L’Évolution de l’Action du Secteur privé dans le développement durable

The document analyzes the private sector's complex relationship with sustainable development, noting a history of corporate disinformation and lobbying against environmental regulations. It identifies three primary modes of engagement: active obstruction, partnership with governments to implement Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the emergence of 'Sustainability-Oriented Hybrid Organizations' (SOHOs) that prioritize regenerative equity over profit. The author argues that while impact investing and 'greening' existing systems are valuable, they may be insufficient to achieve absolute decoupling of growth from emissions, recommending that policymakers support systemic transformations and SOHOs.

• The private sector has a history of actively obstructing environmental progress through disinformation and lobbying. For example, ExxonMobil conducted climate disinformation campaigns despite internal warnings 40 years ago, and Monsanto spent over 14 million euros in 2016-2017 to prevent the regulation of glyphosate.
• Some companies shift their positions when regulatory changes create new market opportunities. DuPont's 1988 decision to eliminate chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) was driven by the potential to capture a huge market as 70% of its CFC sales faced regulatory bans.
• Private sector partnerships are viewed as essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 17. The funding gap for SDGs in developing countries is approximately 2,500 billion USD per year, which could be met by mobilizing 7.76% of global assets under management annually.
• Impact investing has shown growth in India, with 50 investors contributing 5.2 billion USD to agriculture, clean energy, education, microfinance, and health between 2010 and 2018, with annual investment increases of 14%. However, the sector faces challenges regarding standardized impact indicators and the tension between financial returns and social benefits.
• Blended finance mechanisms, such as those used by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), reduce risks for private investment. The GEF has invested over 800 million USD in 98 blended finance projects, mobilizing 8 billion USD in co-financing.
• Sustainability-Oriented Hybrid Organizations (SOHOs), including social enterprises and cooperatives, aim for 'regenerative equity' where profit is a means rather than the end. Examples include Planting Empowerment in Panama and the Borda housing cooperative in Barcelona.

APA

Hestad, D. (2021). L’Évolution de l’Action du Secteur privé dans le développement durable. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-03/still-one-earth-private-sector-FR.pdf

Chicago

Hestad, Dina. L’Évolution de l’Action du Secteur privé dans le développement durable. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2021. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-03/still-one-earth-private-sector-FR.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hestad |first1=Dina |title=L’Évolution de l’Action du Secteur privé dans le développement durable |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=February 2021 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-03/still-one-earth-private-sector-FR.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hestad2021lvolution, author = {Hestad, Dina}, title = {{L’Évolution de l’Action du Secteur privé dans le développement durable}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2021}, month = feb, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-03/still-one-earth-private-sector-FR.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }