect f the third party verificatin, the UN culd have NGOs wrking actively with perfrming third party verificatins n the accunt fr businesses. Frsberg means that cperatin between NGOs and businesses is needed and that this adds value fr the businesses since the businesses see the third party verificatin as a risk management. Businesses may be willing t pay a higher price fr the service f nt having t take their wn decisins n hw t cmpensate fr tradeffs in nexuses r when nt t cmpensate. By using third party verificatin the risk that the business is being held respnsible fr investing in an engagement that actually is unsustainable decreases and thereby the business als minimizes the risk fr bad marketing (Frsberg, 2015). This is altgether smething the UN culd cnsider when trying t imprve cmmunicatin f briefs t businesses Suggestins fr the UN HLPF n hw t cnsider Aspect 3: Invlvement f Other Businesses and Organizatins Engagements that assciate the business with partners, custmers r ther stakehlders that the business wants t be assciated with, are mre likely t be subject fr investment. Mrever, synergies fr the business culd exist in c-wrking with cmpetitrs in rder t btain sustainable slutins fr cmmn resurces such as water (Table 3.3). This is smething that the UN HLPF shuld take advantage f when infrming businesses abut certain sustainability issues. The UN HLPF culd fr example ensure that each scientific brief includes a list f 42 f 72

44 all businesses and rganizatins that have made investments in reslving the specific issue that is highlighted by the brief. T be even mre clear-cut, the listed stakehlders culd als be srted int the industries that they belng t. In this way, the UN HLPF makes it easier fr businesses t determine if they wuld benefit frm investing in reslving the issue presented by the brief. But there are als difficulties assciated with ding s the wrk f assessing all sustainability engagements f all businesses and rganizatins is perhaps t exhaustive cmpared t the benefits it prvides. This trade-ff is smething that needs t be estimated in an in-depth analysis befre any actins are taken, and the authrs suggest that the UN HLPF sees t that this is cared fr when lking int imprvements fr the cmmunicatin t external stakehlders. The imprtance f direct infrmatin abut pssible multi-stakehlder cllabratin is als stated in the Visin2050 Reprt: business-as-usual cannt get us t sustainability r secure ecnmic and scial prsperity. T reach sustainability businesses must change in the way they interact with ther stakehlders such as academia, NGOs, ther businesses and gvernments (WBCSD, 2012) Suggestins fr the UN HLPF n hw t cnsider Aspect 4: Cnnectin t SDGs Furthermre, the UN shuld ensure that each scientific brief is cnnected t existing SDGs and that these cnnectins are highlighted and easy t find when extracting infrmatin frm a brief. This meets the businesses desire t, in a mre evident way, get infrmatin n hw a suggested sustainability engagement is cnnected t UN SDGs. Thrugh specifying t businesses which sustainability gal they shuld pursue, ne can mre easily influence the businesses t wrk in certain directins (Adami, 2015). T clarify which gals the presented scientific briefs are aiming t achieve can thus be seen as a step in a directin where the UN in a larger scale can affect businesses decisins n which sustainability engagements the businesses devte t. Interviewed businesses state that since UN is an rganizatin with a gd reputatin and is assciated with ding well, they wuld very much like t be cnnected t UN by their wn sustainability wrk. Hence, all interviewed businesses culd imagine taking n prjects cmmunicated by the UN (Table 3.2). As an example, Stenmar at Flksam and Bdr at Cca-Cla ent. SE states that businesses culd feel exclusively selected and gain credibility by getting infrmatin n specific sustainability engagements directly frm the UN (Table 3.2). Frsbergs pinin is that bth 2050 and the businesses they wrk with culd have use fr getting access t the, by UN HLPF, assessed briefs. She implies that it is imprtant fr a business t cnstantly keep themselves updated n which sustainability subjects that are at the tp f the glbal sustainability agenda, and that this is the main reasn fr why businesses wuld benefit frm accessing the briefs (Frsberg, 2015). Furthermre, all interviewees already see sme cnnectins between their wn sustainability engagements and the existing seventeen SDGs (Fig. 3.1, Fig.3.2), even thugh nne f the interviewed businesses had the SDGs in mind when initially investing in these engagements (Bdr, 2015) (Sandström, 2015) 43 f 72

