Roadmap to Elevating the Occupation of Climate Leadership
and Advancing the Field of Practice
Immediately prior to the world changing events of 2020, ACCO and the International Society of Sustainability Professionals jointly hosted 200 participants at the first Global Congress for Climate Change & Sustainability Professionals. Over an 18-month period leading up to the event, we facilitated an inclusive, deliberative process that led to a series of 25 professionally facilitated working sessions that were conducted in Chicago, Illinois.
This report highlights the takeaways, needs and opportunities identified by the Congress. Acting on these findings will empower climate change and sustainability professionals across the workforce and around the world. ACCO is building a roadmap to elevate the occupation of climate change leadership and advance the field of practice.
ACCO Initiatives Stemming from the Global Congress
ACCO has already launched a series of initiatives stemming from takeaways and opportunities identified by Global Congress participants and a new Leadership Council to provide strategic guidance on these efforts.
CREDENTIALING:
Develop the CC-O® credential recognizing executives leading climate change initiatives and the CC-P® Candidate Program for new members of the field not currently eligible for the CC-P® (the CC-P® Study Guide will be published in Fall 2020)
CAPACITY BUILDING:
Provide enterprise climate readiness services for governments and the private sector to advance organizational culture and capacity
TRAINING RESOURCES:
Deploy leadership programs and new courses on communication, finance, risk management and behavior
BROADENING PARTICIPATION:
Develop enduring plan for equity and inclusion in ACCO programs and membership (a charter will be established by the ACCO Leadership Council in Summer 2020)
ADVOCACY:
Issue calls to action and conduct robust communication efforts aimed at our field and key target audiences that affect our work
MARKET DEMAND & SUPPLY:
Expand the regional climate academy model by replicating the Maryland Climate Leadership Academy in other territories and states
MAKE AN IMPACT:
Establish a hybrid training, micro-finance and
community project development program that
enables our field to make a direct impact in building
up communities left behind
ROLE MODELS:
Promote leaders in the field and inspire members through programming such as the Climate Superheroes® Webcast