PricewaterhouseCoopers International CEO Samuel A. DiPiazza, Jr. has been elected Chairman of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). DiPiazza will succeed Travis Engen, CEO of Alcan Corp. on 1 January 2008 and is the first representative from a professional services organisation to chair the Council.
With headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the WBCSD was created in 1991 to involve business in the Rio Earth Summit. According to a 2006 world survey by GlobeScan, the WBCSD is not only the leading organization advancing sustainable development, but also the most respected provider of information on sustainability issues.
"I'm honored that I have been selected to lead the WBCSD at a time when the critical issues of sustainable development, climate change and the environment are at the forefront of the business and social agenda," Sam DiPiazza said. “I believe businesses must act responsibly as global citizens and play a lead role in building of a more sustainable world. The WBCSD is the best organization to help business achieve this.”
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (www.wbcsd.org) is a CEO-led, global association of some 200 companies dealing exclusively with business and sustainable development.
The Council provides a platform for companies to explore sustainable development, share knowledge, experiences and best practices, and to advocate business positions on these issues in a variety of forums, working with governments, non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations.
Members are drawn from more than 35 countries and 20 major industrial sectors. The Council also benefits from a global network of about 55 national and regional business councils and regional partners, involving about 1,000 business leaders worldwide.
PricewaterhouseCoopers has been a very active member of the WBCSD since 2001, participating in a number of working groups and providing members of the WBCSD future leaders network. PricewaterhouseCoopers has an established international team with a presence in 40 countries that has been advising clients on sustainability issues since 1991.