45 (Stenmar, 2015) (Våg, 2015). This indicates that there is a wish amngst businesses t be cnnected t the SDGs suggested by the UN and that the incrprating f this aspect hence culd be used in imprving the cmmunicatin t external businesses. By highlighting cnnectins t SDGs when presenting the briefs, and thereby imprving the cmmunicatin t external stakehlders, the science-plicy interface within the UN HLPF may be strengthened. One prblem in trying t identify which SDGs t cnnect t each f the sustainability engagements, presented by the assessed scientific briefs, is the risk related t the fact that the evaluatin f cnnectins between sustainability engagements and SDGs is subjective. This culd as already suggested fr infrmatin abut nexuses t sme extent be reslved by letting the scientists fill in a framewrk when assessing the submitted briefs in the UN OWG. In the framewrk the scientists culd be required t specify which SDGs the suggested actin in the briefs are cntributing t reslve Suggestins fr the UN HLPF n hw t cnsider Aspect 5: Industry- Specific Infrmatin Besides wanting frm the cmmunicatin t include all the identified aspects, it became clear that the interviewed businesses als wish fr the infrmatin t be either industry- r business specific (Table 3.1). T take this aspect int cnsideratin, the UN HLPF culd see t that briefs are presented with a certain industry in mind when cmmunicating n hw t reslve a specific sustainability issue. The authrs understand that this requires thrugh assessment f all briefs by experts that are eligible t tell which businesses and industries that shuld invest in reslving the specific issue presented by each brief. The wrk will be demanding, but if dne prperly there is a chance that businesses will experience that this facilitates their decisin-making prcess n investments and that they therefre culd invest mre in reslving sustainability issues. T enable this kind f assessment f industries that are cnnected t specific sustainability engagements cmpetence frm NGOs and trade-assciatins culd be useful. An example f hw the participatin f a certain industry culd be highlighted is the seminar A Greener Financial Sectr that was held in the Swedish parliament. In this seminar the fcus was set n the financial sectr and hw it culd take actins in rder t prmte sustainable develpment (Anderssn, Blund, Englund, Stenmar et al., 2015). By highlighting best practices and lessns learned fr each industry, the UN HLPF culd encurage mre businesses t invest in reslving sustainability issues. This ges in line with actins already suggested by the UN DSD (Fig. 2.1). UN is regarded as an rganizatin that businesses want t be assciated with (Table 3.2) and therefre this culd be used in rder t market the specific sustainability engagements t certain businesses. Hence, a business leader will als feel exclusively selected and mre eager t fllw guidelines and recmmendatins if the UN HLPF were cmmunicating directly t that certain business, e.g. by a persnal letter t the CEO (Table 3.2). Mrever, by prviding a 44 f 72

46 mdel fr hw the sustainability engagements culd be marketed and strategically cmmunicated, the UN HLPF culd see t that businesses can use this in their wn PR and thereby experience increased benefits frm investing in the sustainability engagement. Anther way t select mre specific infrmatin t the businesses is t use the businesses wn specific fcus-areas in sustainability. Althugh businesses keep fcus-areas clse t their cre-business, trends will vary and this implies difficulties fr the UN HLPF in staying updated when using fcus-areas as marks fr which infrmatin that gets presented t businesses (Frsberg, 2015). 4.3 Shwcase f hw the UN HLPF can target Businesses with infrmatin frm already Assessed Scientific Briefs What fllws in Table 4.1 is an example t shwcase hw these five aspects f the infrmatin culd be taken int cnsideratin when presenting an assessed scientific brief with suggestins fr engagement. This example is based n the GSDR 2015 brief: Fertilizer addictin: Implicatins fr Sustainable Agriculture (Pedercini, et al., 2014). The brief illustrates hw sustainable agriculture practices (including sustainable cultivatin, crp rtatin, integrated fertilizer and pest management, cver f crps etc.) make the sil safe frm a fertilizer scarcity shck. This is cmpared t intensive industrial agriculture detrimental practices (including tillage, mn-crpping, burning crps residues and extensive use f fertilizers) which make the sil very vulnerable t a fertilizer scarcity shck. By using intensive industrial practices, the level f mineral nitrgen in the sil initially increases while sil rganic matter, SOM, decmpses rapidly. Since the decmpsing f the SOM speeds up the prcess f nitrgen mineralizatin there is a lp f even mre rapid decmpsing f the SOM until all remaining rganic matter reaches chemical stability and n mre nitrgen mineralizatin is ccurring. This ends in falling levels f nitrgen which has a negative impact n the yield. T tackle this, farmers tend t add even mre fertilizers until it n lnger makes ecnmic sense. The yield is then ruined fr a future f mre than tw decades. The brief suggests transitin int sustainable practices befre a fertilizer scarcity shck ccurs, even thugh a transitin will mean a lss f gd yields ver a six year perid. This is cmpared t the scenari where a shift t sustainable practices after a fertilizer scarcity shck, where an apprximated 25-year perid f lst gd yields (Pedercini, et al., 2014). This example brief prvides suggestins fr plicymakers, including the drawing up f plicies that address preservatin and restratin f SOM, but has n apprach t the business sectr. Since the example brief des nt prvide all five aspects f the infrmatin, a deeper analysis f the issue must be cnducted. The ecnmy in Kisii Cunty, where the research behind this brief is based, is dependent n the agriculture. The sectr emplys ver 80 % f the wrkfrce in the cunty and is als an imprtant prvider f raw materials fr agr-based industries. The Kisii Cunty gvernment encurages develping fruit prcessing industries like avcad-, pineapple- and banana- 45 f 72

