We Mean Business Coalition works with the world’s most influential businesses to take action on climate change. The Coalition is a group of seven non-profit organizations: BSR, CDP, Ceres, Climate Group, CLG Europe, The B Team and WBCSD. WMBC works with the Coalition’s seven founding partners and several locally positioned partners across the world in key geographies and sectors. Together, the Coalition catalyzes business and policy action to halve emissions by 2030 and accelerate an inclusive transition to a net-zero economy.
The National Business Initiative (NBI) is the local partner to WMBC in South Africa. As part of this long-standing collaboration, the NBI provides important linkages with companies and policy makers, through years of experience working on climate change and the just transition with business. Together with the WMBC, the NBI has helped South African companies set more ambitious targets and build strong understanding of how to achieve these, developed meaningful public-private collaboration, completed rigorous research and published market-leading sectoral decarbonisation pathways to net zero by 2050.
As the local partner of the We Mean Business Coalition, the NBI supports and advises many of South Africa’s most prominent companies who have signed up to a range of commitments, pledging their strong support for a low-carbon future.
Raising ambition and catalysing action
WMBC’s goal is to catalyze business and policy action to halve emissions by 2030 and accelerate an inclusive transition to a global net zero economy by 2050. By working together, companies and governments can accelerate climate action. Growing climate action from businesses is giving governments greater confidence, spurring them to set stronger policies that help businesses achieve their climate goals faster. Policymakers are responding to growing business leadership by setting bold climate policies to cut emissions in line with 1.5°C, spurring more companies to greater action.
The 4 A’s of Climate Leadership
Leading businesses respond to the climate crisis with Ambition. They deliver on that ambition with Action. They speak up to secure wider change through Advocacy. And they drive progress by demonstrating Accountability.
Ambition
Climate ambition is a commitment and plan to shape the future. It’s a positive vision for a net zero world, for people, business, economy and environment. Ambition guides strategy, empowers employees, and informs stakeholders.
Action
Climate action means delivering on bold ambition. This is a process of innovation and transformation. Done right, climate action unlocks opportunities for business success in the net zero economy and protects against risks.
Advocacy
Advocacy is essential to bring about science-based climate and nature policy that unlocks investment and delivers action at scale. Corporate climate leaders use their powerful voices, activities and associations to call for strong policy ambition.
Accountability
The climate and nature emergencies demand results. Clear and consistent disclosure of plans, progress, risks and opportunities builds trust among stakeholders, directs capital, and informs strategy. It shows resilience and readiness for the net zero world.
Follow the step-by-step guidance for companies
Further details on the work and resources provided by the We Mean Business Coalition can be found at: https://www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org
Why take action
We Mean Business gives companies and investors a common platform to act and be recognized for bold leadership on climate change. Companies can commit to one—or all—of a set of innovative and practical climate initiatives, and they can work to scale low-carbon solutions to meet specific technology challenges to tackle climate change.
Together, these commitments – all of which are automatically fed into the UNFCCC’s NAZCA platform– will make a huge positive impact. Throughout the coming year, We Mean Business will send a strong signal to governments and policymakers that businesses and investors all over the world are taking action and want smart climate policy that will scale solutions and help deliver a more prosperous and resilient future.
Companies interested in signing up can contact one of the team members listed below, via email.
Reports
An opportunity to boost industrial
competitiveness and attract investment
RAiSE: Renewable Ambition in South African Electricity
Business Decision makers Guide: Renewable Energy
CEO Guide to Climate Change (2021)
South Africa’s Pathway to Net-Zero: Decarbonisation Reports
Alex McNamara
Unit Head: Environment
and Society, NBI
Gillian Maree Senior Programme Manager: Environment & Society
