Who Should Be The Chief Sustainability Officer? (Webinar)
Published: 21 April 2010
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Executive Summary
In this Verdantix Webinar I will present the results of our analysis of the role, responsibilities and requirements of the Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO). This is a new role, designed to address the management deficit that results from middle managers in energy, environment and sustainability roles who do not have the budget and authority to implement transformation programmes. During the webinar I will explain why the sustainability management deficit needs to be fixed, provide detailed analysis on the key behaviours and skills of a CSO and provide examples of firms that have appointed someone to this critical role.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
WHY DO FIRMS NEED A CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER IN 2010?
Accelerating sustainability trends will require firms to switch from a “navigate uncertainty” approach to “competitive positioning” by 2013
Sustainability trends like carbon management require process change in many business functions
Most firms suffer from a management deficit that stops co-ordinated strategic decision-making on sustainability
Google fails to provide sufficient data on sustainability performance to support its stated ambitions
HP leads on carbon management compared to other technology firms due to entrenched sustainability thinking in the company culture
Multiple macro-trends will accelerate the pace of change required on sustainability performance
UK climate change and sustainability market worth $5.3 billion in 2010 rising to $8.4 billion in 2013 with a 14% CAGR from 2009-13
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER TO SUCCEED?
The Chief Sustainability Officer, supported by a PMO or sustainability taskforce, must fill the management deficit
The CSO role is focused on change leadership through business transformation skills and general management experience
CSR and EH&S directors are not necessarily first in line to be appointed as the CSO
CEO checklist to appoint the ideal Chief Sustainability Officer
CSOs speak out about their experiences over the last 2 years
CSO role is risky, it involves scaling the heights without much support and limited back up, but can be a thrilling experience
WHAT EXAMPLES ARE THERE OF FIRMS WITH CSOs AND WHAT HAVE THEY ACHIEVED?
Few firms have appointed a Chief Sustainability Officer due to the current levels of uncertainty about sustainability trends
Dow Chemical combines CIO and CSO roles
Nixon Peabody links internal sustainability performance with growth in environmental law service
CA appoints CSO to drive internal and external initiatives
AECOM CSO job description
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