47 packaging and branding cmmdities while als relying t the agriculture t assist in envirnmental cnservatin (Kisii Cunty Gvernment, 2014). This calls fr envirnmental awareness amng farmers that perate in the area. In the article Effect f farming practices n wetlands f Kisii district, Kenya, published in Applied Eclgy and Envirnmental Research (2005), J.M Mirnga states that farmers need t be prvided with relevant educatin regarding the envirnmental effects f agriculture and the effects f their practices upn the envirnment and resurces.... Mirnga recmmends that this must be placed higher in the cnservatin agenda and that the agenda als needs t include the facilitating and encuraging f larger participatin f rural peple in the transitin t mre sustainable agriculture practices (Mirnga, 2005). This sustainability engagement has several penings fr external stakehlders t get invlved. Kisii cunty gvernment currently seeks fr investrs in the cffee- and tea- industries, in the fruit-prcessing industries and als in milk- and sugar prcessing industries, just t name a few. The mining industry is als develping since the regin has large findings f sapstne, which can be used as a cmpnent in several industries including paint, fertilizers, csmetic and pharmaceuticals (Kisii Cunty Gvernment, 2014). In table 4.1 the identified aspects are matched with infrmatin frm the example brief (Pedercini, et al., 2014) and infrmatin given by the Kisii cunty gvernment (Kisii Cunty Gvernment, 2014). The authrs make the suggestin that the fllwing infrmatin is highlighted in rder t give the brief a business-apprach and make the infrmatin serve as a suggestin fr a sustainability engagement fr relevant businesses. 46 f 72

48 Table 4.1 Shwcase f hw the five identified aspects f infrmatin abut sustainability engagement culd be applied t the GSDR 2015 brief: Fertilizer addictin: Implicatins fr Sustainable Agriculture. Aspects in the presented infrmatin that are f imprtance t businesses when taking decisins n investments in sustainability engagements Aspect 1: Gegraphical area Questins that shuld be answered in rder t meet the businesses expectatins n the presented infrmatin Suggested answers which prvide the infrmatin that need t be highlighted Where has the suggested sustainability engagement an impact? Kisii district, Suthwestern Kenya Aspect 2: Effect f the sustainability engagement What will the effect be frm nt investing in the prject as well as frm actually investing in the prject? Incrprate the effects frm nexus with ther sustainability engagements and gals. Shrt term effect f nt investing (1-6 years): Increased risk fr lst yields in case f fertilizer scarcity shck, lss f prfit in agr-based industries, increased risk f prlnged recvery fr sil, risk f rapid rise in unemplyment. Lng term effect f nt investing: Increased risk f lss f prfit in industries fr cnsumer prducts due t high rates f unemplyment, risk f increased pverty and an impending hunger crisis. Shrt term effect f investing (1-6 years): Slight lss f gd yields in farms that initially emply intensive industrial agriculture practices. Lng term effect f investing: A sustainable agriculture sectr that is safe frm fertilizer scarcity shcks, ensured pprtunities f emplyment and sustainable ecnmic grwth. Cntinues n next page. 47 f 72

49 Nexus: By transitining industrial agriculture practices int mre sustainable practices the yield initially will decrease (1-6 years frm start), which means trade-ffs between eclgical and ecnmical and scial sustainability. Althugh in the lng term bth ecnmic and scial sustainability is achieved. Suggestin t address the nexus: Prvide ecnmic and scial insurance fr farmers that underg the transitin. Aspect 3: Invlvement f ther businesses and/r rganizatins Which ther businesses and/r rganizatins are investing in reslving the same sustainability issue presented by the brief? (List f businesses and rganizatins) Aspect 4: Cnnectin t SDGs Which Sustainable Develpment Gals is this brief addressing? Strng cnnectin t gals N. 2 and 8 and a mre farfetched cnnectin t gal N. 12 and 15 (see Table 2.1). Aspect 5: Industry-specific infrmatin Which industries culd this brief be relevant t? Industries that culd find infrmatin in this brief t be f relevance are fruit- and vegetable-prcessing industries, cffee industry, tea industry and the financial- and insuranceindustry. Mrever, there is sme relevance t ther businesses especially perating in Kisii Cunty, fr example Cca- Cla Cmpany (wh has a bttle-plant in the Kisii municipality). 48 f 72

