Dear Colleagues,
For those of you who are interested in the subject of sustainability and the role IB and MNEs can play in it, this year's EIBA Conference (8 - 10 December, in Oslo, Norway), might be of interest. This year's theme is 'Walking the talk? Transitioning towards a sustainable world' (see attached Call for Papers), and because the theme fits well with what the Sustainability Shared Interest Group is all about, Shasha Zhao and I, the SIG's go chairs), have come up with three panel ideas that we would like to develop into panel proposals. Brief descriptions of each idea are as follows:
Panel Idea 1 – Inclusive Governance in MNE GVCs for Resilience and Sustainability
The pandemic exposed many weaknesses in the way MNE GVCs are structured which have to be corrected in order for MNEs to be better prepared for (resilient to) the next external shock. GVCs also are being shown to be crucial with respect to how well MNEs can tackle their own sustainability issues (e.g., reducing their total carbon footprint) and help contribute to the success of any Sustainable Development Goals they have chosen to target. The purpose of this panel is to explore the idea that a more inclusive governance structure of the GVC (giving the components a ‘seat at the table’ in how decisions are made and strategies implemented) is needed to address these two issues.
Panel Idea 2 – Can MNEs Fill the Global Warming/SDG Institutional Void Left by Governments?
Making pledges for Agenda 2030 is one thing, following through on those pledges is quite another. We know that those governments which have pledged the most have done the least, crippling the effort to address global warming or make significant progress on the SDGs. At the same time, more and more of the private sector, especially large MNEs, have been making similar pledges and at least expressing an earnest and sincere desire to follow through on them, even when no official encouragement from their home countries exists. This leads to the question noted above, and what this panel will do is explore how it can be answered, entertaining different points of view such as the feasibility of and implications for theory and practice on MNEs filling this institutional void.
Panel Idea 3 – It’s Not Always Easy Being Good and Green
Many, if not all, of the largest MNEs are touting their dedication to fighting global warming and their support for the SDGs, and proudly display their progress in annual sustainability or corporate social responsibility reports. This desire to be good and green should be applauded, however what these MNEs do not like to talk about is instances in which it neither is being good nor green. Pushing responsibility for reducing the company’s carbon footprint down to its supply chain, ongoing concern about the use of child labor in cocoa and coffee production, and instances of forced labor in the fashion industry are prime examples of this ‘inconvenient truth’. Some of this dilemma could be contributed to these MNEs using an ‘old’, less ‘progressive’ business model when a new, more progressive one is needed. The purpose of this panel is to, by highlighting these challenges, put forward the argument that MNEs can, should, and must consider innovating their business models in order to have a true sustainability focus and offer insights into how this business model innovation should proceed.
If you are interested in being a part of a panel(s), please let us know soon what your contribution will be. Because EIBA is in-person in 2022, you should be confident that you can attend, as being present will be a requirement should the panel be accepted. Once we have the panelists and topics (hopefully by July 8th), we will prepare a ‘final’ draft (which will be driven by the nature of each panelist's topics) to share with you before the proposal is submitted.
Looking forward to working with you on these panels!
Best regards,
John Dilyard and Shasha Zhao