proceedings from the global congress · 2020. 7. 16. · communities of practice consisting of...

GLOBAL CONGRESSfor Climate Change & Sustainability Professionals

December 2019 | Chicago, Illinois, USA

Proceedings from the

Hosted By

© 2020 by the Association of Climate Change Officers and International Society of Sustainability Professionals. All rights reserved. 2

The Association of Climate Change Officers (ACCO) and International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) serve climate change and sustainability communities of practice consisting of thousands of professionals worldwide in public and private sector entities, community and non-profit organizations, and academic institutions. Our combined memberships include executives, technical experts, scientists, engineers, and designers whose efforts are critically important to tackling climate change and achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Immediately prior to the world changing events of 2020, ACCO and ISSP jointly hosted 200 participants at the first Global Congress for Climate Change & Sustainability Professionals. Over an 18-month period leading up to the event, we facilitated an inclusive, deliberative process that led to a series of 25 professionally facilitated working sessions that were conducted in Chicago, Illinois.

This report highlights the takeaways, needs and opportunities identified by the Congress. Acting on these findings will empower climate change and sustainability professionals across the workforce and around the world.

ACCO and ISSP are stepping up to tackle these challenges.

We invite you to join our communities of practice, making them more inclusive, stronger, and coordinated.

THE TIME IS NOW TO BRING ABOUT A MORE

RESILIENT AND EQUITABLE WORLD


CON

GRESS TA

KEAW

AYS

RAISING OUR CAPABILITIESClimate change and sustainability professionals must develop leadership, systems thinking and communication skills

BUILDING OUR NETWORKSEstablishing allies across organizations is vital to success, especially with finance and risk management teams to build a strong business case, and human resource professionals to embed sustainability concepts and actions across organizations

BETTER DATA & TOOLSInvesting in high-quality climate and sustainability data collection and analysis is key to improving long-term decision-making

DRIVING MARKET DEMANDCompelling and consistent climate and sustainability communication campaigns will drive market demand for professional expertise

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENTSubstantially more skills and literacy development is needed across the workforce to tackle urgent environmental, economic, and social challenges

EQUITY & INCLUSIONOur fields must address systemic barriers to equity and inclusion and include multiple perspectives in our decision-making

COLLABORATIONProfessional societies and NGO conveners must engage in strategic partnerships to achieve greater impact


ACCO & ISSP begin planning

Kickoff meeting forms 20-member Chicago Ambassadors Council

222 professionals respond to call for topics

36-member Planning Council formed

Planning Council surveyed to shape Global Congress

Sub-committees begin planning

Chicago Ambassadors plan off-site activities

Two virtual Town Halls held to identify priority issues

Planning Council selects program tracks

Sub-committees re-organized by five tracks

Planning Council identifies objectives for tracks

Sub-committees create working sessions

Planning Council adopts full program agenda

Sub-committees identify key session questions

Facilitators & hosts plan working sessions

December 2018

February 2019

March 2019

March 2019

April 2019

April 2019

May 2019

May 2019

June 2019

July 2019

August 2019

September 2019

October 2019

October 2019

November 2019

Global Congress conducted December 9-12

Facilitators’ debrief reports submitted

Participant feedback surveys conducted

Facilitators identify key takeaways, priorities & opportunities

ACCO & ISSP leadership review findings and session materials

Working session submit feedback on draft report

Working session hosts provide final inputs on report

Outcomes finalized

Report published

December 2019

January 2020

January 2020

February 2020

February 2020

April 2020

May 2020

June 2020

July 2020

AN INCLUSIVE, DELIBERATIVE PROCESS


FORGING PATHWAYSEstablish a clear, navigable trail for current and future practitioners

EMBEDDING VALUEDevelop strategies to increase the demand for professional climate change and sustainability credentials

ADVANCING THE FIELDProvide high-quality training and resources that better enable industry leading competencies to advance climate change solutions and sustainability

IMPROVING REACHHelp practitioners better leverage communications tools to reach audiences more effectively

PRIORITIZING INCLUSIONAdvance frameworks for integrating climate change and sustainability with environmental justice, equity, diversity, inclusion and economic vitality

COMMUNICATING TRANSFORMATIONLaunch awareness and advocacy campaigns that enhance public understanding of the impacts and implications of sustainability and climate change

SHOWING OUR IMPACTDemonstrate the vital contributions of climate change and sustainability professionals to organizational success, and more broadly, to society

SHARING INFLUENCECreate inclusive forums that foster a shared strategic agenda, knowledge and practices

OPPO

RTUN

ITIES


ACCO

ACTIO

NS

In response to the opportunities cited by Congress participants, ACCO has committed to:

CREDENTIALINGDevelop the CC-O® credential recognizing executives leading climate change initiatives and the CC-P® candidate program for new members of the field not currently eligible for the CC-P®

