Greening government

 
At WWF, we work with organizations across many different sectors to drive meaningful conservation results.  Through the Living Planet @ Work program, we work with companies to help them ingrain sustainability into day-to-day operations and decisions within the organization.  This program has seen some remarkable achievements since its inception.  For instance, we’ve seen Procter & Gamble mobilize approximately 300 employees by participating in a National Sweater Day celebration and reducing energy consumption by an astounding 11 percent for that day while gaining a better understanding of the benefits of energy conservation, and we’ve seen Accenture make use of energy data collected at the office to make decisions on HVAC and lighting schedules that have resulted in a substantial decrease in energy consumption.
Because we know what a significant, measurable impact sustainably-minded decision-making can have, we’re trying to spread the word.  I’m moderating a panel on Staff Engagement and Employee Behaviours in sustainability efforts at an upcoming conference in Toronto.  Through WWF’s Living Planet @ Work partner companies, we’ve seen firsthand how crucial learning from others and piloting efforts can be.  The overall goal of this session is to arm individuals with the knowledge required to implement or improve upon green initiatives in the workplace.

The Greening Government conference (May 31-June 1 at the Toronto Board of Trade) is about much more than greening the government, and the session on staff engagement discusses critical success factors for an engagement strategy, as well as effective Green Teams, green procurement, and sustainable building design.
In addition to the learning opportunities that green conferences provide, networking and sharing ideas with like-minded individuals can be just as valuable.   I know that whenever I have the opportunity to interact with others who are equally passionate about a sustainable future, I am always inspired by the actions of others and encouraged by the steps that organizations are taking to become more sustainable.