by Beth Gray

In the most recent issue of McKinsey & Company’s publication, McKinsey Quarterly, the editors explore the looming issue of water scarcity through a special report and two interviews with leaders of two companies, Nestle and Rio Tinto, who are taking the problem very seriously as they formulate their business plans for the coming years.

In “The Business Opportunity in Water Conservation,” Giulio Boccaletti, Merle Grobbel, and Martin R. Stuchtey explore methods for turning water scarcity into business opportunity.  The authors point out that the issue of water scarcity has come to such a crisis level that in 2004, for example, Pepsi Bottling and Coca-Cola “closed down plants in India that local farmers and urban interests believed were competing with them for water.”  Global companies are finding that they are increasingly unable to operate in areas where water is particularly scarce – as is seen in the example above.  When such companies are able to continue operations in areas of the world in which water is scarce, they must often take significant (and often expensive) measures to ensure that any waste water runoff will not contaminate scarce drinking supplies for local communities. 

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Second Nature is an organization based in Boston, Massachusetts dedicated to providing helpful resources to leaders in higher education seeking to create a more sustainable future.  Second Nature’s mission is to “accelerate movement toward a sustainable future by serving and supporting senior college and university leaders in making healthy, just, and sustainable living the foundation of all learning and practice in higher education.”  Second Nature supports the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) as well as other initiatives including Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (HEASC).  The organization’s website provides a variety of resources related to financing sustainability in higher education, integrating sustainability into higher education curriculums, and green building practices.  For college and university leaders working towards greater sustainability in their organizations, Second Nature’s website can serve as a helpful and worthwhile resource.

by Beth Gray

The National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) is a great resource for anyone in higher education.  In 2009, NACUBO teamed with Second Nature to publish a book titled, Boldly Sustainable: Hope and Opportunity for Higher Education in the Age of Climate Change.  The book, written by Second Nature leaders Peter Bardaglio and Andrea Putnam, is a must-read for anyone interested in the issue of climate change as it relates to higher education.  Virtually every aspect of the higher education environment is addressed from the perspective of climate change.  From sustainable business models to greening dining halls and dormitories, the authors have managed to create a veritable encyclopedia of sustainability for higher education leaders interested in sustainability.  In September 2009, American Public University System’s (APUS) President, Wallace Boston, Jr., published a thorough review of Boldly Sustainable on his blog.  I encourage you to read President Boston’s thoughts on the work and take a look at Bardaglio and Putnam’s book for yourself.  I am sure that you will find it worthwhile.

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) is an extraordinary resource for institutions of higher education that are seeking to promote a greener future. The organization’s website is packed with helpful information. The organization also hosts a blog on its website on which AASHE staff and campus sustainability community members “report on their work, on conferences they attend, and on ideas they have for moving campus sustainability forward.” With categories including Community Engagement, Curriculum, Transportation, Research, Financing, and Grounds, institutions seeking guidance for moving forward with green initiatives can find a wealth of worthwhile information. There is also an Events category within which the blog administrators share information on upcoming educational events and conferences. The blog can be located at http://www.aashe.org/node/2522.