environmental sustainability concerns for the planet & how this affects organizations by: vikki...
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Environmental SustainabilityConcerns for the Planet & how this affects Organizations
By: Vikki Dorsey, Paula Lee, Kristina Petro, Sarah Rowe, Alice Tang
Objectives
The Journey we would like to take you on is…
How we got here
Where are we now
How can we move forward
How we got here
Where we are now
How we can move forward
What is Environmental Sustainability?
“Sustainable development focuses on improving the quality of life for all of the Earth’s citizens without increasing the use of natural resources beyond the capacity of the environment to supply them indefinitely”.
Source: sdgateway.net
How we got here
Why Should I care?
Addicted to and dependent on Oil
Outsourcing of all manufacturing jobs overseas
Urban sprawl, cities grow outward, mass traffic jams
How we got here
Building scalable clean energy alternatives
Focus on jobs using technology & expertise to re-build a smarter energy grid
Cities grow upward with mass transit systems
FROM TO
How did we get here?
Affluenza: Our natural resources and the pursuit of “More”
Energy crisis: As the price of oil goes up, the pace of freedom goes down.
Climate change: The frog is in the water.
How we got here
An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore• Global Warming is described as a continuous rise in temperature of the Earth’s climate.
• Greenhouse Gases are gases in the Earth’s atmosphere that traps in the heat.o Carbon Dioxide = 80% of total greenhouse gas
emissions!o Methaneo Nitrous Oxide
• The Greenhouse Effect is a process where the greenhouse gases maintains the Earth’s warm temperature.
Where we are now
Effects of Global Warming
Glaciers are Melting
Heat Waves
Warm Ocean Waters
Coral Reefs are being killed
Where we are now
*The U.S. is responsible for 30.3% of emitting more greenhouse gas pollution.
The Greenhouse Effect
Image from www.ecy.wa.gov Where we are now
How does this relate to Organizations and Business?
Corporate Social Responsibility
What is CSR?
Why is it important? Gen Y impact Beyond recycling
Consumers demand for CSRWhere we are now
Case Studies
• External/client impact• Internal impact
• Awards• Carbon footprint reduction
Where we are now
Globalization & Sustainability
Globalization – Impact:
• Environment• Culture• Economic Development
UN Global Compact
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Where we are now
Business Strategies
Organizational BehaviorEmbeds sustainability into organization’s culture & actions
EntrepreneurshipDevelops new business solutions inside and outside organization
OperationsResponsible for the impacts of sustainability efforts throughout organization/product’s life-cycle
MarketingDesigns and promotes sustainability options/opportunities for organization
How we can move forward
Business Strategiescont…
AccountingEstablishes targets & systems for sustainability practices and initiatives
FinanceManages responsible impacts of company on environmental arenas
EconomicsAddresses the larger environment in which the business works and influences; enables companies to optimize contributions to sustainable development
EthicsAddresses good management, corporate governance, ethical behavior
How we can move forward
Implement Sustainability Strategies
Mainstream all sustainability efforts into the organization
CEO buy-in
Develop environmental assessments
Prepare for Audits
Develop environmental management systems
Use sustainability standards to guide efforts
How we can move forward
Business Strategy
LEEDLeadership in Energy & Environmental Design
• Green Building Program• Certification• International participation with 32 partner countries
How we can move forward
Business Strategy
SEERSocially, Environmentally and Ethically Responsible
Four macro-values– Corporate social responsibility– Environmental stewardship– Financial strength– Product/service quality
How we can move forward
http://www.michaelcrooke.com/about-seer/
Advantages
Reduced costs
Preserve company’s resource base
Environmental legislation
Positive reputation = increased advantage
Satisfy demands and expectations of customers to meet green standards
Increase competitive advantage within a growing global market of environmentally-minded consumers and systems
How we can move forward
Challenges
Up-front costs
Lack of awareness about impact
Competitive marketplace
Customer awareness
Short-term vs Long-term results
Insufficient technology, training, expertise and capital
Greenwashing
Gap between values & expectations
Misalignment with suppliers
Employee engagement
Integrated strategy
How we can move forward
How can you help?
Solar Panels
Fluorescent Lightbulbs
Green Roofs
Hybrid Cars
Geothermal Power
Stations
Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Buses
Wind Power
How we can move forward
Reflection
Why is this important?
What does this mean?
How can my organization play a role?
How we can move forward
References
Weybrecht, G. (2010). The sustainable MBA: The manager's guide to green business. Chichester, England: Wiley
Friedman, T. L. (2008). Hot, flat, and crowded: Why we need a green revolution-- and how it can renew America. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Lovins, A. B., & Rocky Mountain Institute. (2011). Reinventing fire: Bold business solutions for the new energy era. White River Junction, Vt: Chelsea Green Pub.
Appendix 1:Opposing Views to An Inconvenient Truth
• Carbon Dioxide is plant food
• Arctic climate fluctuates
• The Earth has a constant rate of temperature in the past 30 years
• Cold air can also cause hurricanes
• Coral Reefs had higher CO2 levels in the Mesozoic Period