World Business Council for Sustainable Development Expands North American Presence; Opens Second Office in Chicago

Chicago, IL, 11 June 2024: The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) announced today the opening of its second North American office. This strategic expansion reflects WBCSD’s commitment to accelerate progress towards a sustainable future through action on climate change, protecting nature, and promoting equity.

Located in downtown Chicago, the new office will serve as a hub for WBCSD’s engagement with businesses, government agencies, civil society organizations and academic institutions in the region. By establishing a local presence, WBCSD aims to strengthen collaboration with key stakeholders and drive impactful sustainability initiatives that address pressing environmental and social challenges. WBCSD’s North American headquarters is in New York City, making the Chicago office the organization’s second office in the United States.

“We are extremely excited to expand our North American presence into Chicago, a city that shares our vision for a sustainable future,” said William Sisson, Executive Director, WBCSD North America, WBCSD. “By increasing our reach into the heart of the Midwest, we aim to enhance collaboration with businesses and stakeholders across the region, driving collective action towards our common goals. We selected Chicago after a comprehensive search, based on economic preferences, density of businesses in the region, access to talent, sustainability leadership, quality of life, and pro-sustainability policies.”
 
Chicago, known for its vibrant business community and strong commitment to progressive causes, provides an ideal setting for WBCSD to deepen its engagement with companies seeking to integrate sustainability into key strategies and operations. The city’s rich cultural heritage, diverse talent pool, and thriving innovation ecosystem will further support WBCSD’s efforts to catalyze positive change and drive sustainable development outcomes.

“We are thrilled to welcome WBCSD to Chicago and applaud its decision to open an office in our great city,” said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. “WBCSD’s commitment to advancing sustainable development is more critical now than ever, and I look forward to our continued partnership with our city’s re-established Department of Environment to further work around equity, sustainability, and climate change.”
 
Through targeted initiatives, partnerships, and knowledge-sharing activities, WBCSD’s Chicago office will work closely with businesses in the United States, Canada, and Mexico and Brazil to help them address the interconnected challenges of climate, nature, and equity. Members in the US Midwest represent 32% of all North America-headquartered WBCSD member companies. WBCSD’s new office in Chicago will provide resources, expertise, and collaborative platforms to members to help them gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace, and identify and realize new market opportunities, all in a manner that’s inclusive and equitable.

“The United States has a critical role in helping the world address the interconnected issues of climate change, nature loss and mounting inequality,” said Peter Bakker, President & CEO of WBCSD. “Expanding our footprint in the Unites States enables WBCSD to leverage the country’s innovative capabilities and influential market to drive global sustainability initiatives. This expansion will strengthen our ability to foster cross-border collaboration and mobilize resources effectively, ensuring that our efforts to create a sustainable and equitable future resonate globally while addressing local challenges comprehensively.”
 
“We welcome WBCSD to the Chicago area,” said Jennifer Scanlon, president and CEO of UL Solutions, a global safety science leader based in Northbrook, Illinois. “WBCSD’s expertise in shaping sustainability standards and frameworks make it a critical partner. Their presence in our city will increase necessary collaboration across businesses, government, civil society organizations and academic institutions in our region, as we work for a safer, more secure and more sustainable future.”
 
“On behalf of the Chicagoland business community, we congratulate the World Business Council for Sustainable Development on its decision to expand its presence in Chicago,” said Phil Clement, President & CEO of World Business Chicago. “This move leverages our city and region’s strong access to talent, deep commitment to sustainability, and extensive network of business interests. We look forward to continuing to support initiatives and collaborations that drive sustainable development and foster innovation in Chicago and beyond.”

The new office will serve as a platform for WBCSD colleagues, project participants from member companies, and key partners to work together to convene collaboration on key challenges, build, and share knowledge. Holly Crilly, Director, Key Accounts, WBCSD, will oversee Chicago operations.

For more information about WBCSD’s Chicago office, contact Holly Crilly, Director, Key Accounts, WBCSD: crilly@wbcsd.org.

For more information about WBCSD, visit: www.wbcsd.org.
 
About WBCSD
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a global community of over 225 of the world’s leading businesses driving systems transformation for a better world in which 9+ billion people can live well, within planetary boundaries, by mid-century. Together, we transform the systems we work in to limit the impact of the climate crisis, restore nature and tackle inequality. We accelerate value chain transformation across key sectors and reshape the financial system to reward sustainable leadership and action through a lower cost of capital. Through the exchange of best practices, improving performance, accessing education, forming partnerships, and shaping the policy agenda, we drive progress in businesses and sharpen the accountability of their performance.