Enterprise at Home for Progress at Large: The Economics of Sustainability
While national debates rage over which production methods will lead to a stronger, more sustainable environment, and while research and development teams struggle to produce the next revolutionary technology, it is on the local level that incredible progress is being made in advancing sustainability measures beyond rhetoric. City governments and grassroots activists are often the most obvious players, but there is a powerful—and perhaps unexpected—player in the green arena that is leading the charge in cutting emissions and conserving energy while boosting regional economies: the business community.
Chambers of commerce throughout the country are instituting green business recognition programs, working to attract clean industries, creating green jobs, and providing resources to local businesses to implement more sustainable practices. These activities are not wild expansions of their mission, but are essential to fulfilling it. Businesses that emit little emissions and consume fewer resources are the stronger, leaner and more agile businesses of America’s future and as the organizations that work to support economic development and improve local quality of life, many chambers of commerce have dedicated themselves to aiding in the success of green businesses.
On October 6th, 2009, Partners hosted Enterprise at Home for Progress at Large: The Economics of Sustainability, an event made possible by a grant from the Energy Foundation and program support from the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). Partners invited leaders from eight chambers of commerce throughout the country to Washington, D.C. to present innovative green programs that are both protecting the environment and improving bottom lines for local companies. The program showcased the great chorus of opinion that exists within the business community regarding climate and environmental issues and was split into two sessions targeted to reach both House and Senate members. A report was produced that highlighted the innovative green programs of these eight chambers with background information on the Economics of Sustainability program and short vignettes from several other chambers of commerce.
The Dollars and Sense of Green Business: Chambers of Commerce as the New Champions of a Green Economy
The case study report distributed both at the October 6th Hill event and afterward to national think tanks, relevant organizations, press and media, and other congressional leaders and committees, created significant buzz on local blogs and news websites as well as in national publications such as Governing Magazine and Citiwire. These commentaries cited the report’s considerable relevancy to not only improving local environments but advancing national climate policy. ACCE regularly distributes the publication to its members and government entities such as the U.S. Department of Energy.
Recognizing the great impact of this collection of innovative business voices in support of sustainability, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund commissioned Partners to produce a second volume of the report capturing twice the number of stories from chambers around the country. Released in June 2010, this subsequent publication, "The Dollars and Sense of Green Business" explores the ingenuity and leadership of 22 chamber of commerce from around the country and further advances the narrative of conservation and efficiency as common sense business practices.
Climate Prosperity Project
On a second environmental front, Partners has aligned its Economics of Sustainability agenda with that of the Climate Prosperity Project (CPP), a new national nonprofit showcasing how innovation and economic development can move our society to a carbon-free future through eight major pilot communities. Partners’ President Robert McNulty has served on CPP’s Board over the last two years and through this alliance, information is exchanged and Partners will bring to CPP the vital diversity of business voices from dozens of smaller cities throughout the country speaking on green initiatives. Through these efforts, Partners is enthusiastically advancing its sustainability agenda as a critical component to livable communities everywhere.
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