CAPACITY BUILDINGProvide enterprise climate readiness services for governments and the private sector to advance organizational culture and capacity

TRAINING RESOURCESDeploy leadership programs and new courses on communication, finance, risk management and behavior

BROADENING PARTICIPATIONDevelop enduring plan for equity and inclusion in ACCO programs and membership

ADVOCACYIssue calls to action and conduct robust communication efforts aimed at our field and key target audiences that affect our work

MARKET DEMAND & SUPPLYExpand the regional climate academy model by replicating the Maryland Climate Leadership Academy in other territories and states

MAKE AN IMPACTEstablish a hybrid training, micro-finance and community project development program that enables our field to make a direct impact in building up communities left behind

ROLE MODELSPromote leaders in the field and inspire members through programming such as the Climate Superheroes® Webcast


ISSP ACTIO

NS

ISSP is addressing the opportunities identified by the Congress in our planning and isalready taking the following actions:

PRIORITIZING INCLUSIONCurrently include diversity criteria in governing board succession planning; Expanding to include in ISSP mission statement and adding evaluation criteria to all ISSP programming and internal activities

SHOWING OUR IMPACTCurrently demonstrated in ISSP Sustainability Hall of Fame Series

SHARING INFLUENCECultivating strategic partnerships with GBCI, ACCO, and several related organizations

FORGING PATHWAYSContinue to work with GBCI to embed credentials in the labor market

EMBEDDING VALUEIncentivize credentials for ISSP Career Center job postings

ADVANCING THE FIELD Currently provided through our Education Partner and Professional Development Programming; Expanding to our Training Partner and Credential Exam Preparation Offerings

IMPROVING REACHCurrently included in ISSP course offerings


Elevating the Climate Change & Sustainability Occupations

Integrating Climate Change & Sustainability into Other Occupations

Shaping the Market Demand for Professionals & Practices

Advancing Decision-Support Resources & Tools

Addressing Critical Social Challenges: Public Health, Equity & Inclusion

Track A

Track B

Track C

Track D

Track E

WORKING SESSION OUTCOMES


Elevating the Climate Change & Sustainability

Occupations

Session 3: Embodying the Elements of Elevated Stature

How do we ensure that our strategic value is recognized and fully engaged by executive leadership and elected officials?What are the most effective ways for owning and promoting high-level strategic value to employers?

How can we make that value understood by the right decision-makers?

Session Findings• Our field has very little influence at the

strategic level across sectors• We must proactively prove our value and

seek support from other established C-suite professionals

Prospective Actions• Mount a campaign to elevate the

leadership and stature of our field• Measure and demonstrate the value of

the climate change and sustainability leadership function

Session 4: Envisioning Sustainable Organizations & Sustainable Development

What are the keys for the successful development of change networks and what barriers need to be overcome?What are the core practitioner leadership competencies required for successful action planning and execution and are they applicable to different organization types?

Session Findings• Barriers to success include current culture &

ideology, stakeholders, budgets & costs, politics, lack of direction & strategy, competing priorities, lack of education, inadequate buy-in and infrastructure and workplace fatigue

• Incentives, ROI, professional organizations, standardization, efficiency and even fear of catastrophe are all forces that drive change

Prospective Actions• Build a framework that promotes values such

as governance, alignment, transparency, accountability, prioritization and continuous improvement

• Emphasize the importance of leadership competencies, especially communication and collaboration, as well as core management skills

Session 5: Advancing Our Professions

Should our profession(s) have a NAICS code(s) and should there be licensure and certification by government?

How do we best achieve and retain a high level of professionalism and credibility?

How can we best ensure that professionals are staying informed of the latest developments around the globe?

Session Findings• Key needs for our field include strategic

planning, teams, better training and professional development opportunities, increased diversity and inclusion and courage

Prospective Actions• Build a value framework (a systemic

approach to value creation) for our fields, integrating the business case for climate change and sustainability initiatives into strategic plans

• Increase our profession's diversity by recruiting more underrepresented groups into our fields of practice, especially into leadership roles

Session 1: Who Do We Think We Are?

What are the key characteristics that stretch across all or most climate change and sustainability professionals?

What are the critical proficiencies that elevate our stature and our ability to impact strategic planning?

Session Findings• Today, most practitioners have technical

backgrounds, but we aspire to incorporate a combination of technical and relationship skills

• We need to inspire interest in the field at all ages

• Professional societies and human resource executives are disconnected

• Our field reflects a diverse background of education, training and roles

• We share a passion for our work, future thinking and devotion to a better world

• Systems thinking, leadership and communication are vital

Prospective Actions• Campaign to drive education into grade school

and showcase role models, to inspire young people to join our profession

• Align our professional societies (e.g. lexicon, job descriptions, demand for credentials)

• Increase focus on empowering and supporting innovation and change

• Advocate for members of our profession to have greater authority to drive change

Session 2: The Evolving Role of Climate Change & Sustainability Professionals

As climate change and sustainability become embedded across departments, how will the practitioner's role will shift to one of a comprehensive and strategic thinker and significant influencer?

