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056 GLOBAL VOICESTHE SCALE OF BUSINESS FOR GOOD MUST MEET THE SCALE OF OUR GLOBAL CHALLENGEST he year 2016 marks the beginning of acceleration. Significant events in 2015 made it clear that we are on the threshold of a new era. The United Nations presented 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the COP21 Paris agreement, agreed by 195 nations, to combat climate change set a new direction and scale for global goals. Both were, to a large extent, a message from and for the business world. And the message is clear: businesses must aim to create a positive impact on all the assets of the world, and contribute to developing an economy that is here for the world and leave behind the exploitation of a world serving the economy. This is especially pertinent when you consider that over 50 of the world’s top 100 economies are in fact corporations, and the costs resulting from the damage to our planet are tremendous. In the last decade alone, the world economy suffered a loss of 2.7 trillion dollars because of natural disasters. Business has contributed to the mass destruction, but it also holds the key to the solution. Consider, for example, that 750 billion dollars’ worth of food is wasted every year whereas it would take just 80 billion dollars to feed all who go hungry. CAPITAL IMPACTThe redirection of capital is crucial to accelerate the transition to this new, value driven economy. What we invest in, will grow. What we divest from, will phase out – and it should. In a recent WEF survey, 750 economists said that they see a climate-induced catastrophe as the greatest threat to the MARGA HOEK, CEO, THE DUTCH SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONworld economy in 2016. With this urgency in mind, Achim Steiner, director of the United Nations Environment Programme has proclaimed 2016 the ‘‘Year of Green Finance’’, knowing that it is crucial to focus on capital investments. And thankfully, we are already seeing an increase in the growth of sustainable capital and a strong divestment from fossil fuels. Over US$42 billion in green bonds have been issued and the amount of sustainable investments has increased over the past two years by 60 per cent. According to the 2014 New Climate Economy Report “Better Growth, Better Climate”, US$90 trillion will be spent on infrastructure in the world’s cities, land use and energy systems over the next 15 years, and investments in energy efficiency could boost world economic output to US$18 trillion in 2035. Market value is increasing rapidly with the low-carbon market worth more than US$5.5 trillion dollars today. Additionally, thirty stock exchanges worldwide have joined the Sustainable Stock Exchanges initiative, committing themselves to promoting sustainable investments.Large corporations can and should play a vital role in redirecting capital by directing Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) funds to specifically address business solutions for our SDGs. Sustainability is not a choice; it is a sound investment and smart corporate venture capital investors are redirecting their focus, putting their money on the future of the planet. This phenomenon is sometimes called ‘‘Corporate Impact Venture Capital’’. I call it more concisely: ‘‘CVC for Good’’. This form of CVC is intended to not only realize the long-term strategic objectives of the investing company, but also to help solve the world’s problems more quickly. With mission driven Below right: The 17 Sustainable Development Goals