University Of Pittsburgh Center For Sustainable Business

PURPOSE: Galvanize Businesses to Thrive for All MISSION: Helping companies learn how to make the most out of their strategic investments in more socially and environmentally sustainable business practices across all functions of the organization. 2024 FOCUS: we influence Middle America through our research, education, and engagement to be the epicenter of the just transition from an economy extractive of people and planet to a regenerative economy. Leading businesses, such as our Members realize that it is no longer enough to maximize profits and cater only to shareholders; it is also critical to integrate the well-being of the planet and its people into their business models. Such a transformation to managing the “triple bottom line” of people, planet and profit requires looking at business and its operations through a new lens. Member companies have exclusive access to twice annual Sustainable Business Forums, our flagship events where we curate and host cross sector conversations that generate visionary sustainable business solutions. Through innovative research, specialized education and training, and critical thought leadership, the CSB helps companies learn how to leverage their investments in sustainability across all functions of the organization to generate better business and societal outcomes. The pandemic showed the world that our economies are not as resilient as we need them to be. In 2021, we created 3 new workstreams as a response to where we saw the most need, the fewest resources, and our strengths. Decarbonize Middle America efforts will increase the number of companies in the region with working 2030 Target strategies aligned to the Paris Accord’s 1.5 degrees Celsius ambitions for a just transition to clean and circular economies. This includes the Center’s Marshall Plan for Middle America initiative. Workforce 100% efforts will increase the number of companies in the region that turn rhetoric into action with strategies toward workforces 100%