If this requires a wider skill set and knowledge base than many current professionals have, what must we do to ensure our field comprises professionals with appropriate competencies and leadership skills needed for success?

Session Findings• Top leadership competencies needed in our

fields to meet future challenges include systems thinking, emotional intelligence, communication skills, being visionary and inspirational, and having integrity

Prospective Actions• Build leadership development programs that

focus on the most important executive competencies

• Develop sample job descriptions calling for such qualifications and competencies and advocate for their adoption

Visibility, Investment, InfluenceAll of these have increased exponentially for climate change and sustainability professionals in every sector, yet too often we remain marginalized and under-resourced. How can we increase our impact as individuals and as a profession? What can we do together to advance our status and role in organizations?

Organizing TeamTrisha Bauman CEO & Founder, TJBaumanSarah Dehler Communications & Sustainability Specialist, SiemensMichael Drennan Lead Auditor/Facilitator, Fides et Radio ConsultingAnn Erhardt Chief Sustainability Officer for MSU Infrastructure Planning and Facilities,

Michigan State University (Board Chair of AASHE)Deb Friedel Director of Sustainability, Delaware North CorpJonathan Koehn Regional Sustainability Coordinator, City of Boulder (Colorado)Diedre Schwartz Director, Design + Sustainability, American Hotel Register

TrackA


Track B

Session 3: Embedding Knowledge & Requirements Across an Organization

What actors need to be involved in order to embed knowledge and requirements across an organization?

How do we ensure that key stakeholders across the organization are provided appropriate standing in decision-making and have co-ownership of the process/outcomes?

What structures and processes can be developed to incorporate diverse perspectives and approaches into organizational efforts?

Session Findings• Executives, subject matter experts and

implementers all need to be involved inclimate change and sustainability initiativesfor them to be effective

• Knowledge-sharing is currently achievedthrough a variety of communicationschannels and role-specific training

• Leaders, champions, green team members,advocates and event external players shouldall have explicit climate change andsustainability roles and responsibilities

Prospective Actions• Add climate change and sustainability to the

organization's charter or mission statement• Engage with and educate HR departments

about the value of adding specific climatechange and sustainability elements to jobdescriptions

• Work with professional societies to develop,endorse and promote updated jobdescriptions, professional qualifications,credentialing, etc.

Session 4: Bridging the Knowledge Gap between the Public, Private, Non-profit & Academic SectorsWhat are the strengths and weaknesses of professionals and institutions in each sector?

What can our practitioners do to facilitate knowledge exchange and cross-sector collaboration?

Public Sector Themes & Opportunities• Connect with influencers in targeted groups• Build grassroots support generally and use it to overcome

government inaction• Rethink how we are engaging –- current methods aren't working for

the pace and scale of change needed• Build support in a community by telling members why something

matters (i.e. job creation)• Connect with K-12 graders who can influence parents• Align incentives so research findings can be acted on and

implemented• Increase flexibility in networks and operations to increase resilience

through political transitions

Private Sector Themes & Opportunities• Use a global reporting platform that is competitive, trustworthy and

transparent• Drive more collaboration via public/private partnerships and shared

voices• Remove negative connotation of business• Attract private sector attention through branding and consumers• Align with organizations/companies normally unaffiliated with

climate/environment• Non-profit “externship-exposure” cross sectors• Standard based development

Non-Profit Sector Themes & Opportunities• Provide a safe space to share ideas• Pursue methodology for community level commitment• Establish common definitions across sector• Aggregate efforts, partnerships and funding• Seek out cross-sector convening opportunities and find common

goals; fill the gap between public and private sectors• Provide credentialing and rating programs• Publicize funding opportunities

Academic Sector Themes & Opportunities• Develop more comprehensive and multi-disciplinary approach to

teaching & partnerships• Integrate climate change and sustainability into executive education

programs• Connect with community and industrial sector to identify and address

needs• Consider creating an innovation incubator• Bridge the gaps between faculty, students, operations & alumni• Establish partnerships to send students into other organizations• Prepare minority students and marginalized communities to succeed

and more effectively use their voice• Deploy more soft skills trainings (acumen) for students and employers

Session 5: Strengthening Connections Across Professional Societies & Credentialing Bodies

What professional organizations and credentialing bodies should ACCO and ISSP specifically be engaging?

What barriers are currently limiting integration of climate change and sustainability into other professional societies and credentialing activities?

What opportunities are there for promoting greater cross-pollination in the future?

