SUSTAINABILITY
As a consultant he is used to defining sustainability for clients , the specifics of which vary on a case-bycase basis , but there are some wider definitions he points to that have held up over the years . “ I still look back to some of the definitions that have stood the test of time , for example the triple bottom line that was coined by Elkington and adopted by practitioners in the late 90s and 2000s ,” he says .
“ I do see sustainability as being a strong balance between environmental , social and economic considerations . This is a balance that has to be constantly managed . You have to look beyond the pure financial business case .”
While these fundamentals may not be hotly disputed , defining sustainable practice on various scales , from an individual ’ s lifestyle to a multinational corporation , is open to a chasm of interpretation . The language of sustainability is thus vitally important , especially for AECOM and its clients at an organisational level .
“ It ’ s very important that definitions in organisations are consistently understood ,” Riley continues . “ If a sustainability programme is going to be successful there truly has to be a tone from the top signalling support – there must be meaningful policy and governance from the leadership and a strategy that can be conveyed . With the right plans and policies in place , sustainability becomes a behavioural part of the organisation - going all the way down through the organization and then up again form the bottom , in that we must support a culture where the workforce is motivated and incentivised .”
Depending on what that organisation is , Riley and AECOM have to be adaptable . “ I have found an approach that makes sense , and what AECOM offers is a flexibility to consult on a project basis or the entire programme , from defining what sustainability is to implementation or auditing ,” he continues . “ Each time we come into an engagement we realise each plan or approach has to customised – some organisations have more money to spend and want to move the needle , and others only want to dabble in certain areas , so you have to be nimble and responsive .”
SKY ’ S THE LIMIT There is no better demonstration of this requisite than at airports . This
22 September 2017