Unilever CEO Says Businesses Must Help Lead Global Efforts To Protect Environment

Unilever CEO Paul Polman said the apparent failure of governments and political processes to make the Rio+20 conference a meaningful event for environmental protection should prompt the world's largest companies and NGOs to promote sustainability on a global scale. While the political agreement that emerged from the conference "recognizes an increasing role for business," Polman said the text "lacks specificity, clear dates, funding, and accountability." Instead of complaining, however, Polman claimed that the agreement's weakness should be seen as an opportunity for businesses to play a major role in global efforts to protect the environment.