Session Findings• Substantial tribalization exists in our fields

and complicates efforts to convenepractitioners

• There’s an opportunity to createambassadors for our fields and our work

Prospective Actions• Develop and implement a strategic plan to

engage societies and bodies to leverage acommon framework or approach (e.g.credentialing bodies, networking bodies,trade associations)

• Develop and implement a strategy toovercome tribalization of our field

• Build a recognizable group of ambassadors tochampion our fields and our work

Session 1: Enlisting Allies in Other Occupations & Business Units to Advance Our Work

How do we go about finding the right people within an organization?

How can we get better at enlisting allies in key occupations?

What can our professions do to find natural allies and enlist broader support?

Session Findings• Practitioners need allies in all departments

within an organization to drive sustainabilityefforts

• Our challenges include communicatingscience-based information to decision-makers, conflicting/competing priorities, lackof resources, responsibility andaccountability, personal dynamics andpolitics, aligning data and resources toenable collaboration, and disconnectsbetween planning horizons

• We must meet people where they are basedupon their priorities and values

Prospective Actions• Build allies in non-profit organizations that

will advocate for our field• Build allies in marketing functions to help us

communicate our value (e.g. social mediastrategies, communication plans, marketingtoolkit, infographics)

• Enlist academic institutions to create casestudies that help establish the value of ourwork

Session 2: Aligning Strategy with Effective Governance

What are the attributes of an ideal governance structure enabling successful climate action and alignment with the sustainable development goals?

What mechanisms will enable organizations to be nimble and quickly adapt to changes in the field and political systems?

Session Findings• Members of our field struggle to

understand governance structures andto navigate them

• Practitioners frequently do not have anymanagement or leadership training

Prospective Actions• Design (and explain) sample governance

structures• Develop organizational maturity models

Education, Integration, CollaborationWe can't do it alone. The interconnectedness, scale and urgency of climate change and sustainability challenges requires practitioners to build coalitions from every profession and function. What are the best approaches to showing our colleagues how our concerns are connected to their own, thus

accelerating progress on all fronts?

Organizing TeamDean Alonistiotis Chief of Staff, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater ChicagoJoyce Coffee Principal, Climate Resilience ConsultingMargaret Eaglin Senior Epidemiologist, City of ChicagoNatalie Schneider Fausel Former Climate Change & Sustainability Coordinator, Palm Beach CountyJames Goudreau Head of Climate, NovartisHillery Kelly Manager of Environmental Affairs, AstraZenecaKatherine O’Neill Associate Professor of Environmental Science, Roanoke CollegeDavid South Senior Principal, Energy & Utilities Practice, West Monroe PartnersScott Tew Executive Director, Center for Energy Efficiency & Sustainability, Ingersoll Rand

Integrating Climate Change & Sustainability into Other Occupations


Track C

Session 3: Partnering with the financial & accounting professions to drive systemic change

What barriers are there to leveraging existing funding resources for climate change and sustainability work?

What role can our practitioners play in stimulating new funding opportunities?

How can we better collaborate with financial and accounting professionals to achieve greater success?

Session Findings• Challenges and barriers include:

• translating initiatives to business value• understanding the risk profile of inaction vs.

prospective solutions• insufficient influence• challenges in quantifying qualitative outcomes• speaking business language/ROI

• The right stakeholders and broader audiences areoften not at the table

• The 5 pillars of partnership should be used moreoften: treat people fairly, create clear interaction rules,use collective decision-making, build trust andcommunication, and appeal to long-term vision

Prospective Actions• Help our field develop strategies to engage with

individuals who have other backgrounds or are indifferent departments

• Find a way to invite all stakeholders into the discussion• Foster education on sustainability by championing

resources and programs• Provide support and coaching with other like-minded

practitioners -- establish a mentoring program• Share vision and ideas with CFOs• Expand outreach to CPA firms, auditors and the

Institute of Management Accounting to formconsistent approaches on “auditing” sustainability

Session 4: Leveraging voluntary & regulatory initiatives to drive demand

How can individual practitioners take advantage of existing levers to increase demand for our knowledge & services?

How should our communities of practice create other high-leverage opportunities?

Session Findings• Our fields are overwhelmed by the multiple

measures and initiatives in both governmentand non-government sectors

• Data are abundant, but the challenge is toalways tie data back to the business ormission impact

• Reporting measures that incorporaterankings prompt decision makers to keeppushing for higher standards and next levelrankings (even if they are “subjective”)

• Case studies of losses from not pursuingthese benchmarks can help prompt action

Prospective Actions• Standardize approaches to establishing

benchmarks and criteria at the start ofprojects (e.g. government-drivenconstruction projects)

• Develop model RFPs for commonareas/activities/projects

Session 5: Communicating our expertise professionally

What can professionals do to become more strategic, professional and authentic in communicating skills?

What do we see as our greatest strengths and how should our communities best represent that value to organizations?

Who are the best messengers to communicate that expertise?

