Executives' Club of Chicago Conference: Business Sustainability in a World in Crisis

Two weeks ago (I know, I've been busy), I was fortunate enough to attend the Executives' Club of Chicago's Conference entitled "Business Sustainability in a World in Crisis." The topic at hand could have quickly degraded into a shouting match where emotions quickly outpaced evidence. However, the speakers on-hand were some of the best I have seen in a very long time -- equally eloquent and charming without being overly verbose or alarmist. In all there were 11 panelists with Ali Velshi, Chief Business Correspondent at CNN, moderating.

They included (not pictured in this order):

• Rob Bernard - Chief Environmental Strategist, Microsoft Corporation
• Alan L. Boeckmann – Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Fluor Corporation
• His Excellency John Bruton – European Union Ambassador to the United States
• James Dietz – Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, PotashCorp
• Rick Frazier – Vice President, Supply Chain, The Coca-Cola Company
• Sadhu Johnston – Chief Environmental Officer, City of Chicago
• Göran Lindahl – Chairman IKEA GreenTech
• Michael Morris – Chairman, President & CEO, American Electric Power
• Robert L. Parkinson, Jr. - Chairman, Chief Executive Officer & President Baxter International Inc.
• Dr. Sam Pitroda – Chairman, National Knowledge Commission, Government of India
• John W. Rowe – Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Exelon Corporation 

Each brought insights and analysis from their own background. I've included a few of the most memorable comments below:

• The US consumption model is unsustainable and unscalable. Third world countries cannot aspire to the US consumption model, or we will quickly run out of global resources.
• The financial crisis plaguing the US cannot be solved by US centric solutions. There must be a global financial solution, which is inclusive and exclusive. (Referring to the "Buy US" portion of the recently past stimulus plan)
• Follow-up to the statement above - it shouldn't be "Buy American", it should be "Sell American".
• When asked what the US could sell that other countries can't easily compete with - Innovation.
• Green development is a competitive advantage for the City of Chicago. Whereas other cities may see it as an immediate cost, the long cost is much greater to not develop with sustainability in mind.
• In reference to trash removal - 50 years ago, people thought the trash just "went away". Now there is no "away", it's in your neighbors backyard or on the 5 o'clock news in a foreign country.
• And lastly, there was a great exchange between IKEA Greentech Chairman Göran Lindahl and Rick Frazier of Coca-Cola over plastic bottles. Both presented interesting takes on a controversial issue.

After the conference was over, I was able to sit down with Rob Bernard from Microsoft. He had some really insightful thoughts on how Microsoft is helping companies go green. Stay tuned for a full post on my interview with Rob later this week.

Comments

[mcdst]

With panels on "Energy Supply - A Critical Component of the Sustainability Challenge", "A World at Risk: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You" and "The Sustainable Advantage: Who Will Survive and Why".
Concludes with a luncheon on "Sustainability Leadership: More Than Just a Responsibility".

[company logo design]

Well don't know whats going on but its not a Good way to do this. in my opinion we have to look again about this issue