*Unit 10: Env Sustainability at the Local Level Flashcards
Critique the leadership role that municipalities play in addressing climate change.
Municipalities provide a model for environmental sustainability for all levels.
Municipalities are positioned between individual citizen action and national/international action. They are in a key position to motivate environmental behaviours as direct action is easier taken at the local level. Citizen behaviour is shaped through local initiatives such as waste management/recycling programs and public transportation/bike lanes.
More local action affects global impact through transformational change of citizen behaviours which influence their broader expectations of environmentally sustainable behaviour from all sectors. Local action by municipalities directly affects citizens in a much shorter timeframe than a global initiative.
Municipalities and citizens are in a symbiotic relationship when it comes to environmental behaviours.
Global initiatives and agreements are unstable and often unactionable. The focus on local action has been much more effective and can trickle up.
ISSUES:
-environmental issues are multifaceted and effect many areas of municipal governance (transportation, waste management, housing, utilities, etc.).
-financial austerity (difficult economic conditions created by government measures to reduce public expenditure) makes it difficult to manage these issues independently. This leads to PPPs initiating citizen-driven projects.
-Municipal environmental practices are voluntary.
-There is a lack of climate change direction from central gov’ts.
-to be passed, env policies must have political, governance (partnership between citizens and businesses), and economic (benefit both env and economy) rationale, and be short term and visible projects.
List describe and evaluate the impact of three ways that individual citizens might contribute to mitigate the challenges of climate change.
E.g. use reusable bags, ride a bike or use public transportation instead of driving a car, cook with whole foods at home and use leftovers to reduce food waste, reduce consumption, mend clothing/repurpose items, and buy second hand, buy local, recycle, use a reusable water bottle and coffee cup, pick up & sort garbage from the street/park/beach…
First, they might make individual changes for themselves such as choosing to use a reusable water bottle or shopping bag or mending and repurposing items to reduce consumption. The impact of these acts seems small but if everyone made these small changes, a larger impact would be seen. It is difficult to measure these individual acts as many are conducted in the privacy of their own home and affect a broad range of activities. These activities ultimately can only go so far as they are forced at times to participate in purchasing imported, poorly packaged or unethically made items, in utilizing the waste management and water treatment of their municipality, and, in some places, to drive vehicles or use a certain form of heat for their homes because these things are all out of their control.
Second, they might organize to lobby governments or businesses for sustainable practices such as requesting access to compost or for a company to change their packaging. These actions can make a larger impact at the local level but can also be brushed aside by big business or governmental changes.
Third, individual citizens can
“Community expectation is the concept that a collective set of beliefs, norms, and actions can create a communal implied through about what a person should do”… “Community expectation also includes accepted thinking about hte level o finvolvement an individual should expect to expend in engaging with fellow citizens, whether in social networking, philathropic work, or community improvement.” (Grover & Miller, 2013, pp. 37-38)
Explain the importance that an individual leader’s environmental values and awareness has on an organization’s greening.
The OCBEs of managers demonstrate their environmental values, allows them to lead by example, and can lead to formal environmental management practices contributing to the environmental success of the organization.
When values-based leadership is practiced in the context of environmental issues, the organizational culture and individual OCBEs may be positively effected.
Analyse the importance of Traditional Environmental Knowledge (TEK) as a contributor to addressing the challenges of climate change.
TEK is a unique perspective on climate change that considers first-hand experiences of climate change at the local level. Incorporating TEK into scientific measures and methods of problem solving ensures diverse perspectives are included in a broader approach to addressing the challenges of climate change. Collaboration and consultation with those who hold TEK aligns with the objectives of UNDRIP by acknowledging the wisdom and contributions of Indigenous Peoples and their right to be consulted on environmental matters on the lands they have unique generational knowledge about. Their knowledge is a key to developing responsible practices to plan and manage the use of natural resources for future generations. Integration of TEK also ensures solutions to climate change with a recognition of an Indigenous world view which considers the natural environment in harmony with human existence.
Traditional Environmental Knowledge (TEK)
- Indigenous environmental knowledge of natural resources evolved through oral traditions and first-hand experience over generations. Local and long term knowledge.
- Complementary to Western science. Inclusion of TEK in decision-making supports the objectives of UNDRIP, acknowledges the wisdom of Indigenous Peoples, and respects their right to be consulted on environmental matters. Fosters collaboration and respect, reduces conflict, and promotes environmental sustainability.
- There is a growing awareness and understanding of the contributions of Indigenous People. Collaboration and consultation with those who hold TEK is important for environmental stewardship (responsible planning and management of resources for others) as well as for implementing a broader approach to dealing with climate change - integrating diverse perspectives and traditional knowledge handed down for generations to fully understand the issue and proposed solutions.
Organizational citizen behaviors for the environment (OCBE)
- Informal, voluntary, and discretionary behaviours of individuals for the success of formal environmental initiatives and contribute to organizational greening.
Environmental efforts that are discretionary acts in the organizational setting not rewarded or required. Prosocial behaviours. - Environmental issues are at the forefront of global issues today. OCBEs greatly contribute to corporate greening and can bleed into the personal lives of individuals.
- A theoretical motivator of OCBEs is supervisor support. Managers OCBEs can lead to formal environmental initiatives in the organization. Manager’s OBCEs demonstrate their values and allow them to lead by example. This is perceived as genuine commitment by employees rather than superficial or ceremonial acts which are externally motivated and formally reviewed. Personal commitment of managers affects the success of environmental initiatives. Managers environmental values are positively related to OCBEs, environmental management practices, and environmental performance.
Environmentally sustainable behaviour
1.”Sustainable behaviour means taking into account the need to preserve the planet for present and future generations, while taking into account economic, environmental and social development”
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Environmentally-specific transformational leader
- Transformational leadership qualities intentionally applied to environmental issues. Using a relationship-based model to influence subordinates to engage in environmentally conscious ways. They model environmentally conscious actions that benefit more than themselves, extending to the greater good, and inspiring others to follow suit. They encourage employees to think about environmental issues for themselves and question their own assumptions and beliefs, their organizations practices, and more to inspire innovation.
Descriptive language that aligns shared values or situates others in relation to others doing good for the environment supports env.-specific transformational leadership most effectively.
Transformational leadership that focuses on environmental issues to positively influence employee’s environmental commitment and action. Collaborative, consultative, ability to deal with the complexity of environmental issues like climate change.
2. This is significant to shifting organizational culture from within toward a sustainable future for the planet beyond the individual business activities in the face of climate change. Employees commitment to climate friendly actions may extend outside of the workplace and contribute to a shift in societal behaviours.
3. Transformational leader AKA post-conventional
Comes from a personal commitment to individual values and influence on organizational values and culture.
Greening organizations
- Integrating ‘greening’ or environmentally considerate behaviours and approaches to the whole structure of the organization including green resource use, green energy conservation, green production, green facilities & transportation.
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