50 4.4 A Reprt is Nt the Desired Channel fr Cmmunicatin t the Business Sectr In this discussin, the authrs investigate and suggest hw the UN HLPF culd take different aspects int cnsideratin in rder t imprve cmmunicatin t businesses and strengthen the science-plicy interface. By highlighting these aspects, the UN HLPF may custm the infrmatin in the briefs t live up t the businesses expectatins. Nevertheless, in rder t pursue really effective cmmunicatin t the businesses the UN HLPF need t see t that the briefs are presented in a way that appeals t businesses. There is a prevailing cnsensus amng interviewed businesses that a reprt is nt the desired channel fr cmmunicatin. Sandström at Green Carg tells that infrmatin frm the briefs lse sme f its relevancy t businesses if cmmunicated as part f a heavy reprt. The reasn fr this is believed t be that few businesses have the time t thrughly read the reprt. If infrmatin in the briefs were t be summarized and cmpressed it wuld seem mre relevant t the businesses. Sandström als highlights the imprtance f using independent surces when cmmunicating infrmatin abut pssible sustainability engagements (Sandström, 2015). This fits well with the current UN HLPF apprach t cllect scientific briefs by an pen call fllwed by presenting the briefs as a part f the infrmatin t external stakehlders (Table 3.4). Bdr at Cca-Cla ent. SE agrees with Sandström n this matter by stating that the fact that the briefs are assessed by the UN adds credibility t the businesses, which increases the incentive fr a business t invest in the sustainability engagements presented by the briefs Infrmatin frm these scientific briefs is f use t the business in rder t establish a trustwrthy value f sustainability prjects with the UN (Bdr, 2015)(Table 3.2). Mrever, Sandström requests the effects bth the pprtunities in reslving a sustainability issue, and a scale f severity f the risks related t nt reslving an issue t be presented as cnnected t a time-line s that businesses can see when effects are estimated t ccur (Sandström, 2015). The briefs shuld als be presented as clearly arranged, cmprehensible prjects in rder t be f relevance (Table 3.2). Bth requests seem ineffective t btain in the frmat f a reprt and calls fr a mre graphical layut. Stenmar at Flksam brught up the idea f using the SWOT-analysis tl as an effective way t present infrmatin abut a specific sustainability engagement. Stenmar als explained hw a persnal letter t the CEO f a business might be an efficient way in terms f encuraging the business t invest in a sustainability engagement (Table 3.2). Frsberg at 2050 adds t this discussin that the UN shuld take mre advantage f the fact that businesses really can use the infrmatin abut which sustainability issues shuld be n the agenda accrding t scientists. Althugh, Frsberg states that the UN needs t use ther ways f cmmunicating instead f reprts, since few businesses have the incentive t read a heavy reprt t the full extent (Frsberg, 2015). T summarize, the interviewees express that infrmatin in the briefs needs t be transparent and include all five identified aspects. In rder t all at nce take these aspects int cnsideratin, the authrs suggest that the infrmatin frm the briefs is distributed thrugh a database frm which the businesses culd request exactly which kind f infrmatin they want t be 49 f 72

51 presented with. A desirable scenari wuld be if a business culd make a search fr its wn cmpany name in this database and at an instant get presented with all the sustainability engagements that were cnsidered by the scientists and the UN HLPF t be f relevance. The businesses culd then adpt prjects related t the sustainability issues presented by the briefs. By integrating a prject-management tl with the database, the businesses culd als be requested t reprt n their prgressin in pursuing the SDGs cnnected t specific briefs. In this way even if quantificatin f the business prgress in pursuing a SDG wuld remain a difficult task mnitring f prgress in pursuing the SDGs wuld be easier. A database culd wrk as a marketplace fr ideas where all investments in sustainability engagements are mnitred and evaluated in real-time. Data can als be cllected fr a larger regin, e.g. the EU, in rder t mnitr hw an entire regin is making prgress. Even mre efficient wuld be if the data fr all cuntries culd be mnitred as a way f shwing what the glbal prgressin lks like. Of curse, this can nly be pssible if all sustainability engagements are registered the database and if the businesses and ther stakehlders prvide sufficient quantificatin n hw they pursue the SDGs. A first step in building this kind f database culd be the develpment f a framewrk fr scientists t fill in fr each scientific brief that is submitted. This framewrk shuld prmpt the authrs and researchers behind each brief t mark and thereby als simplify prgramming fr which businesses, industries, SDGs, gegraphical areas etc. the brief shuld be linked t in the database. Mrever, infrmatin cllected this way culd be used in a graphical presentatin f a specific sustainability engagement. This kind f infgraphic culd be a sufficient way f meeting the businesses in their need fr a summarized and graphical presentatin f the cmplex sustainability engagement. A pssible scenari is that the scientists d nt have enugh knwledge t fill in the framewrk. This leads t a situatin where the UN OWG needs t d the wrk f categrizing the research t fit int the framewrk which demands extended resurces. Mrever, research that des nt fit the framewrk leaps the risk f being rejected r nt presented prperly. This is undesirable but perhaps a necessary trade-ff in rder t develp the science-plicy interface with suggested database. 50 f 72

52 4.5 Cnnectin t already suggested Actins fr Imprving the Science-Plicy Interface The authrs suggestins n hw the UN HLPF culd apply the identified aspects f the infrmatin when cmmunicating t external stakehlders can be recnnected with sme f the actins already suggested by the UN DSD in rder t imprve the science-plicy interface (Fig. 2.1). The authrs put fcus n the actins that target the Cmmunicatin and Advisry task and, by suggesting that the UN HLPF sees t that the identified aspects f the infrmatin are cnsidered in the cmmunicatin f briefs t businesses, the authrs especially find the fllwing actins t be f the highest relevance: Prvide imprved access t the findings f existing assessments and highlight synergies and trade-ffs Prvide mdel f implementatin/distributin f imprtant findings and verall knwledge thrughut the whle chain, t all stakehlders/players/areas. These actins are essential t the cmmunicatin between the UN HLPF and external stakehlders since they include a suggestin fr bth a nexus apprach and an apprach t adjust the way f cmmunicatin t suit certain stakehlders. Thus, these tasks are relevant in rder t implement the identified five aspects and assciated suggestins fr imprving the cmmunicatin. 51 f 72

