The CMA Centre for Responsible Organizations, Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada and the Greening of Industry Network invite you to mark your calendars for the following conference.
Sustainable Ecosystem and Social Stewardship
June 15th to 17th 2007 at Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Host: Dr. Sanjay Sharma, Canada Research Chair in Organizational Sustainability and Director, CMA Centre for Responsible Organizations, Professor, Wilfred Laurier University
To make genuine progress on sustainable development, businesses need to move from separate strategies for "greening" and "community engagement" toward an integrated stewardship of the resources, ecosystems, and communities that are impacted by their operations along the entire supply chain-from cradle to grave, from one generation to the next, from one species to another, and from one society to another. Sustainable stewardship requires an understanding of how the local and regional ecosystems and communities impact on, and interact with, global ecosystems and communities. This understanding and practical action requires a collaborative process of shared learning, knowledge creation and integration, multiple stakeholder engagement, and innovation. This theme builds on and integrates previous GIN themes of preservation of resources, fair global trade, regional development, and partnerships for sustainable development.
Examples of some (but not limited to) the sub-themes that may be explored:
* What does sustainable stewardship mean for organizations?
* To what extent and how have organizations begun to transition from greening and community engagement to stewardship?
* What are the drivers of, and barriers to, such a transition by organizations?
* What type of innovations will be required in products, services, business models, and institutions?
* What capabilities do organizations need to make such a transition? How will organizations develop the knowledge to begin such a transition?
* What is the role of public-private-NGO partnerships, regulation and public policy, and international bodies/agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol in facilitating sustainable stewardship?
The theme is relevant for academics, industry and government practitioners, consultants, members of NGOs, and individuals interested in sharing knowledge and learning about the global interconnections between local, regional, and global economies, communities, and ecosystems, and the ways in which these interconnections can be shaped for social and ecosystem stewardship. A number of leading sustainability thinkers from industry, government and academia have confirmed their participation in the conference.
The conference will summarize the current state of knowledge on sustainable stewardship and develop a research agenda and policy recommendations for business, governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders to help contribute to sustainable ecosystems and communities. The goal is also to facilitate the strengthening of a network of colleagues interested in similar issues and help generate a new sense of purpose and personal commitment to work toward sustainable stewardship of our resources and communities.
Proposals:
You are invited to submit brief proposals of 200-300 words outlining the contribution you wish to make to the debate. The best presentations will be reviewed for GIN publications, for example, in a special issue of the international journal Business Strategy and the Environment (Wiley), or in a book of case studies. Conference proceedings will be added to our on-line searchable archive of GIN conferences, available to GIN Members.
Send your proposal/summary of 200-300 words by email attachment by February 28th 2007 to
June2007@greeningofindustry.org. Please include "GIN2007 Proposal" in the subject line of your message. Include your full name, affiliation, address, and contact information on the attachment page. We encourage you to submit your summary early since proposals will be reviewed as they are received and acceptances made on a continuing basis. Proposals are not required for attendance, but if you are submitting a proposal, you must also register for the conference. Please visit the conference website:
http://www.wlu.ca/page.php?grp_id=1685&s_id=2478 for details on the program, registration, accommodation, transportation and directions.