Session Findings• Our field shares common strengths and attributes:

• Strong sense of shared purpose across theprofession

• Willingness and ability to collaborate• Ability to share context that resonates with listeners

• Civic engagement is important for our field• Sustainability professionals do themselves a disservice by

fostering “sides”• Members of the field could better use social media and

communication channels to grow amplify their influence

Prospective Actions• Offer skills-based webinars and regional programs• Curate a list of trusted sites, blogs and twitter accounts• Provide podcast production/promotion and social media

tips• Foster consortia on climate and sustainability in different

industries, sectors and locations• Establish an ACCO and/or ISSP podcast or blog highlighting

members' work and value and showcasing them as rolemodels

• Better leverage LinkedIn groups to facilitate interaction• Provide platforms for online and in-person group

collaboration• Develop open source communication tools• Post job opportunities• Provide information about education, credentialing and

degree programs• Promote prospective career paths oriented by

sector/industry• Deliver training on technical and strategic aspects of using

social media and establish group hashtags commonly usedby our field

Session 1: Quantifying the True ROI & Value of Initiatives

What are some real-world examples of how to quantify value - and how not to do it?

How can we quantify the impact and ROI/value of our work in ways that are credible to other leaders?

Session Findings• The industry would benefit from consistent

approaches and standardization in measuringand reporting ROI

• The true costs, value chain and full lifecycleneed to be included in decision-making, toenable comparison and the ability to contrastlong-term vs. short-term

• There isn’t a recognized “go to” resource forcase studies and templates that practitionerscan reference

• Project types and initiatives can varyconsiderably in the context of financialconsiderations, metrics and benefitcategories

Prospective Actions• Standardize approaches for both qualitative

and quantitative ROI reporting based uponestablished methodologies

• Encourage the broader use of respectedmethodologies to measure true costs (notjust internalities), value chain, lifecycle andterm length, with categories of project typesand implementation areas

• Establish a library of trusted case studies or acentral repository that practitioners can use

Session 2: Integrating business & leadership language into practice

How can we best communicate the value and ROI that sound climate change and sustainability initiatives can create to finance professionals and to senior leaders?

What sectors leverage or rely upon different terminology?

Session Findings• Our field needs to improve its ability to

understand the needs of leadership and peerprofessionals, find common interests and drivetoward universal value

• Understanding institutional, financial andcultural constraints and stakeholdermotivations is crucial

• Cost/benefit analysis is a universal tool that canbe better leveraged by our field

• Understanding constraints and audiencemotivations improves outcomes

• Our field could benefit from solicitingintermediaries to help with dialogue

Prospective Actions• Standardize business context, language and

lexicon• Develop methodologies for placing a business-

value on ecosystem services• Establish best practices for interagency

collaboration and conceptualize incentives forcooperation/collaboration

• Better educate our field on stakeholderengagement, multi-stakeholder collaborationand influencing decision-making

• Train our field on systems thinking and financialmanagement activities

• Help external stakeholders and practitioners getbetter informed and fluent in systems thinkingand climate change/sustainability

Quantification, Translation, DemonstrationClimate change and sustainability professionals deliver incalculable benefits to society and our individual organizations yet must always "make the business case" using formulas and terms designed for a carbon-carefree world. What are some approaches we can take to meet decision-makers where they are and lead them to new understandings of value that are essential to our success as individuals and organizations?

Organizing TeamDaniel Aronson Founder, ValutusPhil Clawson Managing Director, CSR LabNatalie Schneider Fausel Partner, Anfield Consulting GroupCatherine Hurley Sustainability Program Manager, Argonne National LaboratoryRich Miller Director, Environmental Policy, UConn (Board Chair of AASHE)Ronald Morrison President, Sustainability NorthJessica Synkoski Sustainability Associate Director, AstraZenecaEmily Wasley Director, Corporate Sustainability & Climate Resilience, The Cadmus GroupIrena Zubcevic Chief, Office of Intergovernmental Support & Coordination for Sustainable

Development, United Nations

Shaping the Market Demand for Professionals

& Practices


Track D

Session 3: Carbon Green & Blue: Incorporating Land Use & Wetlands Into Sustainability & Carbon Accounting Frameworks

Are there existing frameworks aimed at integrating these solutions?

How can we help catalyze continued development of finance mechanisms to spur more widespread use of nature-based carbon sequestration?

Session Findings• Strong desire to explore using green and/or

blue carbon projects in organizations• There is more demand for

mitigation/restoration projects than there are projects available

• More awareness is needed to expand the benefits offered by nature-based mitigations

• Permitting processes are cumbersome and can create barriers – they need to be streamlined when possible

Prospective Actions• Develop sample strategies and case studies

for using green and/or blue carbon projects• Develop a matching process to create public-

private-NGO partnerships • Standardize tools that estimate carbon

benefit • Create carbon pools to support existing

projects and increase access to benefits• Advocate for federal funding being available

for green infrastructure

Session 4: Navigating Decision-Support Resources & Tools

What resources exist to help our practitioners navigate these tools?