53 5 Cnclusins and Suggestins fr Further Research 5.1 Cnclusins The authrs suggest that the UN takes the fllwing five aspects int cnsideratin when cmmunicating assessed scientific briefs t the business sectr: Table 5.1 Five identified aspects that need t be highlighted in cmmunicatin f a sustainability engagement t the business sectr Aspects in the presented infrmatin that are f imprtance t businesses when taking decisins n investments in sustainability engagements Aspect 1: Gegraphical Area Aspect 2: Effect f the Sustainability Engagement Aspect 3: Invlvement f Other Businesses and Organizatins Aspect 4: Cnnectin t SDGs Aspect 5: Industry-Specific Infrmatin Questins that shuld be answered in rder t meet the businesses expectatins n the presented infrmatin Where has the suggested sustainability engagement an impact? What will the effect be frm nt investing in the prject as well as frm actually investing in the prject? Incrprate the effects frm nexus with ther sustainability engagements and gals. Which ther businesses and/r rganizatins are investing in reslving the same sustainability issue presented by the brief? Which Sustainable Develpment Gals is this brief addressing? Which industries culd this brief be relevant t? By highlighting these aspects in the cmmunicatin f the scientific briefs, the UN HLPF will better meet the business's desires regarding presented infrmatin abut a pssible sustainability engagement. This will imprve the cmmunicatin frm the UN HLPF and thereby strengthen their influence n businesses, which in turn can imprve the science-plicy interface. A further cnclusin is that a reprt is an undesirable way t get infrmatin abut suggestins fr sustainability engagements, and that a graphical and summarized presentatin wuld be preferable. 52 f 72

54 5.2 Suggestins fr Further Research This thesis identifies five aspects that are f imprtance t highlight in the infrmatin abut sustainability engagements t businesses. In rder t identify all aspects and t pursue an verall imprved cmmunicatin t external stakehlders, the authrs believe that the UN HLPF must see t that a mre in-depth and extensive study is cnducted where mre stakehlders are investigated and a larger number f elements within each stakehlder grup are studied. The authrs f this thesis suggest the creatin a framewrk fr scientists t fill in when assessing the briefs in rder t get mre clear infrmatin abut cnnected SDGs, identified nexuses and ther essential infrmatin that culd simplify the wrk f highlighting the by businesses desired aspects in the infrmatin abut the sustainability engagements. This framewrk is essential in building a database where businesses culd fill in specific targeting infrmatin in a search fr suggestins n which sustainability engagements they shuld invest in. The authrs als suggest the frming and designing f a graphical summary as an infgraphic fr each brief with the prpsed aspects highlighted. The infgraphics culd be used in the suggested database fr a further imprved cmmunicatin. 53 f 72

55 54 f 72

56 References 2050 AB, Abut [Online] Available at: [Accessed 04 April 2015]. Adami, J., Interview with VINNOVA [Interview] (28 April 2015). Anderssn, Blund, Englund, Stenmar et al., Seminar: "A Greener Financial Sectr" in the Swedish parliament. Stckhlm: s.n. Bems, M., Twnend, A. & Khayat, Z., The Business f Sustainability - Imperatives, Advantages, and Actins. bcg.perspectives, Issue September 21. Bdr, P., Interview with Cca-Cla Ent. SE [Interview] (29 April 2015). Clss, D. J., Speier,. C. & Meacham, N., Sustainability t supprt end-t-end value chains: the rle f supply chain management. Jurnal f the Academy f Marketing Science, Vlume 39, pp ECOSOC, Millennium Develpment Gals and pst-2015 Develpment Agenda. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 12 April 2015]. Englund, Seminar: "A Greener Financial Sectr" in the Swedish parliament. Stckhlm: s.n. Frsberg, K., Interview with 2050 [Interview] (07 May 2015). GDRC, Nvartis Fundatin - Sustainable Develpment Prgramme, Sustainable Develpment and Gd Gvernance. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 17 April 2015]. GSDR, Prttype Glbal Sustainable Develpment Reprt, nline unedited editin., New Yrk: United Natins Department f Ecnmic and Scial Affairs, Divisin fr Sustainable Develpment. HagaInitiative, Abut the Haga Initiative. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 10 April 2015]. Hwells, M., Cnversatins. Stckhlm: Prfessr M. Hwells, divisin f Energy Systems Analysis, KTH. Karin Stenmar, Seminar: A Greener Financial Sectr, Seminar: "A Greener Financial Sectr" in the Swedish parliament. Stckhlm: s.n. 55 f 72

