Page 17 – Sustainability Academy

Sustainable companies have Action Plans. If you don’t – get one NOW. Cities have them as well. Houston developed an Action Plan in 2008, specifically targeting emissions reduction and later energy efficiency. The plan has paid off in many ways from landfill incinerators to green fleets to competing with other cities for best in class.

An Action Plan identifies areas already part of an organization’s sustainability strategy and highlights stakeholder concerns. The Action Plan then details who needs to sponsor the effort (i.e., identifying civic leaders), a cross-departmental team, which ESG (environment, social, governance) pillars are of greatest importance and how the organization can pull these pieces together over a specific timeframe.

With an Action plan, an organization can design initiatives and goals for Environment, Local Communities and Services that increase stakeholder value, reduce potential risk and improve performance. The Action Plan often serves as a tool to provide impetus to nascent sustainability efforts.

If you don’t believe Houston’s Action Plan has paid off, look at the latest government and corporate achievements in diverse areas. Houston companies are exploring sustainable materials for textiles, polyolefins for packaging (with resins from polyethylene and polypropylene), green restaurants, green buildings and working with community health care workers to improve population health.

These efforts lead to jobs. A quick search of Indeed lists over 500 jobs in sustainability at entry, middle and senior levels, with salaries ranging to over $95,000 a year. Opportunities exist around greater Houston and include various industries like restaurants, finance, real estate, engineering, food services, health, waste, construction, non-profits and even the Zoo!

The Action Plan Houston started in 2008 focusing on emissions reduction has evolved to include green energy sourcing, climate change adaptation and a vision toward 2030. The variety of ways in which a city, state, SME or major corporation can contribute to sustainability is endless.

To learn how to complete an Action Plan, attend our next Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Program, Advanced Edition 2019 to be held in Houston, September 26-27, 2019. This course offers pragmatic methodology and tools to implement a corporate sustainability program. This is the “how to” course for identifying stakeholders, material issues, goals, implementation and reporting. Upcoming trainings: San Francisco, Oct. 15-16, 2019, Toronto, Oct. 31-Nov. 1, 2019 and Miami, Jan. 16-17, 2020.

San Francisco is the heart of the tech world. The city also has some of the most progressive environmental and social mandates in the US. One would think Silicon Valley corporations would be equally sensitive to sustainability issues. CSE research shows this is not the case.

What are they missing that you’ll know after taking the CSE Certified Sustainability Practitioner Program (Advanced Edition 2020)?

CSE trainings start and finish by making the business case for sustainability. If a company cannot advance financially, they can’t help their community of stakeholders. A key stakeholder group is investors. Investors want to see that a company’s income is enhanced by its sustainability efforts.

A recent survey from Kin&Co asked adults about their attitudes toward sustainable business and climate action. Sixty-nine percent agree that climate change is an imminent “urgent issue” for brands, rather than a distant challenge. Fifty-nine percent want their favorite brands to declare a “Climate Emergency”. The research found that climate-related protests combined with mainstream media attention to climate change science, already influences consumer and employee behavior. Thirty-five percent want their employer to take bolder and more ambitious action on climate change. Over 30% responded they would respect their company’s C-suite more if they led on Climate Change. Consumer awareness drives sales. Employee satisfaction drives retention – both key to business success.

If you don’t want to dig into corporate reports, ranking agencies do the work for you.

The S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI) recently added to its global Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) index family. The new set of indices provide ESG performance profiles enhancing leading indices including the S&P Global 1200, Europe 350, S&P/ASX 200 and S&P Japan 500. The new indices also include ESG versions of S&P DJI’s country and regional benchmarks covering North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific. This release follows the April 2019 debut of the S&P 500® ESG Index. Eligibility criteria track companies’ ESG Scores, business activities and adherence to the UN Global Compact (UNGC). Index criteria also exclude companies such as those involved with tobacco or controversial weapons, for example.

If you didn’t follow that last paragraph, you will after taking the CSE training. Corporations need customers, employees and investors to grow. These key stakeholders are demonstrating their reliance on sustainability issues to judge which products to buy, where to work and where to invest. Without them, there is no business. So, expect to leave a CSE training knowing how to make the business case for your company.

Upcoming trainings include London, March 12-13, Seattle 27-28 April 2020, Toronto 23-24 April, NYC 11-12 June and Brussels 25-26 June.

After a two-year hiatus, the Center for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) is returning to San Francisco, presenting its signature Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Program, Advanced Edition 2019, October 15-16, 2019.