Should there be a way to accredit or rate tools?

What practices need to be standardized in order to maximize the value of these resources?

How can we help catalyze continued development of finance mechanisms to spur more widespread use of nature-based carbon sequestration?

Session Findings• There is a deficiency in practitioner knowledge on

when and how to use different resources/tools (and even where to find them)

• There is no clear progression from beginner to advanced

• The absence of common language/lexicon to describe tools (and within them) creates a challenge and contributes to a lack of standardization

• Leadership, funding and a concerted effort are needed to improve the quality of data in most organizations, industries and sectors

Prospective Actions• Develop training and best practices on which tools

to use, when, and how• Develop a defined set of basic tools for categories

of usage and a maturity model to guide progression from basic tools through intermediate to advanced

• Develop (or promote an effective, existing) defined set of basic tools for categories of usage

• Agree on a common language/lexicon/set of terms to describe tools

• Encourage greater standardization among tools• Create a search tool with fit finder or promote

existing search tools

Session 5: Science-Based Targets Meet the

Real World

What are some of the barriers to getting more organizations to adopt science-based targets (SBTs)?

What are the best approaches to pursuing a science-based target?

Session Findings• Most organizations setting reduction targets are

doing so as a policy decision, but don’t yet know how they will make their targets

• In order to get more organizations to adopt science-based targets, practitioners need to help leaders overcome fears of the unknown (e.g. potential economic impact, legal exposure)

• Adopting a target based upon the success or failure of “the rest of the world” to reduce emissions requires a level of commitment, careful consideration and moral courage

Prospective Actions• Share best practices and lessons learned from

entities that have adopted SBTs: strong, visible leaders, leveraging media and stakeholder pressure, taking advantage of incentives and penalties

• Develop model approaches and methods for meeting science-based targets accounting for location, sector, etc.

• Emphasize practitioners' need to deploy facilitation skills as well as technical expertise, since science-based targets require broad support and engagement across an organization and its entire network of stakeholders

Session 1: Achieving a Shared View of What Data is Needed & How it Should be Used

How can we harmonize questionnaires sent by organizations to their suppliers?

Can investor and other stakeholder driven disclosures be aligned?

How can practitioners better inform the development of data and tools?

How do we streamline and standardize data collection and reporting?

Session Findings• Climate and sustainability data collection is

afforded a low priority in most organizations; chronic underinvestment results in poor data quality and data gaps

• Lack of data standardization and inadequate training hamper the quality and quantity of analysis performed

• Legal issues and even a willful lack of collaboration (data hoarding) further inhibit data-driven decision-making

Prospective Actions• Consider adopting data collection standards

and a simplified set of key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant across sectors

• Add training on data collection and analysis to undergraduate, business school, technical, workforce training and programs

• Leverage regulatory requirements, technology, scenario planning and storytelling to improve data access and understanding

Session 2: Quantifying the Difficult to Quantify: Improving Metrics for Sustainable and Climate-Related Financial Decision Making

What are some of the emerging accounting standards and frameworks that relate to climate change and sustainability?

What metrics do we need to consider developing?

How can we overcome barriers to improving metrics and their adoption?

Session Findings• Understanding the value of risks and opportunities

is essential to informing decisions at every scale, from individual organizations and agencies to industries, region or states

• Practitioners employ a wide range of tools and frameworks to measure existing performance and project future outcomes, from sophisticated industry-specific ones to ordinary spreadsheets

• Leaders should identify and rely on key metrics that reflect what their organization needs and wants, not just ones that are based on data that are readily available

• Climate change is rendering previously used resources out-of-date; reporting frameworks (and even some risk management tools) tend to be backward-looking instead of forward-looking

Prospective Actions• Guide practitioners to focus on collecting,

reporting and tracking data that are both meaningful and actionable to their organization

• Encourage the wider use of scenario planning techniques that rely on future projections instead of historical trends

• Explore the value of gamification and predictive modeling

• Develop reporting frameworks for the land sector and nature-based services (natural capital) and for small businesses

Accuracy, Utility, credibilityOur practitioners are forced to rely on tools and data that are incomplete, conflicting, hard to use and unfamiliar to non-experts. We don't have the luxury of time to make them perfect but must make them good enough to inform weighty decisions. So how should we balance the risk of inaction versus using imperfect analysis? And

how can we act, learn and improve?

Organizing TeamKathia Benitez Regional Director, Franklin EnergyGavin Dillingham Program Director, Clean Energy Policy, HARCKorie Hickel Manager, Environment, Social, and Governance, Coeur Mining, Inc.David Herring Chief, Climate Program Office, NOAAChristina O’Connell Product Evangelist, BooksyAndy Smith Sr. Manager, Global Energy Management and Sustainability, Cisco SystemsSally Ann Sims Conservation & Climate Change ConsultantKristen Taddonio Senior Climate and Energy Advisor, Institute for Governance &

Sustainable Development

Advancing Decision-Support Resources & Tools


Track E

Session 3: Integrating Public Health Into Planning

What are some examples of collaborative partnerships between local public health and planning agencies in developing a comprehensive sustainability plan to build healthier communities?