57 Kisii Cunty Gvernment, Invest in Agriculture. [Online] Available at: [Accessed ]. Kisii Cunty Gvernment, Invest In Kisii. [Online] Available at: [Accessed ]. LeBlanc, D., Questinnaire: Imprtant actins thrugh which the high-level plitical frum can strengthen the science-plicy interface fr sustainable develpment.. s.l.:d. LeBlanc, UN DSD. LeBlanc, D., Skype cnversatin. s.l.:d. LeBlanc, UN DSD. Lee, K.-H. & Farzipr Saen, R., Measuring crprate sustainability management: A data envelpment analysis apprach. Internatinal Jurnal Prductin Ecnmics, Vlume 140, pp Lintn, J. D., Klassen, R. & Jayaraman, V., Sustainable supply chains: An intrductin. Jurnal f peratins Management, Vlume 25, pp Mats, S. & Hall, J., Integrating sustainable develpment in the supply chain: the case f life cycle assessment in il & gas and agricultural bitechnlgy. Jurnal f Operatins Management, Vlume 25, pp Mats Anderssn, Seminar: A Greener Financial Sectr, Seminar: "A Greener Financial Sectr" in the Swedish parliament. Stckhlm: s.n. Mirnga, J., Effect f Farming Practices n Wetlands f Kisii District, Kenya. Applied Eclgy and Envirnmental Research, 3(2), pp OECD Better Life Index, Sweden. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 24 April 2015]. OWG UN DESA, Crwdsurced briefs. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 05 Feb 2015]. Pedercini, M., Zullich, G. & Dianati, K., GSDR 2015 Brief - Fertilizer addictin: Implicatins fr Sustainable Agriculture, New Yrk: The Millennium Institute, UN DESA. Per Blund, Seminar: A Greener Financial Sectr, Seminar: "A Greener Financial Sectr" in the Swedish parliament. Stclhlm: s.n. Ri+20 United Natins Cnference n Sustainable Develpment, UNCSD2012. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 20 Feb 2015]. Rehrl, R., cnversatin. s.l.: R.Alexander Rehrl, C-Leader Glbal Sustainable Develpment Reprt. Sandström, J., Interview with Green Carg [Interview] (08 May 2015). 56 f 72

58 Sir David King, UK Special Representative fr Climate Change. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 2015]. Stenmar, K., Interview Flksam [Interview] (08 May 2015). Strålman, A., Egelrud, A. & Mattssn, D., Dags att Reinfeldt visar ledarskap i klimatfrågan. [Online] Available at: the EU and its Member States, UN DESA, UN DESA questinnaire related t the develpment f Sustainable Develpment Gals (SDGs). [Online] Available at: [Accessed 21 May 2015]. The Swedish Institute, Crprate Scial Respnsibility in Sweden. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 20 April 2015]. The UK Gvernment Department f Energy & Climate Change, The UK 2050 Calculatr. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 3 April 2015]. UN DESA, Call fr cntributins t the UN Glbal Sustainable Develpment Reprt. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 20 Jan 2015]. UN DESA, Sustainable Develpment Knwledge Platfrm. [Online] Available at: sustainabledevelpmentgals [Accessed 15 Feb 2015]. UN DSD, HLPF Issue Briefs 4: Preparing the HLPF fr pst 2015: Reviewing prgress and implementatin. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 03 May 2015]. UN General Assembly, A/RES/67/290 - Frmat and rganizatinal aspects f the highlevel plitical frum n sustainable develpment. [Online] Available at: u=35 [Accessed 21 April 2015]. UN HLPF, Reprt f the first meeting f the high-level plitical frum n sustainable develpment cnvened under the auspices f the Ecnmic and Scial Cuncil. s.l., UN High Level Plitical Frum n Sustainable Develpment. 57 f 72

59 UN OWG fr GSDR2015, Crwdsurced Science Briefs n Sustainable Develpment - Digestible messages frm scientists t plicy-makers. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 24 Jan 2015]. UNCCD, Science-Plicy Interface, Windhek: UNCCD. UNCED, Agenda 21, Ri de Janeri: United Natins Sustainable Develpment. WBCSD, Visin 2050 A New Agenda Fr Businesses, s.l.: Wrd Business Cuncil n Sustainable Develpment. Weitz, N., Nilssn, M. & Davis, M., A Nexus Apprach t the Pst Agenda: Frmulating Integrated Water, Energy, and Fd SDGs. SAIS Review, XXXIV(2). VINNOVA, Abut VINNOVA. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 05 March 2015]. Våg, C., Interview with Stena Recycling [Interview] (04 May 2015). 58 f 72

60 Appendix Appendix A - Interview questins fr Businesses in the Haga Initiative T get an insight in and an understanding fr the prevailing prcess when BUSINESS gets invlved in sustainability engagements: In what way des BUSINESS get suggestins n pssible sustainability engagements frm an external actr? Wh is cmmunicating them? What infrmatin is presented? Hw is the infrmatin n the suggested engagements presented? Explain the decisin-making tday, when Yu decide n cmmitting t a new sustainability prject. Are the sustainability engagements that BUSINESS is invlved in smewhat cnnected t existing Sustainable Develpment Gals presented by the UN? Des BUSINESS have any special fcus areas within sustainability which are priritized when chsing amngst engagements? (e.g. water, fd, energy, gender equality..) Des INTERVIEW SUBJECT knw abut any sustainability certificatins such as Gld Standard, Certified Emissin Reductin (CER) r Clean Develpment Mechanism (CDM)? T get an insight in and an understanding fr hw prevailing prcesses and cncepts in the UN HLPF culd be f interest fr the BUSINESS (the authrs explained the prcesses and cncepts fr the interview subject befre asking fllwing questins): Des the INTERVIEW SUBJECT believe that access t scientific briefs culd be f interest fr the BUSINESS? Why? 59 f 72