Why does a sustainability-oriented city need CSE? For that matter, shouldn’t all cities already have well established sustainability plans?

Sustainability Practitioners needed to support existing programs

San Francisco’s Parks Department encourages food production, and the city government requires that Farmers Markets accept EBT cards, making healthier food more affordable. San Francisco is striving to be waste-free by 2020. With less than a year to go, there is still much to do. The public transit system includes zero-emission vehicles, and San Francisco defies the state average of 100 gallons of water per person with a mere 49 gallons per person per day. Cities need sustainability professionals to manage these programs.

Implementation and future planning necessitate a sustainability-trained workforce.

Whether it’s infrastructure, finance, transportation, health care or agriculture, sustainability practitioners are needed in every field and every discipline throughout the community. Varied fields include manufacturing, financials, real estate, energy and IT. Even though schools such as University of San Francisco and Presidio are training tomorrow’s business leaders and social entrepreneurs, sustainability is not only a business or management issue. Engineering, R&D and operations need an approachable means of bringing sustainability into every aspect of the corporate world.

In San Francisco, CSE can speak to a major revenue source – Silicon Valley. CSE completed ground breaking research in 2016 demonstrating that Silicon Valley corporations, for all of San Francisco’s successes, lag behind the sustainability achievements of the Fortune Global 500, many of whose executives CSE has trained. CSE’s report “Sustainability Trends in Silicon Valley” identifies weakness which the CSE Certified Sustainability Practitioner Program helps address. CSE’s second round of Silicon Valley research is forthcoming September 2019.

Time is of the essence

Not everyone has the time or the money to spend four years earning a sustainability degree. Informed employees, aware students, corporate leaders who understand the fundamentals are needed immediately! Modules on Local Legislation, Global Standards and Future Trends provide critical foundational knowledge.

San Francisco isn’t CSE’s only West Coast stop this year. CSE will also host a training in Seattle, Oct. 28-29, 2019. For more information and Early Bird pricing, go to www.cse-net.org/all-trainings.

A message from CSE, leading Corporate Sustainability Trainers in North America and around the world

At CSE, we take pride in expanding sustainability around the world. We believe that corporations have the most immediate influence. We focus on practitioners who are intrapreneurs and leaders among peers – the ones who have passion.

Meeting passion with passion is part of the pride. We count success by the numbers we reach – certainly. Even more, we count success by the individuals we serve.

Here’s a typical training.

We start by getting to know each other. We learn about participants’ jobs, and we learn about their life – unique experiences which form their drive to better the world. We’ve had countless parents and grandparents with children’s pictures and parenthood fatigue around their smiles. The two days away from family is well spent learning to make a better world.

We define sustainability specific to each organizations’ need. We define what is NOT sustainability to help focus resources. Building the business case justifies time and dollars spent. Building the purpose case brings the talent, enthusiasm and engagement needed.

Engagement – we talk about stakeholder engagement while helping participants build their own, recommitting to bringing their values to their companies. We learn from each other’s missteps and best practices.

As trainers, we take pride in “a ha!” moments – those instructional moments when participants realize all they’ve done correctly and those chagrined moments when easy opportunities become apparent.

As trainers, take pride facilitating Action Plans which are actually implemented. Leaders have a world of solutions. That we provide the tools to manifest sustainability-specific solutions is a boon of our work.

Without a real desire to engage with sustainability practitioners where they are in life, without years of experience dealing with dire problems and brilliant solutions, we wouldn’t be able to deliver the award-winning service we gladly bring to every training.

Sustainability is about people – our colleagues, friends, most importantly our families. All our practitioners become part of the CSE family. We gain great pleasure and fulfillment watching our family grow!

September 30 – October 1, 2019, NYC will host CSE’s exclusive Sustainability (ESG) Leadership Training Workshop for C-Suite Executives,. This Fast-Track workshop addresses key challenges and equips business leaders with updated knowledge and practical tools to develop a sustainability vision and strategy, improve branding and ESG ratings, reduce stakeholder-related risks, manage retention and lead sustainable companies to deliver economic returns.

In times of volatility, Corporate Sustainability Leadership guides legislation and successfully manages internal and external risks. Sustainable profitability, the rule of law, cooperation between enterprises, civil society and governments are the greatest assets to respond to the public concerns for Europe’s future.

