Assignment 12: Tools for Sustainability Planning

1. Praise the Lord and Green the Roof New York Timeshttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/01/nyregion/thecity/01nuns.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=praise%20the%20lord%20and%20green%20the%20%20roof&st=cseThe Episcopal sisters of the Community of the Holy Spirit have taken on the mission to serve god and the earth. They have lived a life most of us cannot imagine but they are doing more for the environment then many of us ever will. They have decided to live a green life and run their convent in the same manner. From shopping at local organic farmer's markets, keeping a compost pile, and giving up their minivan for a shared vehicle program the sisters are becoming servants to the earth as well as god. The sisters are moving to a new convent that is currently being built and they are working with BKSK Architects to make their new convent as sustainable as possible. As "Julie Nelson spread out the blueprint for the new convent's chapel, members of the group proceeded to debate the relative merits of stone, bamboo or cork for the chapel floor, as well as different kinds of energy-efficient heating and cooling systems."(Hannon, 2009) Once a far fetched idea the sisters have grown into their roles as an environmentally sustainable organization. They once rolled their eyes at the idea of living green but 10 years later they find themselves accomplishing "their mission of scaling down both their space and their ecological footprint."(Hannon, 2009) Even though they may have a small convent their mission is great and their persistence is admirable.One aspect of their mission that was very interesting was how they approached the task of getting new land for a new convent. Even though they are not a government institution the sisters worked with Columbia University to obtain their new land. This is much like an intergovernmental process in which they went to another agency that could provide them with what they needed in exchange for a growth for Columbia. "Columbia has also taken over the complex task of obtaining the construction permits required for the new convent."(Hannon, 2009) Columbia was able to purchase the old convent which funded the new one. By doing so Columbia was helping the sisters and helping themselves. The cost-benefit analysis of doing so would be very beneficial. The purchase of the building would more than fund a new convent that is ecologically sustainable and the procurement of the old building would assist in development of the university. This notion of two groups working together towards sustainability is what is necessary to get the community on board with their approval. When the community sees what groups are doing to work together to sustain the neighborhood and improve the environmental the citizens will continue to be supportive in the future.The sisters are also looking to reduce their "ecological footprint" in this process. Even though "ecological footprint analysis seems a limited sustainability planning tool, it does have more useful applications in public education."(Wheeler. 95) By measuring an ecological footprint there are too many factors that cannot be measured. But the sisters know that they are leaving a footprint measurement or not so they intend to reduce it. They are also hoping to set an example for the community and not “hit them over the head with its practice, but rather to live an example that trickles down.” (Hannon, 2009) The sisters are hoping to set an example and the leave the Earth better than how they found it. Their new home will help them be successful in their new green mission.


2. World Bank Found Lacking on Environment
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9802E4DF173BF930A15754C0A96E9C8B63&&scp=1&sq=World%20Bank%20found%20lacking%20on%20environment&st=cse

A report was released recently that examine the World Bank and their focus on the environment. The conclusion was very simple and not very positive. “It found that recent pledges for environmental sustainability by the bank and sister institutions, including the International Finance Corporation, were often not put into practice.”(Revkin, 2008) Even while the World Bank was “warning about forest loss and creating a fund to curb deforestation, the World Banks private sector arm, had promoted the expansion of livestock herds, soybean fields and palm oil plantations, which all tend to propel deforestation in the tropics.”(Revkin, 2008) The sustainability plan that was put into place in 2001 by the World Bank was being pushed aside.
The new “evaluation found a persistent lack of environmental focus in each step along the leading chain, from the priorities that shape development projects to the environmental standards and monitoring required in the field.”(Revkin, 2008) This is a situation in which the World Bank needs to invest some effort into sustainability indicators. “Sustainability indicators that track progress towards sustainable development.”(Wheeler, 91) This effort would give the World Bank a better understanding of their environmental progress as well as their impact on the environment. By using indicators the World Bank can change direction when a certain situation has gotten them off track. “Indicators potentially have great power to demonstrate problems, motivate action, educate the public, and show the positive effect of sustainability policies.”(Wheeler, 92) If the World Bank would like to continue to have a positive impact on the world and help end poverty it would need to also meet the needs of the environment at the same time. Indicators would help guide them in the right direction.
Another approach that might benefit the World Bank and help change their environmental impact is to establish an environmental impact report. By using indicators to help develop a report the World Bank would not only be monitoring their own actions but those actions would be made public. This can be a very strong motivation for a large organization looking for approval and support for their continued existence. By developing an impact report the World Bank can be held accountable for their promises that they are currently not living up to. As a benefit “assessments can both provide information on environmental inputs and help evaluate alternatives to a proposed action.”(Wheeler, 97) If they are causing deforestation because they are trying to grow food to feed the world’s poor an impact report may be able to discover new methods that would reduce the impact on the forests. An environmental impact report would help the World Bank prepare better, provide for people better, and take care of the environment better.
Alicia