School of Sustainability Graduate Culminating Experiences
Student capstone and applied projects from ASU's School of Sustainability.
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- Creators: Columbia, Mario
Description
San Martin is a region in Peru containing some of the most diverse landscapes in the world. It is also home to many farming communities, specifically coffee growers, that rely on the rich soil created by this environment. Unfortunately, along with diversity, comes vulnerability to climate change. Coffee farmers are under stress from changes in climate that have led to unsustainable farming practices, such as slash and burn, that in turn make the region more susceptible to climate change. Conservation International is working within the region to end this cycle. As a student partner, I am aiding with organization and development of a workshop in the region. The goal of the workshop is to implement scenario planning to highlight tradeoffs and opportunities so that governments, businesses and communities can make decisions knowing what the likely positive and negative consequences to the landscape and their livelihoods may be.
In the end, Conservation International is more specifically seeking to aid in the optimization of the use of nature’s benefits in the region. The scenario development approach that will be used for the workshop is the quadrant method, where values of the region are used to create an axis that will show four different futures in four different quadrants depending on the direction. An example is using the axis of rainfall (increase or decrease) and the prevalence of slash-and-burn farming (increase or decrease). The findings of the workshop will be used to construct new policies based off of the Peruvian National Coffee Plan to encourage new farming techniques for the coffee growers. While the conclusion of the overall workshop will not be determined during the span of the MSUS culminating experience, the conclusion from my work will revolve around having a successful workshop, with success being defined by participation and usable results; the work, such as a literature review and interviews and running the work plan up to the workshop, that allows the workshop to occur.
In the end, Conservation International is more specifically seeking to aid in the optimization of the use of nature’s benefits in the region. The scenario development approach that will be used for the workshop is the quadrant method, where values of the region are used to create an axis that will show four different futures in four different quadrants depending on the direction. An example is using the axis of rainfall (increase or decrease) and the prevalence of slash-and-burn farming (increase or decrease). The findings of the workshop will be used to construct new policies based off of the Peruvian National Coffee Plan to encourage new farming techniques for the coffee growers. While the conclusion of the overall workshop will not be determined during the span of the MSUS culminating experience, the conclusion from my work will revolve around having a successful workshop, with success being defined by participation and usable results; the work, such as a literature review and interviews and running the work plan up to the workshop, that allows the workshop to occur.
ContributorsDraper, Shelbie (Author)
Created2019-05-15
Description
Sustainability initiatives bear the ability to reap both direct and indirect benefits, but often face obstacles in getting business employees engaged in using less energy, water, and materials. To formulate a difference and provide direction, as a clear image of the preferred future, or a force that provides meaning and purpose, engaging and energizing business employees is a must. Therefore, the framework of this paper focuses on a project journey, engaging and collaborating with employees through a new sustainability leadership initiative called Leadership Energy Awareness Program (LEAP). LEAP is about making lasting, sustainability-oriented organizational changes as well as encouraging a change in attitudes, behaviors and mindsets of employees, all with the goal of becoming sustainability champions.
Through the LEAP program, the sustainability champions educate their workforce on the business case for sustainability. They also empower their workforce to support implementation of sustainability in their daily jobs, and encourage a culture of sustainable practices. They do this by introducing LEAP into their job descriptions, performance reviews, and through team meetings. LEAP also seeks to initiate and encourage a culture of sustainable practices within any organization. It’s important to engage and assist in the development of a sustainability champion’s inspiring employees to use less energy, water, materials, and other resources.
Therefore, the LEAP program assists businesses with their employees in recognizing a new paradigm of sustainable opportunities capturing the desire for more efficient use of resources. Simply put, LEAP is a business approach to creating long-term value by taking into consideration how a given organization operates in the sustainable environment using sustainability champions. In sum, LEAP is a journey in sustainability leadership.
Through the LEAP program, the sustainability champions educate their workforce on the business case for sustainability. They also empower their workforce to support implementation of sustainability in their daily jobs, and encourage a culture of sustainable practices. They do this by introducing LEAP into their job descriptions, performance reviews, and through team meetings. LEAP also seeks to initiate and encourage a culture of sustainable practices within any organization. It’s important to engage and assist in the development of a sustainability champion’s inspiring employees to use less energy, water, materials, and other resources.
Therefore, the LEAP program assists businesses with their employees in recognizing a new paradigm of sustainable opportunities capturing the desire for more efficient use of resources. Simply put, LEAP is a business approach to creating long-term value by taking into consideration how a given organization operates in the sustainable environment using sustainability champions. In sum, LEAP is a journey in sustainability leadership.
ContributorsColumbia, Mario (Writer of accompanying material)
Created2019-12-03