As Europe is in turbulent waters business leaders and sustainability professionals have already focused on trust-building dialogues, the creation of collaborative platforms and finance models to implement a sustainable circular and digital economy.

Just as the Center for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) research shows , companies with the highest rankings on sustainability ratings have better financial performance than companies with lower rankings. “These companies recognize the importance of a comprehensive sustainability strategy and reporting that includes goals, and externally assured performance data. Transparency and comprehensive sustainability goals are great business enablers and support the success of corporate strategies. Stakeholders, including investors, shareholders and clients see more opportunities and have more trust in these companies”, says the president and founder of CSE, Nikos Avlonas (Sustainable Reporting: Lessons From The Fortune 500, Forbes interview).

Also, Investors are connecting Climate Change to SDGs. Chief Financial Officers are plagued with sustainability demands. Investors are calling for robust corporate sustainability reporting (CSR). Investment rankings are influenced by sustainability considerations. Companies with sustainability reports and an actively implemented sustainability strategy can mitigate long-term risks such as climate change.

Meanwhile, Stakeholders are pressing companies to go beyond the standard ESG (environment, social, governance) approach. Incorporating the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can guide companies toward areas of positive, measurable impacts which stakeholders desire.

Weaknesses in the finance sector can have an important impact to SDGs 7, 8, 9, 11 and 13 covering affordable energy, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure, sustainable cities and communities and climate action.

The need for practitioners is urgent, leading CSE to offer their Certified Sustainability Practitioner Program, Advanced Edition 2019, in Brussels, this June 20-21. CSE has incorporated the SDGs into its research, consulting and certification programs. Urban centers need an enormous influx of sustainability-trained experts. Whether it’s accounting, auditing or research, trained sustainability practitioners are needed in every field and every discipline – banking, investment houses.

Key topics to the European circular economy package will be the focus of CSE’s training in Brussels, June 20-21, 2019. For more information on registration, Early Bird and Group Discounts, contact [email protected]

CSE will deliver in NYC the exclusive Sustainability (ESG) Leadership Training Workshop for C-Suite Executives, September 30 – October 1, 2019. This Fast-Track workshop will address key sustainability leadership challenges and equip business leaders with updated knowledge and practical tools to develop a sustainability strategy, improve branding and ESG ratings, reduce stakeholder related risks and lead sustainable companies to deliver economic returns. For more information on registration and super early bird discount please contact [email protected]

Return on financial investment and stock market indices are not the only factors considered by investors when they assess and decide on a possible investment opportunity. Issues related to corporate governance, social welfare and environmental growth are crucial for investors. This is why assets for socially responsible investments have increased significantly, from $8.7 trillion to $12trillion between 2016-18 in North America alone (US SIF).

Why are these issues so important for Investors and CEOs? A socially responsible investment (SRI) takes into consideration the Environmental, Social and corporate Governance impacts (ESG). Investors look for SRI opportunities not only because good performance on a social-environmental-governance level can lead to better financial performance, but also because it can mitigate business risk. For example, CEOs of global companies and organizations are complying with the Paris Agreement on climate change.

The Harvard Business Review reports that socially responsible companies present bigger profits and better share return than their competitors, while a long-term strategy incorporating sustainability practices seems to ensure their growth and prosperity. Moreover, companies that treat their employees well and make a priority of addressing employee issues are less likely to face damaging lawsuits and benefit from more productive employees day-to-day. That’s good for the bottom line and for investors.

The connection between financial performance and sustainability strategies and reporting has been analysed in recent CSE research. Of companies with the highest Sustainability scores (as ranked by CSRHub), 73% improved financial results, as expressed by change in revenues 2016-2017. Sustainability Reporting and comprehensive strategies regarding community, employees, governance and environment correlate to a positive impact on profitability.

This is not just a trend; it is a new business and investment strategy. While ESG investing has become more popular over the last 20 years, in the millennial generation, it’s almost a requirement.

According to Bloomberg, about 84% of millennials are interested in socially responsible investing, and that figure is not expected to change as the generation ages, suggesting that demand for sustainable products will only increase.

