The business perspective: J Hugh Faulkner

Whatever your structure. fundamental to the whole movement of change within the municipalities and within the urban infrastructure area is the key question of internalizing environmental costs, the whole concept of polluter-pays It applies with as much rigor in Malaysia as it does in France, with as much rigor in the Philippines as it does in Germany. This is not a concept that is applied selectively between developed and developing countries.

Business of ten argues that internalizing environmental costs leads to competitive disadvantage Citing Germany and Japan, J. Hugh Faulkner, Executive Director of the Geneva-based Business Council for Sustainable Development, stated that environmentally conscious management can improve competitiveness in the long run. To encourage environmentally sound business practices, cities must be prepared to enforce environmental regulations, and administer incentives.

Business responds to the incentives and disincentives and the laws within which it works. If you want to stop the polluting. charge, end don't spend a lot of time talking to them about it. Just charge . . . Water is no different from iron ore. It is a resource It should be paid for Air is a resource Charge Don't overcharge, but charge.

The private sector can play an important role in providing eco-efficient urban infrastructure.

If these simply remain as municipal services, the chronic problems that plague them today-lack of resources, financial resources. lack of technology and lack of management will simply carry M. If you want to change those elements, then one way is to engage the private sector. . . in other words, turn these problems into businesses.

Closer linking of business to the community and the local government is called for Regarding involvement of the community, the often-ignored informal sector has a role. Sustainable development makes good business sense, and business should help provide and manage municipal infrastructure and services.