AHC Group Consulting Project
NYSDEC: New York State Sustainability Seminar
Abstract: How Can New York State Government, Particularly the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Steer Business Towards Sustainability?
November 9, 2004
Albany, New York
Matt Polsky*
This forum, the third in a three-part workshop series for New York State Government, was led by Dr. Bruce Piasecki, President of AHC Group, a strategic environmental management (SEM) consultant, and author on business and the environment. The overall theme of the series was to help government understand sustainability, the idea of SEM that companies can gain competitive advantages by being environmentally responsible, and for this third session: to help the DEC, in particular, brainstorm how it could encourage businesses in the state to move in this direction.
Dr. Piasecki had some prepared slides, which emphasized unusual themes for a government audience, such as the importance of leadership and courage among staff, and the need to encourage innovation. But mostly he asked very challenging questions of the audience, and made some provocative points for discussion.
He suggested that: (a) state government has an important, key role to play in encouraging sustainability, and should find the leadership and creativity to play it; (b) topics like encouraging frugality and corporate social responsibility should not be off the table, indeed the U.S. has a tradition in the former, beginning with Franklin; and (c) again, government should look to encourage "leaps of innovation."
The audience's concerns and doubts about these and other topics were discussed, with additional references to Lincoln and other historical esteemed political leaders who had the courage to ask their constituents to show restraint. Other doubts that were discussed, with state government staff encouraged to be creative in reconciling them, were: (a) how can you expect customers (including government as a customer) to pay premiums for environmentally superior products, or to accept a lower rate of return?; (b) the fear of looking bad; and (c) the role of cost: benefit analysis.
Many policy tools were listed, including some traditional ones like regulation, enforcement, taxes, and fighting fraud, but sometimes with an additional slant involving sustainability. In addition, other less traditional policy tools were listed, such as awards (possibly steered to favor companies that are pursuing sustainability), partnerships, testing environmental claims, etc. Also, I mentioned a number of less common tools, including those that need deeper thought both to figure out the government's role and to put them in a sustainability context, such as green design, and enforcement and regulation, respectively.
Piasecki concluded by encouraging New York State Government to find a distinctive role, to lead in the emerging area of carbon trading, and by reemphasizing the importance of character among staff.
In turn, New York State Government, which has also been talking to businesses to see what they think, and assessing the experiences of others' in developing performance track initiatives, will think about the approach they will take to encouraging sustainable business over the next six months.
*The author is a sustainability catalyst, formerly in state government in New Jersey, who now works with many other organizations.