WBCSD Launches New Playbook: Trade Associations as a Force for Good

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and Volans just launched the Trade Associations as a Force for Good playbook today. It offers companies a strategic framework to align their sustainability goals with the advocacy of their trade associations.

This collaboration is critical for shaping public policy and accelerating the transition to a net zero, nature-positive, and equitable economy.

The playbook introduces a five-step process for companies to assess, influence, and mobilise their trade associations effectively:

1. Internal strategy and alignment: Integrate policy engagement into your overall sustainability and transition strategy. Focus on material policy dependencies and align your positions with credible science-based pathways.

2. Articulating and communicating actionable policy priorities: Develop clear, granular policy positions that go beyond high-level commitments, and proactively share these with trade associations to guide their advocacy efforts.

3. Assessing associations’ alignment and effectiveness: Systematically evaluate trade associations on how well their activities and positions align with your policy priorities, and how effectively they engage on relevant issues.

4. Engaging with associations to improve alignment and impact: Collaborate with associations to address misalignments and drive greater policy ambition. Escalate or exit when progress stalls, and coordinate with like-minded companies where possible.

5. Reviewing association memberships: Regularly review whether memberships are supporting or undermining your policy goals. Use structured criteria to decide whether to remain, reform, or withdraw.

This guidance is essential as businesses recognise that achieving sustainability goals often requires supportive public policies. By actively managing indirect policy engagement through trade associations, companies can help create a policy environment that accelerates the transition to a sustainable future.

Collaborating to Build Climate-Aligned Policy Demand

For climate-aligned or climate-aspiring businesses, the path to systemic change requires collaboration with trade associations. Trade associations operate with their members' interests in mind. While addressing climate change and its effect - not just on people but also on businesses - is part of an association's duty of care, many organisations need more support and demand from their members to be able to implement solutions for them and with them.

Partnerships between businesses and associations are key to building both the offer and demand for climate-aligned policies.

1. Creating Shared Advocacy Goals: Businesses and trade associations should align their sustainability targets and work towards common advocacy goals. This collective approach strengthens their ability to influence policy at both national and international levels, ensuring that ambitious climate action is a central part of the policy agenda.

2. Building Demand for Climate Policies: Businesses that are committed to climate action can effectively articulate the need for progressive policies. By partnering with trade associations, they can amplify their voices, advocate for policies like carbon pricing and renewable energy incentives, and build demand for frameworks that enable the green transition.

3. Co-Creating Innovative Solutions: Companies with cutting-edge solutions need supportive policies to scale effectively. Trade associations can serve as a platform for these businesses to co-create policy frameworks that promote innovation and support sustainable practices across industries, such as sustainable supply chains or climate-smart agriculture.

4. Leveraging Influence to Shape Policy: Trade associations, with their established lobbying power, can influence policymakers to drive climate action. However, for these policies to be effective, they must align with the goals of businesses that are already implementing climate solutions. By joining forces, they can advocate for regulatory frameworks that support the widespread adoption of green technologies and practices.

5. Promoting Transparency and Accountability: To ensure successful collaboration, both businesses and trade associations must be transparent and accountable. Companies should showcase their progress on climate goals, while trade associations should openly communicate their policy advocacy. This transparency helps to build trust and ensures that the push for climate-aligned policies is grounded in measurable action.

   
   

By combining their efforts, businesses and trade associations can drive a policy agenda that accelerates the transition to a sustainable future. This partnership is not only vital for achieving climate goals but also for fostering an environment where innovation and sustainability can thrive.

Explore the Playbook

Read the full Trade Associations as a Force for Good playbook here to understand how your organisation can align with climate policy ambitions.

Are you a trade association?

Get in touch with Climate Action for Associations to learn how you can lead on climate advocacy and support your members through the transition.