Key trends and numbers, as recently published on Bloomberg:

Global socially responsible investments grew by 34% to $30.7 trillion over the past 2 years.
Europe remains the biggest region for sustainable investors with about $14 trillion devoted to these strategies, up 11% from 2016, according to the biennial report from the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance.
Smaller markets, such as Japan, saw the biggest jump, which now represents 18% of the professionally managed money in the market, up from just 3% two years ago.
Bloomberg also reports that money managers around the globe find clients increasingly asking for sustainable strategies with climate change a leading issue for investors this year.
Investors who integrate environment, social and governance principles into their portfolios, now represent about $17.5 trillion, up 69%from 2016. Assets that focus on corporate engagement and shareholder activism around environmental and social issues rose to $9.8 trillion in 2018, up from $8.4 trillion.

Want to learn how you can leverage sustainability efforts to improve your ESG rankings? Attend the Center for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) Sustainability (ESG) Leadership Workshop for C-Suite Executives, September 30-October 1, 2019, in New York.

The CSE Leadership Workshop is a C-Suite gathering of key corporate influencers working together to motivate employees and supply chains, to turn competition into collaboration and to influence policy on the sustainability concerns most impacting social, environmental, workplace and marketplace arenas. Participants will develop strategy, hone techniques and actively design the future of corporate sustainability. The workshop incorporates exclusive training, facilitated discussions and intimate conversations to culminate in thought leadership and actionable steps for an integrated approach toward addressing the most pressing issues of our time.

CSE specializes in global sustainability consulting, research and training. Clients include governments, NGOs and Fortune 500 companies. CSE is accredited by CMI and is a GRI organizational stakeholder.

Although Sustainability should be the catchword in an economy system that also targets the minimum of waste and promotes energy resources, European Commission seems to be guided by the economic belief that austerity should still be supported.

Since its first initiation in 2012 when the Euro debt crisis was at its peak, the independent Annual Growth Survey (iAGS) constantly questions whether European Commission follows a more realistic approach over macro economy and a less focused on a long-term reduction of public debt while being conscious enough over the social aspect of the crisis. There had been argument to the level of austerity and the control of public debt, nevertheless little influence did it have on the policies of the European Union.

The 2019 sustainability imperative highlights faster adaptation and a massive step forward. UN Sustainable Development Goals have indicated the way to sustainability performance and economic growth. That means that the measurement of Financial Performance is closely tied to sustainability strategies and goals. More specifically, it is implied that the measurement of social wellbeing is based on the triptych of sustainable development: Economic, Social and Environmental.

On that note, the Center for Sustainability & Excellence (CSE) knows first-hand the challenge of SDGs integration into strategy and sustainability plan and this June in Brussels will surface all the latest trends in sustainability (CSR) for the next coming years while it will address the European needs in a global context. New policies and strategies are required to be orchestrated to reliably support the delivery of long term sustainability.

Nevertheless, EU has still some way to cover in order to sufficiently achieve the SDG’s. Climate Change is another serious challenge that needs to be faced collectively. Societies and corporations are warned on how to use their carbon budget under the +2C target. Consequently, the carbon debt should be deliberated in the upcoming decades, since in the starting point scenario about 50% of EU GDP will be alarmed in staying below +2C.

Sustainability Professionals all over Europe are expected to join the leading event in Brussels to discuss and face the frontline challenges as well as to get globally certified. This is a limited seating training; claim your seat on time.

The Center for Sustainability and Excellence has a long-standing history in Europe of providing Sustainability Education to global FT 500 corporations and executives.

This June in Brussels Sustainability Leaders from all over Europe will join the new advanced edition of the Certified Sustainability (CSR) Program. This training will bring together high level professionals from different countries, fields and companies to join the two-day workshop, to develop and enhance their business strategies through CSR frameworks.

The sustainability agenda at the European level is “a positive agenda, it is about making people’s lives better” (European Commission, Reflection Paper, “Towards a Sustainable Europe 2030”). The European Union is strongly supporting the transition to a low-carbon, more resource-efficient and sustainable economy and it has been at the forefront of efforts to build a financial system that supports sustainable growth.

Corporate Responsibility (CSR) is a key enabler of the transition to a more sustainable future, as private actors’ engagement is needed to deliver efficiency and results. CEO’s and the whole C-Suite need to be sustainability experts. The European Commission openly addressed the need for implementing further actions to stimulate companies to put sustainability at the core of their business process, through incentives.

Sustainability professionals have to address new legislation, integration of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals into the current sustainability plan, new and upcoming trends, ways to influence and get support from C-suite executives, the role of Investors and how to maximize their corporate performance in ESG ratings.

CSE will be in Brussels, Belgium, in June 20-21, 2019. The Certified Sustainability Program provides tools for the design and implementation of the corporate Sustainability plan, as well as effective management of Sustainability complexities within their organization.