How can we raise awareness about the shared common mission and perspectives of public health, planning, climate change and sustainability professionals to improve the health and well-being of human populations?

Session Findings• Life expectancy is being dictated by the

environment – we need to change this• Market policy solutions that look holistically at

public health when considering planning decisionsneeds to be developed

• Local government cannot provide leadership whenfunding is deficient (substantial disparity betweenurban and rural communities, as well as wellfunded governments vs. poorer)

• Our fields should be more involved in innovativemethods to extend the conversation of equity inpublic health, sustainability and climate change

Prospective Actions• Standardize integration of health components into

community climate, sustainability and/or resilienceplans

• Develop approaches to institutionalize initiativesand solutions at the right level

• Learn from relevant “other” communities ofpractice

• Facilitate achieving common ground amongvarious stakeholders

• Host community-focused events (e.g. town halls,cookouts, trade show exhibitions, farmers markets,etc.) in collaboration with other local chapters (e.g.APA, ASCE, NaCHO etc.)

Session 4: Enabling the Next Generation of

Climate Change & Sustainability

Professionals

What can we do as a profession to ease their way and ensure that students develop the vital skills, judgment and experience they’ll need to navigate to a successful future?

What do today’s students think about the future of climate change and sustainability action?

Session Findings• Skills students learn in academic programs are

different than the skills needed on the job• How do we incorporate climate change and

sustainability into other academic programs?• Need to define variations within our fields• Though better than in past generations, we can do

better at Incorporating climate change andsustainability education in elementary and highschool curriculum

Prospective Actions• Provide career guidance to students and

participate in job fairs at grade schools anduniversities

• Administer and facilitate internships/fellowships• Provide free testing for certification (or

scholarships to training)• ACCO/ISSP provide detail, different

sustainability/climate jobs and how people gotthere

• Compare ACCO/ISSP course content (similaritiesand differences) and harmonize when possible

• Develop maturity model for career journey• Drive continuous learning and adoption of our

credentials• Address salary and compensation models of our

field

Session 5: Professionalizing Our Practices in an Inclusive Manner

How do we distinguish between professional responsibilities and community action?

What are some creative approaches to increasing the expectations and accountability of our professions while ensuring access to all?

Session Findings• Critical for ACCO & ISSP to know what members

are looking for and dealing with• Advocacy is needed to bring the right people in the

room• There is an opportunity to better incorporate

inclusion into codes of ethics, standards ofprofessional conduct and program activities

• Outreach to communities needs to be a sustained,long-term effort, not just when representation orinclusion is perceived as “necessary”

Prospective Actions• Create open forums to discuss issues faced by, and

strategies to empower, marginalized communities;taking social justice as a lead-in to the core ofsustainability helps brings marginalizedcommunities to the conversation

• Prioritize inclusion in credentialing and usagerequirements

• Develop funding for activists, professionals andstudents to participate in association programsand/or programs developed via educationalinstitutions

• Explore the possibility of developing mentorshipprograms for students and/or pathways viaHistorically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) assteps toward building capacity and futurerecruitment

Session 1: Getting to a Shared

Understanding of Equity

What are some strong practices in incorporating equity into organizations and sectors?

How can we advance equity awareness and initiatives that our organizations or sectors can follow?

Session Findings• Address systemic barriers by

understanding what the barriers are anddismantling them

• Hold ourselves and others accountable,and ask the right questions

• Need to ensure that decisions havemultiple perspectives

• Empower people by getting marginalizedcommunities involved in climate andsustainability efforts

• Inform communities with accuratehistorical information, educationalhandouts, learning and development

Prospective Actions• Establish consistent framing and lexicon• Develop standardized training on equity• Incorporation into codes of ethics and

professional standards of conduct• Designing practices/policies to correct past

inequitable design

Session 2: Transforming Social &

Environmental Challenges into Market

Opportunities

What works well and what doesn’t?

What are the key considerations for initiating and developing effective, pro-social business initiatives and cross-sector partnerships?

Session Findings• Climate gentrification, fuel sourcing and

supply chain disruptions are key challengesdriven by climate change

• Climate change and sustainabilityorganizations need to more effectivelypartner with organizations committed toequity (e.g. Government Alliance on Raceand Equity, supplier engagement)

• We can do better at framing sustainabilityand climate change in a narrative of equityand inclusion

• Job creation and economicdevelopment/empowerment is an obviousopportunity that should be better realized

Prospective Actions• Bring members together to develop

innovative solutions (e.g. convening valuechains)

• Examine terminology and practice tohighlight climate change driven opportunities

Ethics, Values, ResponsibilityAll credentialed and licensed professions embed a moral compass to guide practitioners in their work. For climate change and sustainability experts, the stakes could not be clearer, or higher. So how should we use our skills to save the most precious elements of our planet and humanity?

