September 2008
Vol. 14 No. 9
Editor - Jan Weaver
208 Tucker Hall, MU 65211
Getting to Sustainability
by Jan Weaver
The seeds of sustainability are being sown in all sort of places - cities, schools, businesses, but once the seed sprouts, how is it to be nurtured? Like the farmer in Jesus' parable of the sower (Mark 4: 2-20) we really need to pay attention to where and how we spread sustainability:
Behold, there went out a sower to sow: And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some a hundred.
So, how do we ensure that the seeds of sustainabiltiy fall on good soil? For institutions, whether cities, schools or businesses, I recommend "Green to Gold" by Daniel C. Esty and Andrew S. Winston. I was looking for a book on business and the environment - and the review of this one emphasized its practicality and "how to" approach. Esty and Winston spent four years talking to hundreds of business people finding out what worked, and more importantly, what didn't. The section below is from Appendix 3 in their book - Relevant Principles (the Mindset) and Tools (Tracking, Redesign, Culture-Building) for the top Green-to-Gold plays they identified.
Managing the Downside - Expenses and Risk
1. Eco-efficiency and 2. Eco-expense reduction - Mindset - big picture and long term payoffs, don't take no for an answer, and do the right thing; Tracking - do life cycle assessment, collect the right data and find effective metrics for presenting them, use a systems approach; Redesign - DfE (design for the environment - keep the environment in mind from the beginning), closed loops (turn your waste into a feedstock); Culture Building - set stretch goals, lower the hurdle rate (required minimum return on investment for a green light), pair eco goals with hi and lo returns to offset costs, set up internal markets for pollution reduction, provide awards and bonuses, tell employee stories, do training, informal education and executive level big picture programs
3. Value chain eco-efficiency: - Mindset - focus on big picture and long term payoffs; Tracking - life cycle assessment; Redesign - DfE and closed loops; Culture-Building - set stretch goals, tell employees' stories, training, do informal education and executive level big picture programs
4. Eco-Risk control - Mindset - focus on big picture and long term payoffs, feelings are facts (don't ignore people's perceptions, whether you agree with them or not); Tracking - run scenarios to identify threats; collect the right data and present effective metrics, incorporate emergency procedures into management systems, partner with your critics in advance of a problem; Redesign - do supply chain audits; Culture-Building - tell employees' stories, do training, informal education and executive level big picture programs, award effective risk management
5. Eco-design - Mindset - don't take no for an answer when customer needs and environmental goals conflict; Tracking - trace your footprint, do life cycle assessment; Redesign - DfE; Culture-Building - set stretch goals, create ownership through incentives and awards, promote cross-fertilization
Managing the Upside - Revenue and Intangible Value
6. Eco-sales and marketing - Mindset - feelings are facts (understand your customers); Tracking - have the data and metrics ready to back up your claims; Culture-Building - tell your story to the public
7. Eco-defined new market space - Mindset - big picture and long term payoffs, CEO commitment, do the right thing; Tracking - trace your footprint, do life cycle analysis, run scenarios to identify new opportunities, Redesign - DfE; Culture-Building - lower the hurdle, create ownership
8. Intangible value - Mindset - big picture and long term payoffs, CEO commitment, do the right thing; Tracking - partnering with NGOs and community stakeholders; Redesign - green building; Culture Building - create ownership through incentives, steward roles, mission review, corporate social responsibility reports.
