Rationale for Sustainability Agenda

While definitions of Sustainability vary, the concept implies responsibility to present and future generations of people and biota that are affected by our actions. Sustainable management of all aspects of the University of Michigan requires a systemic, "upstream" approach to problem solving and organizational advancement, that could be very beneficial to the organization. The following three reasons represent part of the rationale for organizations choosing to pursue sustainable management:

1. Responsibility and Intergenerational Equity: Organizations are in existence to serve people and society and, therefore, should not negatively affect present and future entities.

2. Survival: Current resource-consumption patterns by organizations place the survival of many species in question. Many organizations have chosen to try to reverse this impact.

3. Organizational Benefits and Risks: By embracing sustainability, organizations can achieve multiple advantages and avoid undue risks related to environmental management. For example, stakeholders will view a sustainably managed organization in a more positive manner.

The University of Michigan (UM) holds a special obligation and is in an advantageous position to pursue sustainable campus management because:

1. UM is one of over 1,600 colleges and universities in the United States that have environmental impacts on the planet, both "upstream and downstream" of their physical and academic operations.

2. Campuses across the country are engaged in "campus ecology" and sustainable campus management projects. These efforts have even been described as a "revolution" by educators such as David Orr of Oberlin College. These campuses provide frameworks from which UM can learn, share and adopt. Moreover, as shown in the attachment, sustainability initiatives have saved campuses almost $17 million annually.

3. UM is in a superior position to undertake sustainability initiatives because of the enthusiasm and knowledge of students, faculty, administration, and staff about environmental issues. This interest level and the existing resources (i.e., personnel, facilities), combined with the administration's commitment, as expressed in the Campus Master Plan, allows sustainability initiatives to be more easily accomplished.

4. As a powerful and prestigious learning organization, UM holds a special obligation to be a leader in sustainability practice and education. Since our collective environment will be the most pressing issue of the 21st Century, UM needs to maintain its intellectual and operational leadership by embracing sustainability. Moreover, sustainable management represents a great opportunity to integrate the teaching and operational functions of the university. While current campus efforts have begun to move UM in this direction, a sustainable management program will codify and expand upon existing environmental initiatives.