Organizing TeamTrisha Bauman CEO & Founder, TJBaumanChris Castro Director of Sustainability & Resilience, City of OrlandoMichael Drennan Lead Auditor/Facilitator, Fides et Radio ConsultingMargaret Eaglin Senior Epidemiologist, City of ChicagoLisa McNeilly Director of Sustainability, City of BaltimoreDorothy Morrison Director, Office of Environment, Maryland Department of Transportation

HeadquartersHillary Mizia Founder & Principal, PriZm SustainabilitySally Ann Sims Conservation & Climate Change Consultant

Addressing Critical Social Challenges: Public Health,

Equity & Inclusion


Daniel Aronson - Founder, Valutus

Trisha Bauman - CEO & Founder, TJBauman

Kate Brent - Manager, Enterprise Social Responsibility, Disney

Chris Castro - Director of Sustainability & Resilience, City of Orlando

Pamela Cone - VP Global Social Responsibility, Milliman Co

Joyce Coffee - Principal, Climate Resilience Consulting

Erin Cummings - Regional Coordinator, Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes, Rockies & Heartland,U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Sarah Dehler - Communications & Sustainability Specialist, Siemens

Denise DeLuca - Director, Sustainable Design Program, Minneapolis College of Art andDesign

Gavin Dillingham - Program Director, Clean Energy Policy, HARC

Michael Drennan - Lead Auditor/Facilitator, Fides et Radio Consulting

Margaret Eaglin - Senior Epidemiologist, City of Chicago

Ann Erhardt - Chief Sustainability Officer for MSU Infrastructure Planning and Facilities, Michigan State University

Natalie Schneider Fausel - Partner, Anfield Consulting Group

Deb Friedel - Director of Sustainability, Delaware North Corp

Amy Glawe - Manager of Technology, Winpak Portion Packaging, Inc.

James Goudreau - Head of Climate, Novartis

Korie Hickel - Manager, Environment, Social, and Governance, Coeur Mining, Inc.

Ian Johnson - Sustainability Director, Colorado College

Hillery Kelly - Manager of Environmental Affairs, AstraZeneca

Bruce Klafter - VP, Corporate Social & Environmental Responsibility, Flex

Daniel Kreeger* - Executive Director, Association of Climate Change Officers

Lisa McNeilly - Director of Sustainability, City of Baltimore

Rich Miller - Director, Environmental Policy, UConn

Ronald Morrison - President, Sustainability North

Katherine O’Neill - Associate Professor of Environmental Science, Roanoke College

Doug Sabo - VP, Head of Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability, Visa

Fabian Sack* - Director, Sustainably Pty Ltd

David South - Senior Principal, Energy & Utilities Practice, West Monroe Partners

Jessica Synkoski - Sustainability Associate Director, AstraZeneca

Scott Tew - Vice-President, Sustainability & Managing Director, Center for EnergyEfficiency & Sustainability, Trane Technologies

Emily Wasley - Senior Project Director and Future Ready Advisor, Sustainability,Energy and Climate Change, WSP

Marsha Willard - Core Faculty, Presidio Graduate School

Jeff Yorzyk* - Director of Sustainability, HelloFresh US

Irena Zubcevic - Chief, UN Office of Intergovernmental Support and Coordinationfor Sustainable Development

* Event Co-Chairs

ACCO and ISSP would like to thank the steering committee, whose hard work shaped the Global Congress

STEERING

COM

MITTEE


ACCO and ISSP also thank the following sponsors and partners, whose collaboration and support made the event possible

SUPPO

RT & PA

RTNERS

PARTNERSSUPPORT


ACCO & ISSP would like to thank the countless volunteers and members who provided insight, support, and enthusiasm to drive this important convening.

THANK YOU!

NOAA Climate Program Office(David Herring & Ned Gardiner)

Maharishi University School of Management (Scott Herriott & Philip Nicholas)

CollaborateUp(Beth Skorochod)

Minneapolis College of Art and Design (Denise DeLuca & Holly Robbins)

ACCO Course Instructors (Lindene Patton, Tom Bateman, Gina Blus, Margaret Eaglin, & Elena Grossman)

TRAINING PROVIDERS

Cook County

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

The Village of Schaumburg

Oak Meadows Golf Course

ISSP Chicago Chapter

OFF-SITE TOURS

Cook County PresidentToni Preckwinkle

Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns

Catherine Hurley

Edith Makra

Metro Mayor’s Caucus

LOCAL HOSTS

Gina Blus

Erin Cummings

Amy Glawe

Gina MacIlwraith

Zach Nagle

Sara Vargo

Greenest Region Corps

EVENT SUPPORT

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