A perspective on partnerships this Earth Day

"Adopt the pace of nature. Her secret is patience." – Ralph Waldo Emerson

As difficult as it may be, think back to where you were in January of this year. Fresh off the holidays and ready to make the first year of the decade the best it could be. Think about the daily work routine and where our focus was as a society. Like many around the world, I spent a lot of time on the road collaborating with partners as we work together to drive the development of sustainable business solutions across all aspects of our economy. The pace was, at times, frantic. We would often move between meetings already focused on the next tactical action so as to show progress toward a goal. All the while, an emerging threat was coming into view and before we knew it, our work routine and our family life were being turned on their heads. For all intents and purposes, life really came to a halt and most of us were watching in horror as the COVID-19 situation started wreaking havoc in our communities. With almost every country in the world now grappling with the pandemic, Mother Nature, in an odd and almost sinister way, has forced us to slow down the pace of life as we work to preserve the lives of so many around the world. More on Mother Nature later in this piece.

In my time spent at home with those who mean most to me, I’ve taken full advantage of understanding the motivations of the two generations that reside in our household. Through hours of conversation and reflection, some dominant themes have emerged. First, a healthy family is something we all strive to ensure and will do anything to preserve. We can’t take good health for granted and must work diligently to maintain it using all the best advice that our amazing medical professionals can offer. Second, a clean environment is also very important to us as it reflects our reverence for what nature provides to us-whether it’s the many services we enjoy (for example, farming) or the pleasurable activities that we choose to engage in while on a lake or river, in the countryside, or on a far-off mountain. Finally, another theme that certainly resonates in today’s dialogue is the need for a strong economy; and one that reflects our values of caring for others by providing opportunities for all people to participate in the economy.

Some have suggested that we cannot advance all three of these values at the same time. However, I assert that we can simultaneously achieve all three if we put our best thinking forward AND we commit to working together. I was taught years ago by a mentor of mine never to underestimate the power of “AND”, and our current situation perhaps underscores the need for us to partner and collaborate to realize our desire to maintain healthy families, a clean environment, and a strong economy. Partnerships come in all shapes and sizes. Big business, small business, private business and state- owned enterprises all deserve a seat at the table where governments (local, regional, and national) convene and learn from each other’s experience. Let’s also not forget the key role of non-governmental organizations and the academic community. Especially in the sustainability arena, we find some of the best ideas at the intersection where these stakeholder interactions occur. As we celebrate our 50th Earth Day, we must see the promise and potential in the resilience of our global community. I am truly encouraged as this global crisis reveals the fruits of what true partnership can deliver.

What have we learned in the fifty years since the very first Earth Day? It’s clear we’ve learned a great deal as evidenced by what we’ve accomplished, but we have also learned how much is left to be done. We must double down on our efforts to innovate and implement solutions for many of the world’s most pressing issues. As many of us are now working from home, we have been gifted time for introspection as we consider all that means most to us in life. That takes me back to the quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson that begins this piece. What has Mother Nature taught us? With this slower (albeit temporary) lifestyle, take the time to consider what means most to you, what you’ll do to preserve what’s great and make better what isn’t. My promise to my family and myself is to commit to working with like-minded leaders, both at work and across the communities where I have the good fortune of interacting, to partner for change. Partner in a way that enables a vision of a future that is sustainable in every dimension of the word, and for everyone to enjoy in the success.

My goal is to ensure that the lives of my children are significantly better than what I have been fortunate enough to experience. For those of you who join me in committing ourselves to this goal, let’s go. We have some work to do.

Happy 50th Earth Day.