This program will feature a presentation of the Surprising Findings from CSE’s recent European Research on Sustainability Goals Integration and Sustainability (CR) Impact. The research focuses on Sustainability Reporting practices of more than 500 corporations from leading business sectors and outlines key considerations related to common strategic objectives, social impact goals, UN SDGs and external assurance practices.

Key sustainability challenges, trends and priorities were presented in CSE’s recent Certified Sustainability Practitioner Program in London, which welcomed attendees from 3 continents and 10 countries. Participants acquired valuable insights from CSE’s research and practical tools to efficiently manage sustainability in their organizations.

The Center for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) celebrates 12 years of trust from FT 500 corporations and global organizations in providing specialized Sustainability Education in Europe, North America, MENA and ASIA. Sustainability leaders from OP Financial Group, AIB, Herbalife, DNB Bank, IPM and other leading organizations have joined CSE’s program and over 1600 executives have become Certified Sustainability Practitioners globally.

The Certified Sustainability Program provides tools for the design and implementation of the corporate Sustainability plan, as well as effective management of Sustainability complexities within their organization. The program also provides insights on new legislation, integration of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals into the current sustainability plan, new and upcoming trends, ways to influence and get support from C-suite executives, the role of Investors and how to maximize their corporate performance in ESG ratings.

CSE will be in Brussels, Belgium, in June 20-21, 2019. This program will feature a presentation of the Surprising Findings from CSE’s recent European Research on Sustainability Goals Integration and Sustainability (CR) Impact. The research focuses on Sustainability Reporting practices of more than 500 corporations from leading business sectors and outlines key considerations related to common strategic objectives, social impact goals, UN SDGs and external assurance practices.

CSE is a leading training organization specializing in maximizing social, economic and environmental impact. We help professionals advance their careers through our certified on-site, online and group training services globally. Fortune 500 companies and other organizations grow and excel using our specialized consulting services.

As leaders in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and CSR strategy, we are often asked for our opinion on matters of most concern to the C-Suite. Here are some of the questions and the answers we’ve provided regarding Renewable Energy.

What are the main challenges for corporate renewable energy uptake in the US?

Executives and Boards of Directors are unaware of the opportunities and, more importantly, the risk of not being energy diversified.
2. Arguments are still made based on cost and efficiency rather than risk and long-term stability.
Getting past regulatory barriers in building infrastructure (one of the reasons we like portable solar solutions such as from Envision).

Where do the opportunities lie?

Investment in VPPAs (virtual power purchase agreements)
Technologies which supplement basic renewables infrastructure such as coatings on solar cells;

What are the main trends?

A follow the leader mentality put to good use – For example, as server intense tech companies look to reduce cost and risks, others will follow.
Dawning (in its infancy) awareness that renewable energy is a job leader
Discussing energy as a critical piece of a comprehensive sustainability strategy! It’s moving out of the isolation of cost-savings and/or carbon emissions.

What do you think needs to happen for the industry to develop further?

Greater awareness of the job benefits in Renewables. Job creation drives policy. It is immediate and impacts employees and local stakeholders more than the political implications of dependency on foreign oil or long-term fears of climate change.

What would you focus on if speaking at an energy conference?

Nikos Avlonas, CSE’s president and founder, and many at CSE would speak to renewable energy’s role as a risk avoidance sustainability strategy. Such a strategy is significant for investors to see higher ESG rankings based on GRI reporting, including SDGs. Our research shows a direct connection between sustainability reporting and strategy and financial performance, partly attributed to investor confidence and brand loyalty. We attend and host events in which we can share our experiences and decades of expertise.

In addition, we host events which fall into two categories:

CSE’s exclusive Sustainability (ESG) Leadership Training Workshop for C-Suite Executives, a Fast-Track training workshop especially designed to address key sustainability leadership challenges and equip business leaders with updated knowledge and practical tools to develop a sustainability vision and strategy, improve branding and ESG ratings, reduce stakeholder related risks and lead sustainable companies to deliver economic returns. (Next workshop – September 30 – October 1, 2019, in NYC).

Certified Sustainability Practitioner Program (Advanced Edition 2019) is a foundation course on the pragmatic methodology and tools to implement a corporate sustainability program. This is the “how to” course for identifying stakeholders, material issues, goals, implementation and reporting (Next training – New York City, June 6-7, 2019).

Group registration form