Making Sustainability Standard Practice
Vol. 12       No. 17      May 2019 
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YoE 
5/17-19


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10/9-10



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Ongoing 
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TopFrom the President's Desk
Don't Wait to Take Action
By Jeff Yorzyk, ISSP-CSP

The Global Footprint Network has calculated Earth Overshoot Day each year going back to the early 1970s when we first fell into ecological overshoot; the day signifies the annual point at which humanity has used more from nature than the planet can regenerate over an entire year. As you can see from the diagram below, we're trending upwards in consumption. Last year, we hit an all time record when our deficit started on August 1. A recent United Nations assessment also revealed that one million species are at risk of extinction.



I've never been a fan of alarmist messaging, but data unfortunately doesn't lie. The need for collective action has never been greater. Don't wait for the date of Earth Overshoot Day 2019 to be announced on June 5, commit now to take action and sign up for our Global Congress with ACCO in Chicago next December. We'll be engaging climate change and sustainability professionals like never before via community dialogues, networking and collaboration, and follow up working groups. Early Bird Registration just opened to the public and tickets can be purchased on the event microsite here . Attendance will be limited, so be sure to reserve your seat at the table asap!

We've already had an enthusiastic response to our call for topics around a few themes
... and having reviewed the preliminary submissions, we decided to conduct two Town Hall meetings (Friday, May 10 @ 11-11:45am EDT & Thursday, May 23 @ 5:30pm-6:15pm EDT) to further share our vision of this important convening. RSVP to the second session  here ! Participants will be invited to share their thoughts on the field's most pressing concerns with the Planning Council and to influence content at the Congress.

Credentialing Program Complements ISSP's Commitment to the SDGs
As the premier professional association for members of the sustainability field, ISSP is committed to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) . We're also committed to supporting the professionals who are needed to make implementation of this internationally recognized framework for sustainability progress a reality.

Over the last two years, the ISSP Certification program has recognized the knowledge, skills, and abilities of over 500 sustainability professionals working in a diverse array of organizations: Adobe, CISCO, EY, General Electric, IBM, Procter & Gamble, Walt Disney, and Xerox, not to mention a host of academic institutions and municipal governments. Each of these sustainability leaders has not only bolstered their career, they've demonstrated their own commitment to the work required to move the SDGs forward worldwide.

If you or anyone in your network is interested in benefiting from an ISSP credential, we're offering a FREE webinar next week that outlines the program. You can also find out more on our website . Earning a credential is a great way to grow your contribution to the global sustainability movement!

WEBINAR:  Member Info Session
May 16 @ 12pm PT


This information session lasts 30-45 minutes and gives participants a chance to meet other ISSP members, learn about ISSP and its mission, and discover how to use the ISSP web site to both find and contribute materials to our professional library.  This is a great opportunity to help you get the most from your ISSP membership.

All ISSP members are welcome to join this meeting for free. Non-members may register for $10 and will receive a discount code redeemable for $20 off a new ISSP membership.

Register now! 

WEBINAR:  (Free) Certification Info Session
May 21st @ 5-5:30pm PT (US) / May 22nd @ 10-10:30am Australian EDT (Asia Pacific)


Are you ready to join the hundreds of ISSP members who have already earned credentials recognizing their sustainability work? Stand out from the crowd and play a bigger part in the sustainability field - take the next step and earn an ISSP credential!  

This FREE informational webinar will explain the benefits of being a credential holder and answer your questions about the certification process, including: how to register, what's on the exam, where to find study materials, and other questions you may have. Timed for the Asia-Pacific region and lasting only 30 minutes, this webinar is a quick way to learn how and why to get credentialed.

RSVP now! 

COURSE:  Assessing Organizational Sustainability
June 5, 12, 19 & 26 @ 8am PT


Is your organization sustainable? According to whom? Does being on a list of the 100 most sustainability businesses such as Barrons, Corporate Knight, or Forbes mean a company is sustainable? How about being part of the FTSE4Good Index or the Dow Jones Sustainability Index? Just how is organizational sustainability assessed anyways?

This course reviews the current landscape of sustainability assessment processes, tools, techniques, and ranking systems.

Successful completion of all requirements will earn a passing grade and an individualized Certificate of Completion, along with 2 Continuing Education Units for ISSP-SA and ISSP-CSP credential holders. 

Register now! 

ISSP Out & About

ISSP Board members and associates can be found sharing their kno wledge, sharpening their skills and networking at sustainability gatherings around the world. Reach out and introduce yourself to the ISSP members listed below if you too are planning to travel to one of the many sustainability conferences going on this spring through fall. Let us know where you're headed by dropping a note to  execdir@sustainabilityprofessionals.org .

5/9-24  ISSP Board Member Neil Drobny is  leading a study abroad trip with 17 students visiting sustainable businesses in the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden. Companies on our agenda include KPMG, Sustainalytics, Akzo Nobel, Siemens, IKEA, Circle Economy, etc. The trip is the capstone of an elective course on sustainable business practices at The Ohio State University.

5/22 
Why Investors Are Worrying About Climate Change , Sydney, Australia. ISSP Board Member Fabian Sack will be attending. 

6/6 Sustainable Brands 2019, Detroit. ISSP-CSP & Past ISSP Board President Marilyn Johnson will be speaking on, "Prioritizing & Scaling Corporate Action on the UN SDGs."

The International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) is the world's leading professional association for sustainability professionals. ISSP is a member-driven association committed to moving the profession of sustainability forward through building strong networks and communities of practice.