Climate Solutions: Addressing Urgency & Taking Action. As humans we've adapted a linear approach to economics; we take, we make, we dispose. Yet, does this activity benefit our living system? Does it benefit you? Or your business? Probably not. We need to redefine growth, focus on positive society-wide benefits and build economic, natural, and social capital. How is this possible? The Circular Economy. The circular economy is based upon three principles; design out waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems. It's a framework for an economy that is restorative and regenerative by design, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.  

Sustainable development plays a significant role in shaping the future of our environment and society. So that we might learn from another community taking innovative action, we've invited speaker Amy Aussieker, the Executive Director of Envision Charlotte, to share the successes and challenges Charlotte, North Carolina has had since launching their circular economy plan.

Tying in with their sustainable energy goals to reduce carbon dioxide, the City of Charlotte has begun to harness materials that would have been headed to the landfill like plastics, textiles, concrete and organics. REthinking the operating system and REdesigning the way Charlotte's economy works - REpresenting a systemic shift that builds long-term resilience, generates business and economic opportunities, and provides environmental and social benefits. Please be sure to join us next Tuesday, March 10th to learn about the short and long-term strategies, community participation, and benefits of developing a circular economy. 

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Developed by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) JUST 2.0 is a voluntary disclosure tool to help organizations optimize polices that improve social equity and enhance employee engagement. Having just had our Leadership Meeting for USGBC-Missouri Gateway Chapter, this in-depth seminar couldn't have come at a more ideal time. During the Leadership Meeting we introduced the imperative need to integrate our Equity & Inclusion Statement into our programs and strategic plan, with members like you and educational events like Jumping into JUST we can make this pursuit of sustainable equity and inclusion a more active, consistent journey together. 

Thanks to Madeline Smith of Clayco Inc. for her fabulous presentation and leading our discussion groups when assessing our own organizations and their social equity in relation to people, planet, profit. Those in attendance suggested the most useful aspect of this event was the case study of JUST 1.0 by Trivers and the break out session to apply what we learned from the presentation using a JUST scorecard. Included in the scorecard were indicators such as diversity and inclusion, equity, employee health, employee benefits, stewardship, and purchasing and supply chain.

Throughout the process of obtaining a JUST label Trivers' biggest lesson learned was that this helped clarify areas for focused strategic improvement. For example, Trivers received a level zero for ethnic diversity, and when asked the question, how are you addressing racial equity to improve your rating to a level three? Amy Gilbertson, a partner at Trivers said, it's not going to change overnight but since she started as an intern with Trivers she was the only female licensed architect. The hope is once Trivers starts to attract more ethnic minorities in the firm, the more leadership of color they will have, changing the architecture, engineering, and construction profession as a whole to become more diverse and inclusive. 

"I just love the fact that we've gone from this LEED world of architects, engineers, and contractors to now really reaching out to a lot of [open] disciplines," said LEED Fellow Paul Todd Merrill during the seminar. Any company can get a JUST label, not just the green building industry and for Trivers this social justice label is more about employees and wanting to create a place where people want to work and where they feel appreciated - it's more recruiting and retaining talent, versus trying to get projects as an architecture firm. 

Visit: www.usgbc-mogateway.org/events to register for your next green building educational opportunity and learn more!

March 05 | 1:00 - 6:00 pm

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Speaking of a just and equitable future, we got the chance to catch up with Rebecca Hankins, President of the Meramec Botanical Society at St. Louis Community College (STLCC) and Rob Kennedy, the  Rainscaping Programs Manager at the  Missouri Botanical Garden regarding the upcoming Social Justice in Horticulture Conference Thursday, March 5th at STLCC Meramec.

MARCH - APRIL

THE GREEN SCHOOLS QUEST is also  also supported in part by the St. Louis-Jefferson Solid Waste Management District and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources