Environmental Sustainability

Director: Mark Starik

The Environmental Sustainability Program (ESP) studies, advances, and critiques the integration of environmental issues and responses, into the social and economic policies and practices of international and domestic businesses, governments, and non-profit organizations, through research, teaching, and service. Regarding research, ESP encourages and coordinates GWSB academic, peer-reviewed (including sponsored) research, primarily centered on environmental sustainability issues of business organizations and their stakeholders. Other scholarly and practitioner-related research is also conducted in ESP and includes books, invited chapters, presentations, case studies, and reports. Current research topics in both categories include: environmental entrepreneurship; integration of corporate and community sustainability planning; ENGO involvement in environmental management systems and policy; voluntary environmental program performance; the role of information in sustainability policies and programs; and, sustainable energy, including climate change policy and management; and tourism-related stakeholder management. Regarding teaching, ESP, through its GWSB instructors, offers 6 environmental courses, several of which form the core of the environmental policy and management masters degree fields in the MBA, MPP, and MPA programs. Regarding service, ESP faculty and GWSB students are involved in numerous educational, professional, and community activities to advance organizational sustainability, including hosting conferences, sponsoring competitions, and advising and serving on dissertation committees and community group boards, and participating in environmental projects. ESP faculty and graduate students have been active leaders and participants in GW Earthweek-Plus since 1993. ESSP welcomes other sustainability-oriented organizations and individuals to join with us in developing partnerships to advance environmental sustainability, including its relationships to social and economic issues.