Sustainability Task Force Kickoff Meeting

Oct 2, 2008

By Karen J. Baker

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Agenda for Today

• Review Mission of Sustainability Task Force • Discuss Sustainability Definition• Review Env. Affairs Sustainability Subcommittee

Mission, Goals and Projects• Discuss Transferability of Subcommittee Items to

Task Force• Discuss Applicable Service Initiatives • Discuss/Develop Recommendation for Integrating

Sustainability into National Committee Initiatives• Develop Recommendation for Future Activities

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Sustainability Task Force Mission

“Obtain from the uniformed services and industry definitions, goals and programs for sustainability and communicate those to SAME members.”

From 23 May 08 Board Meeting

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Implications for SAME

• Opportunity to help set industry standards• Increased education/training opportunities needed• Potential to attract new members• Opportunities for new partnerships with other

organizations/associations/academia

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Scope of Sustainability

Sustainability is: • A National Security Imperative • A Strategic Framework• A Combat Multiplier • A Driver for Innovation

What Sustainability is NOT:• Another “Program of the Month”• An “Environmental Thing”• Compliance-based

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Some Current Working Definitions

"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." - Brundtland Commission, 1987

“ A sustainable Army simultaneously meets current as well as future mission requirements worldwide, safeguards human health, improves quality of life, and enhances the natural environment.” -- Army Strategy for the Environment 2004

“…’sustainable’ means to create and maintain conditions, under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations of Americans…” Executive Order 13423, 2007

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Other Definitions for Consideration(to collect from Task Force)

• Air Force –

• Navy –

• Public Health –

• Industry –

• Other --

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Current Sustainability Subcommittee Mission

The sustainability focus area serves as a forum

for promoting awareness, and information exchange

on the concept of sustainability and sustainable

practices.

It provides opportunities for dialogue between

government and industry on a range of topics

supporting the “triple bottom line” of mission, environment,

and community.

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Progress Toward Subcommittee Goals

Accomplishments:• Held sustainability panel SAME 2007 Annual Conference• Provided guest speakers to Environmental Committee meetings

(Army Engineer School – sustainable base camps, Rapid Equipping Force – renewable energy for forward operating bases)

• Articles in Jan 07/08 editions of The Military EngineerConcepts in Development: • LEED Workshop – Pilot in Nov 2008, multiple workshops 2009 • Sustainability web-based “portal” to sustainability resources• Identifying and supplementing sustainability PD opportunities• White Paper on need for sustainable practice in base camps

(sanitation, water conservation, microgrid power) • Provide SAME assistance with new AFRICOM Post

DISCUSSION