 From the President's Desk
Earth Day: Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk
for Our Climate and Our Communities
By Jeff Yorzyk,
Director of Sustainability, Green Chef, Boulder, Colorado
April brings one of the only annual "holidays" in the sustainability world - Earth Day, which happens this year on April 22. The March for Science will take place worldwide on Earth Day and includes teach-ins and rallies. It's a chance for people who support scientific research and evidence-based policies to take a public stand and be counted. On April 29th, marches in support of the Peoples Climate Movement will take place across the United States, where citizens can stand up for their communities and climate. This is also a time for sustainability professionals around the world to remind our peers about the importance of the ecosystems that support human life. That said, if you don't understand who you're talking to and where they're coming from, how can you determine the best engagement strategy? According to Dan Kreeger, the executive director of ISSP's new partner organization the Association of Climate Change Officers, understanding the foundation of a person's perceptions and beliefs is a key part of effectively engaging them on critical issues like climate change. Check out Dan's article below for some tips that can help make your next set of efforts even more productive.
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ISSP-CSP Application Now Open
ISSP is excited to announce that we're
now accepting applications
for the ISSP Certified Sustainability Professional (ISSP-CSP) credential!
Unlike the ISSP Sustainability Associate (ISSP-SA) credential, the ISSP-CSP designation is geared towards veterans of the sustainability field who are able to pass the ISSP-CSP exam. Earning this advanced level of sustainability certification is a great way to grow your professional brand and open up new opportunities - as well as join
a growing list of sustainability veterans being recognized for their knowledge, skills, and abilities in the field.
The application process requires a candidate to demonstrate that their professional sustainability experience and education meets the
eligibility requirements
for the ISSP-CSP, including providing three references from individuals familiar with their sustainability experience. The nonrefundable application fee covers the cost of reviewing the application. Once the application is accepted, candidates can register for the ISSP-CSP exam. Only those who have earned the ISSP-SA credential are eligible to apply and only applicants who have paid the application fee will be considered. Learn more about applying
.
The
ISSP-CSP Study Guide
is available to help ISSP-CSP candidates prepare for the exam. These comprehensive tools link key sustainability concepts to real-life professional experiences and serve as a great resource for any sustainability professional.
For more information, check out the Candidate Handbook and FAQ. With further inquiries, please contact [email protected].
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Understanding and
Engaging
Climate Skeptics
As sustainability professionals we often encounter people who think, act, and feel very differently on the subject of climate change. These people can significantly impact our ability to move climate initiatives forward. In order to be effective change agents, it is important that we engage, rather than dismiss, climate "skeptics" and understand the various psychological, cultural, and political factors informing individuals' perspectives and choices.
Since 2008, Americans' diversity of climate change opinion has been the focus of a study by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and the George Mason Center for Climate Change Communication.
Based on twice-a-year surveys of a large, nationally representative sample from a variety of backgrounds, the research has shown that there are six distinct groups of American adults with very different ideas about climate change. The result is Global Warming's Six Americas, identified as Alarmed, Concerned, Cautious, Disengaged, Doubtful, and Dismissive.
Working with people who aren't as convinced as we are about the need for climate action requires that we understand their motivations and perceptions. As such, we are pleased to provide you with
Engaging People on Climate Change - Tips for Opening Minds, Neutralizing Opposition and Catalyzing Support. Written by Daniel Kreeger, the co-founder and executive director of the Association of Climate Change Officers (ACCO), this article provides
practical tips and insights into how to effectively engage people with different views on global warming.
The article represents another way that ISSP and ACCO are partnering to advance our shared missions - to heighten the knowledge, skills, and professional growth of climate change and sustainability professionals around the world. For more information about the ISSP-ACCO partnership and the discounted joint membership and other benefits that are available to professionals working in the climate change and sustainability disciplines, please
visit
https://www.sustainabilityprofessionals.org/ACCOpartnership.
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Burgers to Handbags:
Sustainability From All Angles
held their monthly networking event April 3
rd
at Bareburger in West Village. While there, they met and mingled with current and emerging sustainability professionals and sampled
The Impossible Burger.
Can we eat our way out of climate change? The Impossible Burger provides an alternative for meat lovers without the associated carbon footprint. It is made entirely from plants to smell, sizzle, bleed and taste like real meat. Because the Impossible Burger uses 0% cows, it consumes 95% less land, 74%
less water, and creates 87% less greenhouse gas emissions. This
$180 million dollar burger
is backed by Google, Bill Gates and other investors who see its potential in revolutionizing the way we eat!
And on
Wednesday, April 19th
from 6:00-7:30pm ET, the ISSP Greater New York City Chapter will present the next Leaders In Sustainability keynote featuring special guest Laurent Claquin, head of Kering Americas. Kering Americas is the parent company of 20 global luxury, sports, and lifestyle brands, including Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Brioni, Stella McCartney, Puma, and Volcom.
In partnership with NYU - Stern Center for Sustainable Business, the evening includes an informal networking reception.
Click here for more information.
