Do you believe that the green economy and sustainability can be as significant as the industrial revolution? Leith Sharp does; and she has a change management plan for it- starting with students on campuses all over the United States. She is known as the founding director of Harvard’s Green Campus initiative, started in 1999. With that, she built the largest green campus organization in the world. On September 30, 2010, Sharp spoke at a meeting at the University of South Florida, where she told students to be a force of change and press the university to prepare students for the green economy.
There is the same negative push back now on the green economy as there was in the time of the industrial revolution. The green workforce is going to include:
- New and emerging green job training
- Greater demand for existing jobs
- Re-training existing jobs to integrate sustainability
Re-training existing jobs is the key to increasing market integration of new green innovations, therefore stimulating new jobs. This can also improve market competitiveness. Because this is the future, it is where the students come in.
Sharp told the students to look at sustainability and your school in this perspective: Your career is being affected in the future and you are not being prepared for the green economy. From 2001 to 2008, a poll from the campus environment report card showed that student interest was a driving force in encouraging campuses to implement environmental or sustainability programs from 49% in 2001 to 70% in 2008.
Some techniques for students to be a force of change include:
- Peer to peer encouragement: People do not want to be left out and it is easier for individuals to talk to similar people.
- Building a business case: Environmental purchasing options, green building on campus, and sustainable outreach action such as green dorm activities that can reduce electricity, increase recycling and reduce food waste.
As a final thought, if individuals influence 3 people in 6 months about the green economy and living sustainably -within 5 years then 60,000 people will have a new attitude about sustainability. Students, this green movement can start with you!
This article appears in Sep 30 – Oct 6, 2010.