And because you have to walk before you run -
Special Events/Programs/Classes/Talks
September - Bike Education Classes - PedNet - http://www.pednet.org/
September 15 - November 15 - Walking School Bus Program - PedNet - http://www.pednet.org/
September and October Weekends - Wild Cave Tours - day long adventure style, Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, $25 - $40 plus equipment and clothing, 573-449-7400 for more information
September 4, 11, 18, 25 - Twilight Festival - 6 - 8 pm, Downtown Columbia
September 4 - Columbia Visioning Showcase - 6-8 pm, Missouri Theater, Downtown Columbia (during the Twilight Festival)
September 6 - Lost in the Woods (Map and Compass reading) - noon - 4 pm, Rock Bridge State Park, reserv. req. 573-449-7400
September 6 & 7 - 3rd Annual Eco Art Fest - 2-10 pm / 2 - 8 pm, Cooper's Landing, Missouri River. $5 suggested donation
September 9 - Rock Bridge Memorial State Park Open House - 6:30 pm, Rock Bridge Memorial State Park
September 11 - Renewable Energy Forum - 3:30 - 5, Cornell Hall, MU Campus, Columbia
September 13 - Sustainable Living Fair - 10 am - 6 pm, ATKINS HOLMAN STUDENT COMMONS AT COLUMBIA COLLEGE (new location!). keynote "Getting to Solartopia" by Harvey Wasserman - http://www.slfcolumbia.org/
September 13 - Wild Ones Fall Seed Collection - TBA - http://wildones.missouri.org/calendar.html
September 18 - Stream Extravaganza - 6 - 8 pm, Flat Branch Park 4th and Broadway, Columbia -
September 19 - Finger Lakes State Park Meeting - 7 pm, Finger Lakes Park Contact Station - http://www.mostateparks.com
September 19 & 20 - Columbia BioBlitz - 5 pm to 5 pm, Twin Lakes Nature Area - http://bioblitz.missouri.edu/
September 20 & 21 - 31st Annual Heritage Festival - 10 am - 5 pm, Nifong Park - http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/ParksandRec/
September 21 - Meditation in Nature - 8:45 - 10 am, Wagon Wheel Trailhead, Rock Bridge Park, Columbia - Peter, 814-3632
September 23 - Biomimicry for a Sustainable Environment - 9:30 - 10:45 am - Reynolds Alumni Center, MU, Columbia
September 23 - Peace Corps General Information Meeting - 6 - 7:30 pm, Student Success Center, MU - mkittrell2@peacecorps.gov
September 24 - Jeff Corwin - 7:30 pm, Jesse Auditorium - MU Campus, Columbia. Environmental Threats & Conservation Book signing 4-5 pm at Bookstore. Tickets free for students (but must be reserved at Brady Box Office - 882-4640), $10 General Admission
September 25 - "Kilowatt Ours" film and panel discussion - 7 pm, Library -http://columbiaclimatechangecoalition.org/
September 27 - Hinkson Clean Sweep - 10 - noon, 5 sites, free food, register with City -www.gocolumbiamo.com/volunteer September 27 - South Farm Showcase - 10 am - 4 pm, New Haven Rd, Columbia - http://cafnr.missouri.edu
September 27 - Spider Sniff and Owl Prowl - 7 - 9 pm, Rock Bridge State Park, 8 to adult; reservations required 573-449-7400
September 27& 28 - Columbia Festival of the Arts - Downtown Columbia - http://www.discoverthedistrict.com/
October 1 - "If Not Nuclear Power, What Then" - 7:30 pm, 113 Arts and Science, MU Campus, Columbia - www.mosafeenergy.org
October 3 & 4 - Roots 'n Blues 'n Barbeque Festival - Downtown Columbia -http://www.rootsnbluesnbbq.com/
October 4 - Know the Dark - 7 - 9:30 pm, Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, 8 to adult; reservations required 573-449-7400
October 11 & 12 - Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival - Hartsburg - http://www.hartsburgpumpkinfest.com/
October 12 - Orienteering Meet - 9 am to 2 pm, Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, 8 to adult; free white course; yellow - orange - red courses $8 individuals, $15 teams or families; to register 573- 874 - 0171
October 18 - 6th Annual MO Chestnut Roast - MU Hort and Agroforestry Res Ctr, New Franklin -www.centerforagroforestry.org/
October 18 - Wild Area Adventure - 12:30 - 4:30 pm, Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, 8 to adult; reserv required 573-449-7400
October 19 - Meditation in Nature - 8:45 - 10 am, Wagon Wheel Trailhead, Rock Bridge State Park, Columbia - Peter, 814-3632
Organization Meetings and Contact Information
AUDUBON SOCIETY: 874-3904 / columbia-audubon.missouri.org Meet 3rd Wed 7:30 pm, Unitarian Church, 2615 Shepard Blvd.
