Enabling Business Leadership on the Just Transition

Date and Time

September 19, 2023
8:30 am-10:00 am EST

Location

New York

Science is clear: we need to scale up climate action to keep the 1.5°C limit within reach and mitigate the worst impacts of climate change. At the same time, we need to ensure that the transition to a net zero economy is just, and that the benefits and challenges of moving away from fossil fuels towards clean energy are shared equitably in society. This is needed to create buy-in for climate action, allowing governments and business to act at the scale and pace demanded by science.

Join us to discuss the importance of incorporating just transition considerations into transition plans to ensure that the net zero transition brings shared prosperity and more equitable societies. Panelists will articulate the business case for a just transition, outlining the material risks for business of an unjust transition, and share challenges and success stories.

We will also present the Just Transition Resource Platform, recently published by BSR, The B Team and We Mean Business Coalition, as a key tool to help companies navigate their just transition journeys. As advancing a just transition is new territory for many companies, we are eager to hear from you and discuss how to support businesses in this process, and what tools, guidance, or trainings would be helpful to facilitate action.

Scheduled Speakers

• Owen Bethell, Environmental Impact Lead Global Public Affairs, Nestlé
• Sharan Burrow, Former General Secretary of International Trade Union Confederation
• Rob Cameron, Global Head of Public Affairs, Nestlé
• Jennifer Horning, Head of Corporate Engagement and Partnerships, Solidaridad
• Andrew Prag, Managing Director of Policy, We Mean Business Coalition
• Javier Quiñones, CEO and CSO of IKEA USA
• Gonzalo Saenz de Miera, Director of Climate Change and Alliances, Iberdrola
• Shameela Soobramoney, CEO, National Business Initiative
• Aron Cramer, President and CEO, BSR
---

Aron Cramer
President and CEO, BSR
San Francisco
---
Aron is recognized globally as a preeminent authority on just and sustainable business. In addition to leading BSR, which has grown substantially throughout his tenure as President and CEO, Aron advises senior executives at BSR’s 300+ member companies and other global businesses and partners on the full spectrum of environmental, social, and governance issues.
Aron joined BSR in 1995 as the founding director of its Business and Human Rights program. He later opened BSR's Paris office in 2002, where he worked until becoming President and CEO in 2004. Aron has served on advisory boards to CEOs at AXA, Barrick Gold, Marks & Spencer, Nike, Recruit Holdings, SAP, Shell, and he serves as a director of the We Mean Business Coalition and RISE.
Aron speaks frequently at leading business and public fora and is widely quoted in top-tier media, such as the Financial Times, Le Figaro (France), The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Axios, and Politico. He is co-author of the book Sustainable Excellence: The Future of Business in a Fast-Changing World, which spotlights innovative sustainability strategies that enable business success.
Prior to joining BSR, Aron practiced law in San Francisco and worked as a journalist at ABC News in New York. He holds a BA from Tufts University and a JD from the University of California, Berkeley.
Close