61 Is the INTERVIEW SUBJECT familiar with the Nexus-cncept? If yes: If n: Is Nexus being taken int cnsideratin when deciding upn a sustainability engagement? Hw des BUSINESS get infrmatin abut Nexuses when deciding upn a sustainability engagement? What are the difficulties when trying t understand existing Nexuses? Wuld yu wish fr the infrmatin abut Nexuses t be presented in a different way frm hw it is presented tday? Hw? Wuld it affect the BUSINESS decisin n investments in sustainability engagements if Nexus between different sustainability agendas was presented fr each engagement? Why? Hw wuld yu wish fr the infrmatin abut Nexuses t be presented? T get an insight in what aspects that are imprtant fr BUSINESS when taking decisins upn investments in sustainability engagements: What infrmatin is, accrding t INTERVIEW SUBJECT, imprtant when taking decisins upn investment in a sustainability engagement: Is infrmatin n invlvement f ther businesses and rganizatins f relevance when making the decisin t invest in a sustainability engagement? T get an insight in general bstacles when it cmes t engaging in sustainability prjects and what the businesses find that pliticians can d t facilitate engagement: What are the main bstacles that the BUSINESS encunter when wrking with a sustainability engagement? What is the pinin f the INTERVIEW SUBJECT n what pliticians n the lcal and glbal arena can d t facilitate fr BUSINESS t engage mre in sustainability engagement? 60 f 72

62 Appendix B - Interview questins fr Kim Frsberg at 2050 T get an insight in and an understanding fr the prevailing prcess when 2050 presents sustainability engagements t external businesses: Des 2050 priritize any special fcus areas within sustainability which are suggested when presenting pssible sustainability engagements t external businesses? (e.g. water, fd, energy, gender equality..) Hw has infrmatin n which areas t priritize reached 2050? Explain yur perceptin f the decisin-making prcess when cmpanies (which yu cmmunicate t) decide which sustainability prjects t invest in. Wh makes the final decisin n which sustainability engagements the business will invest in? T get an insight in and an understanding fr hw prevailing prcesses and cncepts in the UN HLPF culd be f interest fr 2050 (the authrs explained the prcesses and cncepts fr the interview subject befre asking fllwing questins): D Yu believe that access t scientific briefs culd be f interest fr either 2050 r the businesses that 2050 cmmunicates t? Why? If Nexuses was cmmunicated mre clearly with existing tradeffs and synergies, d Yu believe that this wuld generate a greater cmmitment in sustainability engagement amng businesses? Des 2050 incrprate the Nexus-apprach when cmmunicating pssible sustainability engagements t external businesses? If yes - Hw is this aspect cmmunicated? If n - Hw d Yu believe that this apprach culd r shuld be successfully cmmunicated? 61 f 72

63 T get an insight in what aspects that are imprtant when cmmunicating pssible sustainability engagements t external businesses: When presenting pssible sustainability engagements t external businesses, which parameters are mst imprtant t highlight in rder t facilitate the businesses decisin upn investment in presented prjects? T get an insight in what Kim Frsberg find that the UN can d t imprve cmmunicatin in rder t facilitate businesses sustainability engagement: Hw d Yu believe that cmmunicatin frm the UN can be imprved in rder t make priritized sustainability areas be mre understandable and in rder t facilitate businesses decisins n investments in sustainability engagements? 62 f 72

64 Appendix C - Interview questins fr Jhanna Adami at VINNOVA T get an insight in and an understanding fr the prevailing prcess when VINNOVA makes a call fr applicatins t external businesses: Hw des VINNOVA create an verview f prjects that are t be financed/ funded? (infgraphic, reprt, database..?) What factrs are f imprtance fr VINNOVA in rder t be able t make a quick judgement f a prject that seeks financing? T get an insight in and an understanding fr the imprtance f the existence f a sustainability aspect when VINNOVA makes decisin abut financing a prject that seeks financial supprt: Is the existence f a sustainability aspect imprtant when VINNOVA makes decisin abut financing a prject that seeks financial supprt? Des VINNOVA priritize any special fcus areas within sustainability when making a call fr assessments? (e.g. water, fd, energy, gender equality..) Hw has infrmatin n which areas t priritize reached VINNOVA? D Yu believe that VINNOVA can affect businesses t incrprate a sustainability aspect when initiating a develpment prject that is t be financed by VINNOVA? Hw? T get an insight in and an understanding fr hw prevailing prcesses and cncepts in the UN HLPF culd be f interest fr 2050 (the authrs explained the prcesses and cncepts fr the interview subject befre asking fllwing questins): D Yu believe that access t scientific briefs culd be f interest fr either VINNOVA r the businesses that VINNOVA cmmunicates t? Why? If Nexuses was cmmunicated mre clearly with existing tradeffs and synergies, d Yu believe that this wuld generate a greater cmmitment in sustainability engagement amng businesses? 63 f 72

