Writing Your Sustainability Plan: Process and Framework

December 18, 2009
Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
UO in Portland, White Stag Block 152
Presenter: Marsha Willard

A one-day workshop addressing comprehensive approaches to writing and implementing a sustainability plan.

Course Description

As with any organizational initiative, successful implementation of sustainability is more readily achieved when efforts are based on a coherent and thoughtful plan. A good plan enables you to clarify your sustainability values, coordinate efforts, track progress and focus energies on the highest priority activities.

A sustainability plan is both a guidance document as well as the foundation for a reporting system. This workshop will walk you through the steps of creating a plan as well as share tips and stories for implementing that plan most effectively. During the workshop you will:

• Determine the rationale for pursuing sustainability in your own organization.
• Identify the priority issues for your organization and use them to select an appropriate framework, target and metrics.
• Assess the impacts of your organization and determine where it is out of compliance with your framework and vision for sustainability.
• Create a draft plan that identifies priorities, measures and milestones for moving your organization toward a sustainable future.
• Identify data gathering needs and explore strategies for fulfilling them.
• Explore implementation strategies and identify the hurdles you might encounter.

The course will make use of a an Excel file containing a set of worksheets and templates that will facilitate the creation of a plan tailored to your organization. In addition you will receive samples of plans and policy statements from other organizations. You will also have the opportunity to explore and problem solve around anticipated implementation hurdles and learn from the experience of other successful implementation efforts.

Participants are encouraged, but not required, to bring their own laptops in order to experience the Excel-based tool and be better prepared to utilize it in the workplace.

Registration and Fees

• Non-Credit Fee: $279
• Earlybird Fee: $244
• Earlybird Registration Deadline: 12/04/2009
• Register for this course

More Information

• About Marsha Willard
• Download the program brochure

Workshops

• Community Event Design and Management: A Triple Bottom Line Approach
• Public/Private Partnerships for Sustainability
• Equity and Sustainability: How to Balance Your Triple Bottom Line
• Writing Your Sustainability Plan: Process and Framework
• Forming and Facilitating Sustainability Teams: Engaging and Training Employees
• Power of Purchasing: Sustainable Procurement
• Accounting for Sustainability: Reporting Principles and Concepts
• Green Building Design and Operations: Benefits, Strategies and Resources
• Investment in Natural Infrastr.: Ecosystem Services as an Emerging Asset Class
• Carbon Footprints and Climate Risk: Tools for Business and Government
• Sustainability Indicators and Assessment for Government
• Sustainable Economic Development through Public Sector Investment
• Sustainability by Design: Retrofitting our Cities, Communities and Neighborhoods
• Energy Efficiency First: A Map to Reducing Costs and Carbon Footprint
• Land Use Planning: an Ecosystem Approach to Achieving Sustainability
• Sustainable Transportation Strategies: Processes, Indicators, and Measurements
• Writing Your Sustainability Plan: Process and Framework
• Climate Policy, Carbon Credits and Business Risk
• Energy and Climate Action Planning

The University of Oregon is an equal-opportunity, affirmative-action institution
committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.