This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities.
While corporate involvement in developing and transferring environmental technologies and advancing clean production methods can certainly be highlighted, there is legitimate concern about the ways in which the goals and orientation of many corporations, especially transnational corporations, may ultimately be at odds with the goals of poverty eradication and environmental protection. A major question is to what degree the bottom line of profitability and the upper line of responsibility can be maintained without the intervention or guidance by government regulations or civil society's pressure.
Transnational corporations will only keep their money in underprivileged countries as long as the policies of these countries enable them to continue exploiting the misery and desperation of the population.