People are intrigued when they see polar bears struggling to survive the threat of Arctic melting and loss of Sea Ice due to global warming. But polar bears aren’t the only species endangered by climate change. If current warming trends continue unabated, scientists have warned that human health is at risk. In addition to more frequent and more severe storms, floods, heat waves and droughts, shortages of food and clean drinking water pose serious threats to the survival of future generations.

The situation has become so critical that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has posted a climate change website and has issued a proposed finding on the serious danger of carbon pollution on America’s quality of life.

“This finding confirms that greenhouse gas pollution is a serious problem now and for future generations,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. The study consisted of scientific analysis of six gases being released into the atmosphere – carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydorfluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride – which have been the subject of intensive analysis by scientist worldwide.

Fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and oil provide most of the energy used in the United States. Energy is critical for economic growth, but scientists believe fossil fuels contribute to climate change and other environmental problems.

Analysis from the EPA study titled “Assessments of the Impacts of Global Change on Region U.S. Air Quality: A Synthesis of Climate Change Impacts on Ground-Level Ozone “suggests that climate change may lead to higher concentration of ground-level ozone, a harmful pollutant.

The U.S. Environmental Policy Act of 1969 declared as its goal a national policy to “create and maintain conditions under which (humans) and nature can exist in productive harmony, and fulfill the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations of Americans.” Back then the EPA primarily served as the nation’s environmental watchdog, ensuring that businesses met the legal requirements in the area of pollution control. Under a climate change administration, the EPA aims to make sustainability the next level of environmental protection. New legislation to advance sustainable principles and practices in almost every industry is inevitable.

Since 80 percent of the businesses in the United States are of the small to mid-size variety, the focus will be on getting these business owners to reduce their environmental impact in non-regulatory ways. The question is not: Do small businesses have the option to go green? But rather: Will small businesses survive if they don’t make the commitment to become sustainable? The intent is to transform these enterprises so that sustainable policies and practices are being integrated at all levels of business operations. This new way of doing business will not be an option for any U.S. company, no matter what the size.

Sustainability is already a fundamental business strategy for a great number of Fortune 1000 companies, as well as city, state and federal agencies. As these entities transition to sustainable policies and systems, the expectation is that businesses in the supply chain will do the same. The problem is that many suppliers think “green” is a trend and will eventually go away. This type of thinking is creating doors of opportunity for smaller companies to help global corporations meet their sustainability goals.

The first step is to become sustainable. Certain strategic steps are necessary to move any business, large or small, in the right direction toward sustainable development. To help small businesses with less than 500 employees, Dr. Calvin L. Green Jr., an environmental engineer/scientist with The Procter & Gamble Company and Icy L. Williams, an Associate Director with Procter & Gamble’s Corporate Purchasing organization are spearheading a nonprofit initiative called Supplier Excellence in Managing Sustainability (SEMS). This exciting training and certification program utilizes web and multimedia technology to create sustainability knowledge, skills and ability. A three-phased learning experience moves the business along a Sustainability Continuum © of continuous improvements, whereby sustainability-based thinking, perspectives and behaviors are integrated into everyday operating procedures and the culture of the company. The result is a complete transformation of the business.

The SEMS™ program is a cost-effective way way for a small business to move toward sustainable development. Participants are engaged with easy-to-use web-based tools that blend content with dynamic delivery methods to identify environmental impacts and issues, and then create a sustainability mission, company policy, vision statement and a planning document to transition the enterprise. Registration is a flat fee of $250 to access a sustainable knowledge e-course and a virtual hands-on workshop that provides technical assistance in drafting a sustainability plan. Implementation of the sustainability plan is a prerequisite for SEMS™ certification. The SEMS™ program is the best way for a small company to provide independent third-party verification that a sustainability plan has been developed; and sustainable policies and practices put into place are functional and not just self-proclamations. For more information and to register, visit the SEMS website at SEMScertified.com.

Written by Patricia Massey

 

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