Environmental Sustainability JENNIFER DEBOER

Transcription

1 1 Environmental Sustainability JENNIFER DEBOER Preview & Objectives 2 Today s lesson will address the following questions: What is (environmental) sustainability? What are indicators of sustainability? What are dimensions of sustainability? What are common conceptualizations/models of sustainability? What is business sustainability? What motivates businesses to be sustainable? What sustainable strategies/practices do businesses pursue? How do businesses pursue sustainability strategies? What are implications surrounding business sustainability? 1

2 3 What is sustainability? Definition and Background 4 Sustainability represents the ability to sustain; it encompasses the endurance of processes and systems. Sustainability is the property of biological systems to remain diverse and productive indefinitely, (James et al., 2015). In The United Nations formed the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) to unite countries to pursue sustainable development together. Our Common Future famously defines sustainable development as, development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, (Brundtland Report, 1987). 2

3 5 Are we currently environmentally sustainable? Vital Indicators 6 Population Total Real GDP Water Use Ozone Depletion PSecretariat/planetarystewardship-sybil-seitzinger 3

4 Accelerated Change 7 Tropical Forest and Woodland Loss Paper Consumption Natural Climatic Disasters Biodiversity Loss Fisheries Exploitation anetary-stewardshipsybil-seitzinger Climate Change Indices Global carbon dioxide Global surface temperature 8 Arctic sea-ice minimum Global sea level hange/climatechangeindex. 4.56b5e28e137d8d8c html 4

5 More Info 9 Planetary Boundaries (Rockstrom et al., 2009): s/johan_rockstrom_let_the _environment_guide_our_ development 10 What are the three (most common) components of sustainability? 5

6 Environmental Dimension 11 Includes issues surrounding environmental stewardship, natural resources, climate change, renewable energy, and related areas Seeks to promote the responsible use of natural resources to ensure a healthy environment for future generations Economic Dimension 12 Concerns economic outcomes, market performance, and indirect economic impacts (e.g. employment rates) on local, national, and global systems Seeks to promote economic value creation over time 6

7 Social Dimension 13 Considers issues of human rights, quality of life, resource access, and corporate responsibility Seeks to promote the ability of a societal system to function over time 14 How do we conceptualize these three dimensions? 7

8 Three Pillars Model 15 Social Environmental Economic Sustainability Venn Diagram Model 16 Economic Environmental Social 8

9 Venn Diagram Model 17 Economic Environmental Nested Model Social 18 Environment Society Economy 9

10 Group Activity #1: Role Playing Create groups of 4 8 students Refer to your Group Activity #1 handout Ideally, approximately half of your group will play Role A and half of your group will play Role B if the number of group members assigned to the roles is uneven, some group members may switch roles, but only to bring the number of each role even (i.e do not switch roles because you disagree with the role you ve been given) In this role playing scenario, have a discussion with your group about the future of the Giant Sequoia National Monument to work towards a collective recommendation You ll have approximately 15 minutes to come up with a recommendation Recommendations will be shared and discussed with the class Business Sustainability Business sustainability is often defined as managing the triple bottom line - a process by which companies manage and integrate financial, environmental, and social risks, obligations and opportunities. These three impacts are sometimes referred to as profits, people and planet. Businesses are typically considered sustainable if they meet the following criteria: The business incorporates principles of sustainability into each of its business decisions. The business supplies environmentally friendly products or services (ideally those that replace non-renewable products and/or services) The business is more environmentally friendly than its competition The business has made a substantial commitment to environmental principles and practices in its business operations 10

11 Sustainable Business Example 21 com/green/climatechange/ 22 Why do businesses go green? 11

12 Motivations Competitiveness: profitability, market share, cost savings, costbenefit analysis, risk mitigation, innovation, tax incentives, competitive advantage Legitimation: compliance with norms and/or regulations, consumer demands, brand reputation and publicity, imitation, survival, employee attraction and retention Environmental Responsibility: leadership, ecological values, social good, concern about resource limitations, desire to provide healthier work environment Model of Ecological Responsiveness (Bansal and Roth, 2000)

13 25 What strategies do businesses take to go green? Strategies Stakeholder Engagement Innovation & Technology Collaboration Sustainability Reporting Greening the Supply Chain Green Human Resources Management Environmental Management Systems Environmental Certifications Environmental Marketing Environmental Audits Life Cycle Assessment Environmental Performance Reporting 26 13

14 Orsato, How do businesses go green? 14

15 Process/Implementation It s a path dependent process!!! Research indicates the following factors promote this process: Leadership values Company culture Innovation and Technology Adams et al.,

16 Adams et al., Implications 32 Competitiveness? Legitimation? Environmental Responsibility? 16

17 Group Activity #2 33 Find a partner or two make sure at least one person has internet access Choose one of the following companies: International Paper Weyerhaeuser Patagonia Salt Spring Coffee Go to the company s website and identify at least 5 environmental practices or strategies Using your handout, indicate where you believe these practices or strategies would be placed on the sustainability oriented innovation model Find another group that chose the SAME company as you and compare notes 34 Thank you! 17