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Green Jobs and Green Careers . Presented by the UMaine Business School Net Impact Chapter Prof. Terry Porter April 27, 2011. Why Business? Why US Business?. “Of the world’s 100 largest economic entities, 51 are corporations and 49 are countries” (Institute for Policy Studies)
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Green Jobs and Green Careers Presented by the UMaine Business School Net Impact Chapter Prof. Terry Porter April 27, 2011
Why Business? Why US Business? • “Of the world’s 100 largest economic entities, 51 are corporations and 49 are countries” (Institute for Policy Studies) • “The U.S. produced approximately 33% of the world’s waste with 4.6% of the world’s population in 2004” (Miller 1998). • “USA has the largest per capita footprint in the world –9.57 hectares. If everyone on the planet lived like an average American, we would need 5 planets to support us all” http://www.buynothing.biz/blog/index.php?itemid=13
Why Now? • Global warming, resource depletion, poverty all increasing • Increasing interdependence means that events in one part of the globe automatically affect events in other parts • We need to lessen our impact, on the earth and on each other
The Opportunity • 93% of CEOs now believe sustainability will be critical to the future success of their companies (UN) • 80% of CEOs believe sustainability will be embedded in the core business strategies of most companies in the next 15 years (UN) • Sustainability consulting is a “booming industry” that is expected to outpace all other small- and mid-size sectors in revenue and job growth in 2011 (The Wall St. Journal)
Sustainability • Sustainable Business: "..Business activities that help meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." (UN: Brundtland Commission 1987)
The Triple Bottom Line • Businesses and development that are economically viable, socially acceptable, and deliver a net positive or neutral environmental performance.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) • “A commitment to improve community well-being through discretionary business practices and contributions of corporate resources.”
Competitive Advantage • Cost savings • Waste reduction • New products and product differentiation • Supply chain management • Reputation, goodwill • Satisfy customer and activist demand • Regulatory compliance, barriers to entry • Crisis avoidance and mitigation
Where are the green jobs? • They’re everywhere! • Business has more power than any other institution to influence change in the status quo • Every organization needs managers and business expertise
Four sources of green jobs Corporate Non-Profits Government Individual
Corporate and Mainstream business jobs I • Direct--work for: • Companies with CSR missions • Sustainability Officer • CSR Director • VP of Corporate Citizenship • Compliance Officer • Volunteer Program manager Whole Foods Market Whole Trade Pineapple
Corporate and Mainstream business jobs II • Indirect • Companies with conventional missions seeking to improve sustainability footprint • Change can be made from any department • Operations, HRM, Supply chain management, Accounting and reporting, Marketing and brand management Global Sustainability at ESPN
Corporate and Mainstream business jobs III • Restructuring the global economy will create not only new jobs in current businesses and industries; • It will create whole new professions and specialties within professions. For example: • Life Cycle Assessment Manager • LEED Green Building Associate
Green jobs in government • In Maine
Green jobs in not-for-profits • Cause related organizations • Maine Audubon • Amnesty International • Habitat for Humanity
Green opportunities for individuals • Consulting • Social entrepreneurship • B-Corps • Ashoka
Skills for green job seekers • Educate yourself! Seek and follow your passion • Talk with others who share your interests • Define for yourself what sustainability means in business • Be willing to be a self-starter and a trailblazer in challenging the status quo
Network, network, network! • Join student and professional sustainability organizations • Net Impact • UMaine Business School MBA track • Maine Businesses for Sustainability • Greenbiz • Attend meetings and ask lots of questions • Seek or create an internship • Informational interviews: ask others what they do
Final Thoughts Build a network of like-minded colleagues. Verify! Don’t believe everything you hear. Learn something new every day. Never give up!