We know that the environment is one leg of the three-legged table we call sustainability. The other two legs are identified as society and the economy. Many argue that in order to achieve sustainabilty, we need to operate simultaneously in all three sectors and benefit all three. Some believe that a proper role for environmental managers is to function knowledgeably on the interfaces with society and the economy. However, “environmental sustainability” stands alone in that it can be concisely and scientifically defined within an ecological construct as a productive yet stable web of relationships among biotic and abiotic elements within a system.
That system is one that includes the human environment – where we live, work and play. But the human environment contains social and economic elements as well and no one discipline can know everything about all three. So, each profession needs to make an attempt to delineate the areas in which it can contribute to bringing about a more sustainable future.
April 23, 2008 by
BAKHTIYAR IBRAYEV and
NEIL MILLER | Filed under: The Goal of the Environmental Manager [1, 2, 3, 4] | 1 Comment »
Assuming the goal of environmental manager working in private sector is environmental sustainability, I thought this article would be interesting to read.
The author, Joe DesJardins, in his article ”Corporate Environmental Responsibility” explains his vision of Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility model from Economics and business perspective.
“ABSTRACT. This paper offers directions for the continuing dialogue between business ethicists and environmental philosophers. I argue that a theory of corporate social responsibility must be consistent with, if not derived from, a model of sustainable economics rather than the prevailing neoclassical model of market economics. I use environmental examples to critique both classical and neoclassical models of corporate social responsibility and sketch the alternative model of sustainable development. After describing some implications of this model at the level of individual firms and industries, I offer an ethical justification of the sustainability alternative that is derived from the same values that underlie traditional market economics.”
Corporate Environmental Responsibility
Joe DesJardins. “Corporate environmental responsibility. ” Journal of Business Ethics 17.8 (1998): 825-838. ABI/INFORM Global. ProQuest. RIT Lib., Rochester, NY.. 23 Apr. 2008 <http://www.proquest.com.ezproxy.rit.edu/>
April 21, 2008 by
John Morelli ,
and
admin | Filed under: The Goal of the Environmental Manager [1, 2, 3, 4] | No Comments »
The hypothesis we will explore in the Rochester symposium workshop is that the goal of the environmental manager working in the private sector is environmental sustainability.
Another issue for discussion, if time allows, is for us to consider what might be an appropriate time frame for environmental managers to be looking at as reasonable for achieving sustainability. Forty years ago the concept of zero emissions was unthinkable, but now there are companies that have actually set their sights on this target. Is it unreasonable to think that if it took us 40 years to go from not even being able to envision this thing, to actually planning for it, that in another 40 years we might move from the planning stage to actually realizing it?
April 7, 2008 by
Brian Butler | Filed under: General,The Goal of the Environmental Manager [1, 2, 3, 4] | No Comments »
Nadler, Scott. “The Green Stairway: Surviving and Flourishing in Environmental Management”. Corporate Environmental Strategy. Vol. 5 Num. 2. pg. 14-21.
Since the early I99Os, many corporate environmental managers have seen their progress grind to a halt. The search for explanations included the powerful imagery of the “Green Wall” spelled out by Robert D. Shelton in 199_5(see CES Vol. 2 No. 2). An alternative interpretation may help explain this lack of progress and the corporate environmental managers’ perpetual struggle up the Green Stairway. This model looks at environmental programs in relation to the business, rather than in a vacuum. The Green Stairway identifies six stages beginning with “Denial” and continuing on to “Sustainable Competitive Advantage.” It suggests a more dynamic way for corporate environmental managers to look at their current situation and their aspirations. It is a model that puts much more responsibility for the success and failure of corporate environmental programs on the strategic capabilities of those programs’ managers. It suggests both a greater burden, and greater opportunity for corporate environmental managers to take control of their own fates as they move forward into a period of continued pressure and uncertainty.
April 1, 2008 by
John Morelli ,
AYOUB MOHAMED and
NEIL MILLER | Filed under: General,The Goal of the Environmental Manager [1, 2, 3, 4] | 4 Comments »
Hello Ayoub, Bakhtiyar and Brian,
Although this discussion is intended to focus on the role of the environmental manager in moving us toward sustainability, Brian has introduced his claim that the goal of the environmental manager is, in fact, sustainability. He has qualified that claim somewhat by limiting his definition of environmental manager to the corporate environmental manager, and limiting his definition of sustainability to environmental sustainability. This is Brian’s research hypothesis and I don’t want for us to trespass on his work, but it seem to me that it would be easier for us to define the role of the environmental manager if we (as a profession) reached some consensus regarding our goal. So I am suggesting that we concentrate our efforts on examining his claim, and hopefully this will help him along with his research as well as help us along with ours.
What does everyone think about his suggestion?
John
March 13, 2008 by
Brian Butler and
John Morelli | Filed under: The Goal of the Environmental Manager [1, 2, 3, 4] | 1 Comment »
Regarding the topic of the EM’s role in moving us toward sustainability, it is my belief that despite the current goal (s) that a corporate environmental manager may be operating under, for instance, regulatory compliance or helping to reduce the company’s resource use, the ultimate goal is sustainability. I have prepared a document in which I have analyzed several potential goals of the corporate EM and I have shown how each goal can be directly linked to sustainability as THE goal of the profession. It is my claim that for any potential goal that a corporate EM may operate under, sustainability can be derived as the true goal. Therefore, I support the statement that the corporate environmental manager’s goal IS sustainability.
I look forward to discussing this further. Please view my analysis HERE.
March 12, 2008 by
John Morelli and
Brian Butler | Filed under: The Goal of the Environmental Manager [1, 2, 3, 4] | 1 Comment »
Welcome to the discussion. I am hesistant to begin this discussion without addressing the underlying assumption introduced by the topic, i.e., that the environmental manager should have a role in moving us toward sustainability. It seems obvious to me that he or she certainly should, but if so, then perhaps we should discuss why.
So, I will begin by inviting others to submit their thoughts regarding whether such a role is appropriate and if so, why so, and if not, why not.
January 30, 2008 by
John Morelli and
Brian Butler | Filed under: Overview,The Goal of the Environmental Manager [1, 2, 3, 4] | No Comments »
Welcome to the discussion! Researchers working on this important subtopic include: John Morelli, Brian Butler, Ayoub Mohamed, and Bakhtiyar Ibrayev. Listed below in reverse order are the various postings from the research team. Some If you are interested in participating on this professional research team, or learning more about it, please contact us by clicking here.
