We Mean Business Coalition

We Mean Business Coalition
Name	We Mean Business Coalition
Formation	2014
Type	Nonprofit coalition
Headquarters	New York City
Region served	International
Leader title	Co-chairs

We Mean Business Coalition is a global non-profit coalition that mobilizes businesses and investors to take action on climate change. Founded in 2014, it brings together corporate networks, philanthropic organizations, and climate advocacy groups to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. The coalition works at the intersection of corporate strategy, financial markets, and international climate policy, engaging with multinational corporations, institutional investors, and national negotiators.

History

The coalition was launched in the context of the 2014 United Nations Climate Summit momentum and the run-up to the Paris Conference. Early supporters included leading climate philanthropy networks such as the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and multilateral initiatives like the United Nations Global Compact. Initial campaigns linked to corporate commitments echoed earlier business engagement seen in coalitions such as the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the B Team. The group's timeline intersects with major climate milestones including the adoption of the Paris Agreement, negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the rise of investor stewardship movements such as the Principles for Responsible Investment. Over subsequent years, it expanded partnerships with actor networks like CDP (organization), Ceres (organization), and Climate Action 100+ to scale corporate emissions commitments and policy advocacy.

Mission and Goals

The coalition's stated mission emphasizes aligning private sector action with international climate goals, particularly the ambition reflected in the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise. Goals include catalyzing corporate net-zero pledges, accelerating renewable energy deployment such as solar power and wind power, promoting energy efficiency in supply chains linked to companies like Unilever and IKEA Group, and mobilizing capital through engagements with asset managers and banks such as BlackRock and Goldman Sachs. The coalition frames its objectives around pathways championed by organizations like the International Energy Agency and targets similar to those advocated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Member Organizations and Partnerships

Members and partners span major corporate networks, non-governmental organizations, investor groups, and philanthropic foundations. Corporate partners have included multinational brands such as Microsoft, Apple Inc., Google and Nike, Inc.; investor partners include pension funds and asset managers like CalPERS and Vanguard. NGO partners have included World Resources Institute, Natural Resources Defense Council, The Climate Group, and Ceres (organization). Philanthropic supporters and funders have included entities such as the Grantham Foundation, Children's Investment Fund Foundation, and the Rockefeller Foundation. The coalition also coordinates with regional and sectoral initiatives like RE100, EV100 and Science Based Targets initiative to translate commitments into operational targets.

Programs and Campaigns

Programs emphasize corporate commitments, investor engagement, and supportive policy advocacy. Signature campaigns include corporate net-zero and 100% renewable energy pledges modeled after RE100 and platformed alongside campaigns like We Are Still In and Business Ambition for 1.5°C. Investor-focused initiatives mirror engagement tactics used by Climate Action 100+ and stewardship codes such as the UK Stewardship Code. Campaign tactics include sectoral pathways for heavy-emitting industries referenced in reports by McKinsey & Company and scenario analyses aligned with the International Renewable Energy Agency. The coalition has run high-profile campaigns timed to summits such as the COP26 and the COP27 conferences, leveraging corporate announcements, open letters to heads of state, and partnerships with multinational certifications and standards bodies such as Science Based Targets initiative.

Governance and Funding

Governance combines a steering group of founding partners with advisory input from corporate and investor members. The coalition's governance model resembles multi-stakeholder consortia like the Global Reporting Initiative and the World Economic Forum's platform approach. Funding streams have included philanthropy from climate-focused foundations such as the Bloomberg Philanthropies and grants from programmatic donors similar to the Gates Foundation philanthropic model. Corporate partners contribute in-kind and financial support, and the coalition leverages partnerships with measurement organizations such as CDP (organization) for data verification and with accounting initiatives like the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures.

Impact and Criticism

Supporters credit the coalition with accelerating corporate climate commitments, increasing corporate renewable procurement, and helping align investor expectations with climate science—a trajectory comparable to shifts driven by Ceres (organization) and Climate Action 100+. It has been cited in analyses of corporate net-zero pledges and renewable energy procurement trends tracked by CDP (organization) and the Science Based Targets initiative. Critics argue that commitments can amount to greenwashing without robust near-term emissions reductions, echoing concerns raised about corporate pledges in reports by Global Witness and investigative findings published by outlets such as The Guardian and The Financial Times. Other critiques focus on the coalition's reliance on voluntary action rather than regulatory measures advocated by groups like Friends of the Earth and some signatories to civil society declarations at UN climate negotiations.

Category:Environmental organizations