Executive Briefing Convenes Cross-Sector Interests
to Advance Sustainability in Southwestern PA

CEOs for Sustainability, a program of Sustainable Pittsburgh, was pleased to partner with the Allegheny Conference on Community Development on May 15 to present a Special Topic Briefing on how organizations are employing sustainability practices to address societal challenges. The event introduced the Allegheny Conference’s recently developed sustainability principles to guide the Pittsburgh region. A diverse committee comprising representatives of the region’s business, academic, government, philanthropic and nonprofit communities developed the principles under the leadership of Jerry MacCleary, CEOs for Sustainability co-chair and chairman and CEO of Covestro LLC.

Sustainable Pittsburgh Executive Director Dr. Joylette Portlock led Dr. Jonathan Foley, executive director of Project Drawdown, in a fireside chat focusing on reasons for optimism in the fight to address climate change (photo above). Dr. Portlock then led a moderated discussion with Foley and local sustainability executives about how their organizations are advancing sustainability and the business case for doing so. Panelists included Mickey Black, Managing Director of Sustainability and Fuel at FedEx Ground; Scott Lammie, CFO of UPMC Health Plan; and Grant Ervin, Chief Resilience Officer at the City of Pittsburgh.

Explore this website to find tools and programs for advancing sustainability at your organization, and look for sustainable business case studies featuring FedEx Ground and UPMC soon.

Savvy business leaders are the driving force behind transformational sustainability strategies, linking business sustainability performance, financial performance, and regional quality of life.  Recognizing executives’ critical role in achieving these tremendous potential benefits, CEOs from leading private-sector companies throughout the Pittsburgh region have established the CEOs for Sustainability executive council. Their vision:

CEOs for Sustainability is exemplary executive leadership and collaboration to drive positive change in the region. By demonstrating responsibility and creativity in the use of precious resources (human, natural, energy, capital and materials), we ensure enduring economic and social prosperity for our businesses and for our regional community.