65 Des VINNOVA incrprate the Nexus-apprach when cmmunicating suggested sustainability fcuses t external businesses? If yes - Hw is this aspect cmmunicated? If n - Hw d Yu believe that this apprach culd r shuld be successfully cmmunicated? T get an insight in what aspects that are imprtant when cmmunicating a cmplex subject t external businesses: When trying t steer businesses t incrprate sustainability aspects in their prjects, which parameters are mst imprtant t highlight and which factrs d Yu believe are f general imprtance when cmmunicating t businesses? 64 f 72

66 Appendix D - Frm abut pssible cnnectins between businesses prevailing sustainability engagements and SDGs Pssible cnnectin t UN Sustainable Develpment Gals (SDGs) A survey t understand hw businesses perceive if their engagement in sustainability prjects is cnnected t the UN SDGs Cmpany name * Write the name f the cmpany yu are representing Have yu heard f the UN Sustainable Develpment Gals befre? * Yes N Gal 1. End pverty in all its frms everywhere * D yu cnsider yur business t cntribute t this gal? Yes but nly in a farfetched way Yes this gal is applicable t activities that we are currently invlved with N Gal 2. End hunger, achieve fd security and imprved nutritin and prmte sustainable agriculture * D yu cnsider yur business t cntribute t this gal? Yes but nly in a farfetched way Yes this is applicable t activities that we are currently invlved with N Gal 3. Ensure healthy lives and prmte well-being fr all at all ages * D yu cnsider yur business t cntribute t this gal? Yes but nly in a farfetched way Yes this is applicable t activities that we are currently invlved with N Gal 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality educatin and prmte lifelng learning pprtunities fr all * 65 f 72

67 D yu cnsider yur business t cntribute t this gal? Yes but nly in a farfetched way Yes this is applicable t activities that we are currently invlved with N Gal 5. Achieve gender equality and empwer all wmen and girls * D yu cnsider yur business t cntribute t this gal? Yes but nly in a farfetched way Yes this is applicable t activities that we are currently invlved with N Gal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management f water and sanitatin fr all * D yu cnsider yur business t cntribute t this gal? Yes but nly in a farfetched way Yes this is applicable t activities that we are currently invlved with N Gal 7. Ensure access t affrdable, reliable, sustainable and mdern energy fr all * D yu cnsider yur business t cntribute t this gal? Yes but nly in a farfetched way Yes this is applicable t activities that we are currently invlved with N Gal 8. Prmte sustained, inclusive and sustainable ecnmic grwth, full and prductive emplyment and decent wrk fr all * D yu cnsider yur business t cntribute t this gal? Yes but nly in a farfetched way Yes this is applicable t activities that we are currently invlved with N 66 f 72

68 Gal 9. Build resilient infrastructure, prmte inclusive and sustainable industrializatin and fster innvatin * D yu cnsider yur business t cntribute t this gal? Yes but nly in a farfetched way Yes this is applicable t activities that we are currently invlved with N Gal 10. Reduce inequality within and amng cuntries * D yu cnsider yur business t cntribute t this gal? Yes but nly in a farfetched way Yes this applicable t activities that we are currently invlved with N Gal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable * D yu cnsider yur business t cntribute t this gal? Yes but nly in a farfetched way Yes this is applicable t activities that we are currently invlved with N Gal 12. Ensure sustainable cnsumptin and prductin patterns * D yu cnsider yur business t cntribute t this gal? Yes but nly in a farfetched way Yes this is applicable t activities that we are currently invlved with N Gal 13. Take urgent actin t cmbat climate change and its impacts * D yu cnsider yur business t cntribute t this gal? Yes but nly in a farfetched way Yes this is applicable t activities that we are currently invlved with N 67 f 72

69 Gal 14. Cnserve and sustainably use the ceans, seas and marine resurces fr sustainable develpment * D yu cnsider yur business t cntribute t this gal? Yes but nly in a farfetched way Yes this applicable t activities that we are currently invlved with N Gal 15. Prtect, restre and prmte sustainable use f terrestrial ecsystems, sustainably manage frests, cmbat desertificatin, and halt and reverse land degradatin and halt bidiversity lss * D yu cnsider yur business t cntribute t this gal? Yes but nly in a farfetched way Yes this is applicable t activities that we are currently invlved with N Gal 16. Prmte peaceful and inclusive scieties fr sustainable develpment, prvide access t justice fr all and build effective, accuntable and inclusive institutins at all levels * D yu cnsider yur business t cntribute t this gal? Yes but nly in a farfetched way Yes this is applicable t activities that we are currently invlved with N Gal 17. Strengthen the means f implementatin and revitalize the glbal partnership fr sustainable develpment * D yu cnsider yur business t cntribute t this gal? Yes but nly in a farfetched way Yes this is applicable t activities that we are currently invlved with N Thank Yu fr yur participatin! 68 f 72

70 Appendix E GSDR 2015 Brief: Fertilizer addictin 69 f 72

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