BIG CANOE: 573-875-8590 / bryce_crispies@yahoo.com / http://www.bigcanoemo.org/ - Saturday workdays 10-1 at 406 Sanford
BOONE COUNTY SMART GROWTH COALITION: http://smartgrowth.missouri.org/, 1st Weds 7:15 Boone Co Govt Ctr.
CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING: 875-0539 or http://www.midmopeaceworks.org/sustainableliving.php
CHOUTEAU GROTTO: http://chouteau.missouri.org/, Meet 1st Wed, 7 pm, The Casteel Building, 1518 Business Loop 70 East
COLUMBIA CLIMATE CHANGE COALITION: 573-529-9273, Meet 3rd Thu http://www.columbiaclimatechangecoalition.org/
COLUMBIA FOOD CIRCLE: 882-7463 or http://foodcircles.missouri.edu/sources.htm
COLUMBIA PUBLIC WORKS VOL. PROGRAMS: 874-6271 or http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Volunteer/Opportunities/#PW
COMMUNITY GARDEN COALITION: 875-5995 or cgardenc@yahoo.com or http://cgc.missouri.org 3rd Thursdays 7 pm Columbia Public Library
ENV EDUCATION WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES: http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/teacher/workshops/
FRIENDS OF BIG MUDDY: friends@friendsofbigmuddy.org or www.friendsofbigmuddy.org 2nd Tues, 7 pm, Bryant Cabin
FRIENDS OF ROCK BRIDGE M. S. P.: 815-9255 or http://rockbridge.missouri.org/ Outdoors Bldg, 200 Old 63 S.
GET ABOUT COLUMBIA: http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/GetAbout_Columbia/index.php
GREEKS GOING GREEN: new group for fraternities and sororities at MU sauzp5@mizzou.edu
GREEN SANCTUARY: 1st Fridays, 7:00 pm UU Church 2615 Shepard Blvd alternates green movies and discussions g_baka2002@yahoo.com
GREENBELT LAND TRUST OF MID-MISSOURI: 442-4789, greenbelt.land.trust @gmail.com or http://greenbelt.missouri.org
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE: 815-9836, drop off/ buy 1906 Monroe St. Columbia Mon to Fri 8:30 to 3:30, Sat 8-1 1pm,
MISSOURI ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION: www.meea.org
MO NATIVE PLANT SOC.: http://columbianativeplants.missouri.org/, 2nd Mon, odd months, 7 p.m., UU Church, 2615 Shepard
MISSOURI RIVER COMMUNITIES NETWORK: 573-256-2602 or www.moriver.org or moriver@coin.org
MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE ENERGY: http://www.mosafeenergy.org/Content/ first Tuesdays, 7:15, Peace Nook on Broadway
PEDNET COALITION: email: pednet@pednet.org or http://www.pednet.org
RIVER RELIEF: http://www.riverrelief.org/
ROCK BRIDGE MEMORIAL STATE PARK: 449-7402 or http://rockbridge.missouri.org
SHOW ME CLEAN STREAMS COALITION: (573) 751-4115 ext 3169 or www.mostreamteam.org
SIERRA CLUB: 875-2916, http://missouri.sierraclub.org/osage/index.htm 3rd Tuesdays 7:30 pm Hillel Found., 1107 University Ave
SUSTAIN MIZZOU: http://students.missouri.edu/~sustainmizzou/
WILD ONES: 573 882-9909, ext 3257 or email wildonesmo@yahoo.com, http://wildones.missouri.org Meetings 2nd Saturdays.
Feedback - Got an opinion? If we have space, we will consider publishing it. Submit it by email (envstudy@missouri.edu), snail mail (Environmental Studies, 211 Lowry , MU, Columbia MO 65211), or call Jan Weaver to talk about it (882-7116). MU Environmental Network News is published by MU's Environmental Studies Initiative. All opinions expressed are the responsibility of the editor. Any part of this newsletter may be copied for distribution but please give us credit.