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Free ISSP Webinar:
Looking Into the Future with Sustainability's Big 3: Interface, Patagonia, and Unilever
April 6, 2017 at 11:00am PT-US
 Three leading companies-Interface, Patagonia, and Unilever-are making sustainability the cornerstone of their brands and are shaping the way that sustainable business is conducted all over the world. In their unique industries, these three companies have overcome old ways of thinking and a "business as usual" mindset. They have each made lasting commitments to creating positive impacts on the world, our environment and our communities while generating revenue, reimagining their brands, and emerging as leaders in the commercial sphere.
In this free webinar, sustainability leaders from the "Big 3" in sustainability will discuss the obstacles they have faced in making sustainability the norm and the innovative, exciting solutions that have helped them to not only succeed, but to triumph - driving a spirit of optimism even in these uncertain times. The session will cover strategies for success, best practices, and an in-depth conversation on sustainability in the next decade.
Free for all registrants!
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ISSP Course: Life Cycle Assessment 101
Begins Friday, May 5, 2017
When businesses need to measure the environmental and social impacts of their products and practices, they rely on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as a tool in their sustainability arsenal. ISSP's upcoming May course will provide an introduction to LCAs, including an understanding of the scope, challenges, and possibilities in applying life cycle assessment to the decision-making processes of businesses and other institutions.
Aimed at sustainability
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Dr. Tom Gloria, Harvard University
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practitioners in the business world
- including anyone who needs to understand LCA in order to produce Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) or wants to get a building LEED certified - the course will look at how LCAs can be applied for corporate and organizational benefit. Participants will use a business simulation for detailed study of how LCAs operate on the ground. Any business leader interested in quantifying the impact of what they do will be well-served by understanding LCA as a potent sustainability tool.
ISSP members can audit the course for only $30! Don't wait -
sign up today.
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Profile: Dr. Paola Fiore, ISSP-SA
Here's the latest installment in our occasional series of articles profiling ISSP members who have achieved ISSP Certified Sustainability Professional designation. Featured in this month is Dr. Paola Fiore ISSP-SA.
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Dr. Paola Fiore |
Title:
Sustainability Management & Communications Specialist | Sustainability & CSR Coach |
Founder & CEO
Organization:
ETICAMBIENTE® Sustainability Management & Communications Consulting
Innovative Sustainability Coaching & Consulting Solutions for Responsible Growth & Profitability
Location:
Milan, Italy
Educational Background:
ACTP The Art & Science of Coaching - Erickson Coaching International, Canada
MSc Business & Corporate Communication - Il Sole 24 Ore Business School, Italy
MSc Environmental Law & Management - IPA Institute for the Environment, Italy
BA (Hons) Documentary Photography - UWCN University of Wales College Newport, UK
Environmental Law & Economics - University of the Studies of Pavia, Italy
Degree in Jurisprudence - University of the Studies of Pavia, Italy
What are your current job responsibilities?
With over 17 years of experience in transforming corporate and non-profit organizations into socially responsible and profitable market leaders, and 23+ years of environmental studies, I lead Strategy and Business Development and Markets and Operations for my own company ETICAMBIENTE®
Sustainability Management and Communications Consulting
.
We are a forward thinking pioneer in the field of sustainability management and communications, and sustainability coaching and training. We work with CEOs & Boards, Executives and Senior Managers who are keen to understand how sustainability can make good business sense, and acquire proper in-house expertise to create profitable sustainability strategies and initiatives.
We are dedicated to working with medium-to-large sized companies and multinationals struggling with integrating sustainability principles into their core business model, day-to-day operations and risk analysis, as well as striving to maximize stakeholder engagement and communications.
We partner with our clients to enhance sustainability leadership and innovation, build a business case for sustainability, identify areas for improvement and cost savings, access new markets for a green economy, avoid green and blue washing, and promote eco-friendly products and services.
By providing all-in-one consulting and coaching solutions, we empower our customers to improve brand reputation and conversations, drive long term business value and honor the Triple Bottom Line.
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
My family, ETICAMBIENTE®, and volunteering work as a Climate Reality Leader and Speaker within the Climate Reality Leadership Corps, Climate Policy Task Force Member within The Climate Reality Project, European Branch, and National Coordinator for Italy for The Climate Reality Project.
Why did you choose to join ISSP?
We strive for excellence everyday. That is our main goal in all we do in life and work. We recognize ISSP as the world's leading professional organization for sustainability practitioners. In this community of like-minded people, we can contribute together to advance practice, methodology, and tools in order to improve our work both at local and global levels.
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Sustainability Events Around the World
- Sustainable Brands'17 Istanbul, April 20 - 21, Istanbul, Turkey
- Sustainable Brands'17 Madrid, May 7 - 9, Madrid, Spain
- Sustainable Brands'17 Detroit, May 22 - 25, Detroit, Michigan
- Environmental Leader Conference, June 5 - 7, Denver, Colorado
- Sustainable Brands'17 Buenos Aires, September 21, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Sustainable Brands'17 Cape Town, October 2 - 4, Cape Town, South Africa
- Companies Vs Climate Change: Europe, October 4 - 6, Brussels, Belgium
- Sustainable Brands'17 Kuala Lumpur, October 10 - 11, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- AASHE Conference & Expo, October 15 - 18, San Antonio, TX
- Sustainable Brands'17 Copenhagen, October 30 - November 1, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Sustainable Brands New Metrics'17, November 13 - 15, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Sustainable Brands'17 Bangkok, November 29 - 30, Bankkok, Thailand
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