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Kyle Keith
Frinq Sustainability 124A
Date: 11/19/13
Collaboration for a Sustainable Economic Future
Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. Helen Keller
Sustainability means vastly different things depending on the context. It can easily be
applied to diverse topics from agriculture to environmentalism. Politicians may be inclined to
wield it as a political tool, whereas it may function as a powerful marketing buzzword in the
construction industry. To deliberate sustainability issues on a large scale can be overwhelming,
but the core idea is actually quite self-explanatory. According to the Merriam-Webster
dictionary, the word sustainable essentially means able to last or continue for a long time
(n.d.). If sustainability is such a comprehensive issue, what exactly does the term sustainable
represent to influential stakeholders such as governments and corporate entities? Are they
working together toward the same goals of sustainability for the long term? Governments and
public corporations are clearly aligned as two of the most pivotal factors in the outlook for a
sustainable future. Collaboration between businesses and governments, across the boundaries of
the public and private sector is crucial as a catalyst to the long term success of a sustainable
global economy.
So how committed are local governments around the United States in the pursuit for
sustainable principles? Research by Saha & Paterson (2008), found that despite the familiarity
with the concept of sustainability, sustainable development has not emerged as a planning
paradigm for most cities (p. 35). Surprisingly, as of 2006, only 34 percent of American cities
had formally established sustainable development as a city goal. (Saha & Paterson, Table 4, p.
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28). The authors acknowledge the difficulty of dealing with a sophisticated issue like
sustainability, made more difficult because most local governments are divided up into
specialized departments that do not effectively communicate with one another. Saha & Paterson
(2008) are resolute that sustainable holistic solutions can be forged only when there is
coordination across city departments (p. 35).
Sustainability is undoubtedly becoming a more popular concept influencing the work of
economic officials in city governments. However, sustainability lacks conceptual clarity, and is
often open to interpretation. (Zeemering, 2009, p. 1). Research by Devashree Saha (2009)
suggests while the balance between environment, economy and equity (the Three E's) appears
very attractive in theory, efforts to integrate them in practice and to reconcile the conflicts arising
from the separate thrusts of environment, economy and equity have often run into problems
(Defining local government sustainability, section 2). Zeemering (2009) imagines a new
governmental paradigm in which understanding the multiple meanings of sustainability for
local government officials will be critical as city officials seek to advance this new priority for
local governments and as scholars evaluate the implementation of urban sustainability programs
(p. 1). Local governments often tend to implement economic or environmentally related
programs more readily, while equity based programs remain more difficult to bring about.
A new Ernst & Young LLP / GreenBiz Group study (2013) asserts that for the past
several years, the role of governments in promoting corporate sustainability has been neutral at
best, and not as significant as desired. Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), have been
stepping up the fill the void, campaigning to encourage both companies and governments into
action, and pushing for greater transparency in specific areas of concern, for example,
environmental regulations. Even the Stock exchanges are awakening to sustainability issues, and
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beginning to view sustainability issues as material to their listed companies (Ernst & Young,
GreenBiz Group, 2013). This is crucial as it provides companies with direct feedback in terms of
return on their investment. According to the authors of the report, companies need certainty to
make investments and other major decisions. The uncertainty that comes from a political
stalemate is seen by many companies as detrimental to business planning, risk management,
research and development agenda, and corporate sustainability strategy. (Ernst & Young,
GreenBiz Group, 2013).
A recent survey of United Nations Global Compact members by Accenture (2013), found
that CEOs believe the global economy is on the wrong track, and that business is not playing its
part in forging a sustainable future (UNGC, Accenture, 2013). According to the study, the vast
majority of CEOs believe that business should lead efforts to define and deliver sustainable
development goals, while less than one-third feel that business is making sufficient efforts to
address global challenges. In addition, a challenging economic climate results in sustainability
issues possibly becoming less important on the corporate agenda. The number of CEOs who
consider sustainability very important to the future success of their business has noticeably
declined from 2010 to the present, dropping from 54% to 45% in the past three years (UNGC,
Accenture, 2013).
The survey of over 1,000 corporate executives from around the globe also determined
that CEOs believe consumers are integral to further progress in sustainable development, but
they are currently struggling to interpret mixed signals (UNGC, Accenture, 2013). In addition,
more than half of CEOs see the consumer as a primary influence in the corporate approach to
sustainability, and most believe strongly that the sustainability reputation of their company is an
important factor in consumers purchasing decisions. As a result, this uncertainty compels most
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CEOs to view sustainability either as an opportunity for growth and innovation to new markets,
or as a route to get competitive advantage within their industry. Simultaneously, they struggle to
see the sense of urgency, when it does not negatively affect the bottom line (UNGC, Accenture,
2013).
Strategies built on partnership and collaboration around sustainable development are
necessary to propel human society toward a sustainable future. The Accenture study (2013)
concludes by analyzing the progress towards our desired evolution into a sustainable society
which shows us that by collaborating within and across industries and sectors, and working
closely with stakeholders, business and political leaders will be empowered to harness
sustainability as a reconstructive force across local and global economies. Through improved
dialogue between consumers, corporations, and governments, our collective understanding of
sustainable development will continue to grow by building skills, measuring value and
performance, and innovations in community services (UNGC, Accenture, 2013). The City of
Portland is an outstanding example innovation through collaboration, for example. The local
Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) is one of few offices of its kind currently in
operation. BPS provides citywide strategic and comprehensive planning in the areas of
environmental research, urban design, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and renewable energy,
just to name a few. (Planning and Sustainability, 2013). They offer local businesses a variety of
free resources and services through their Sustainability at Work program to help conserve
resources, improve efficiency, save money, and create healthier workplace environments
(Sustainability at Work, 2013). Free events open to the public like the Fix-It-Fair seek to
connect local residents with available resources, but also enhance community involvement in the
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process at a grass-roots level. These regional examples, among others, provide validation that
eventual sustainability is ultimately attainable through collaborative efforts.

















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References
Saha, D., & Paterson, R.G. (2008). Local Government Efforts to Promote the Three Es of
Sustainable Development: Survey in Medium to Large Cities in the United States.
Journal of Planning Education and Research, Fall 2008 28: 21-37,
doi:10.1177/0739456X08321803
Zeemering, E.S. (2009). What Does Sustainability Mean to City Officials? Urban Affairs
Review, November 2009 45: 247-273, first published on May 28, 2009.
doi:10.1177/1078087409337297
Saha, D. (2009). Empirical Research on Local Government Sustainability Efforts in the USA:
gaps in the current literature. Local Environment, Vol. 14, Iss. 1, 2009. Retrieved from
http://www.tandfonline.com.proxy.lib.pdx.edu/doi/full/10.1080/13549830802522418#.U
omepOLwl5M
Sustainable. (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster Dictionary online. Retrieved from: http://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/sustainable
Anderson, S. (2013). Planning and Sustainability. Mission Statement. Retrieved from
http://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/
Anderson, S. (2013). Sustainability at Work. Mission Statement. Retrieved from
http://www.portlandoregon.gov/sustainabilityatwork/
Ernst & Young, GreenBiz Group. (2013, May 7). Six growing trends in corporate sustainability.
Retrieved from http://www.ey.com/US/en/Services/Specialty-Services/Climate-Change-
and-Sustainability-Services/Six-growing-trends-in-corporate-sustainability
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Accenture, UN Global Compact Members (2013, September). The UN Global Compact-
Accenture CEO Study on Sustainability 2013. Retrieved from
http://www.accenture.com/Microsites/ungc-ceo-study/Documents/pdf/13-
1739_UNGC%20report_Final_FSC3.pdf