미국 물위원회(The Water Council, TWC)는 3월 13일(현지시각) 마르케트대학교(Marguette University)의 지속 가능성 연구소(College of Business Administration Sustainability Lab)와 기업 지속 가능성, 물 및 에너지 회복력을 위한 연례 정상회의인 '넥서스 지속 가능성 리더스 서밋(Nexus Sustainability Leaders Summit)'을 오는 10월 29~30일 양일간 미국 위스콘신주 밀워키 소재 할리데이비슨 박물관(Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee)에서 개최한다고 발표했다.

크리스 머커(Chris Merker) 마르케트 지속 가능성 연구소(Marquette's Sustainability Lab) 공동 책임자·지속 가능성 2.0 컨퍼런스(Sustainability 2.0 Conference) 설립자는 "두 조직이 지속 가능성과 회복력의 혁신을 주도하고 있는 만큼 함께 노력해 각 조직의 자원을 활용하는 것이 당연하다"고 말했다.

딘 암하우스(Dean Amhaus) TWC 회장은 "워터 리더스 서밋(Water Leaders Summit)은 기후 변화, 지속 가능한 재정 등 더 큰 문제에서 물의 역할을 탐구하기 위해 15년 이상 국가 지도자를 모아왔다"며 "마르케트대학교보다 더 나은 파트너란 없을 것"이라고 강조했다.

이번 회담에서는 물, 에너지, 재정, 다양성과 포용성, ESG(환경·사회·지배구조) 등 분야에서 지속 가능성과 관련된 다양한 주제를 모색할 예정이다.

머커 공동 책임자는 "기업은 기후 변화로 인한 전례 없는 도전과 더욱 엄격한 규제 현실에 직면해 있다"며 "이번 회의는 전국 지도자를 초청해 이러한 문제를 살펴보고 해결책을 제안할 것"이라고 밝혔다.

TWC와 파트너사는 2023년 미국 위스콘신주에서 물과 에너지 복원력 엔진 개발을 위해 국립과학재단((National Science Foundation, NSF) 지역혁신엔진 프로그램(Regional Innovation Engines Program)으로부터 개발상(Development Award)을 수상했다. 

암하우스 회장은 "TWC는 15년간 진화와 혁신을 위해 지속 노력해 왔다"며 "기후 위기가 급속히 확대되고 금융 산업의 역할이 커짐에 따라 세계가 직면한 문제를 해결하기 위해 마르케트대학교와 협력할 때"라고 말했다.

마르케트대학교 경영학부(Marquette College of Business Administration)는 2019년 '지속 가능성 2.0 컨퍼런스'를 처음 개최했으며, 비즈니스 및 산업에서 ESG와 지속 가능성 표준 채택이 어떻게 책임 있고 윤리적인 비즈니스 실천을 위한 새로운 패러다임을 지속 창출하는지를 논의해 왔다. 

머커 공동 책임자는 "이번 회의가 기업의 지속 가능성을 위한 컨퍼런스로 알려지기를 바란다"며 "지금이야말로 양 조직은 물론 밀워키에게 흥미로운 시기"라고 밝혔다.

한편, 제1회 워터 리더스 서밋은 2007년에 개최됐으며, TWC는 2년 후인 2009년 설립됐다. 

[원문보기]

The Water Council & Marquette University Launch Joint Sustainability Summit

The Water Council, a Milwaukee nonprofit dedicated to solving global water challenges, and Marquette University’s College of Business Administration Sustainability Lab, which aims to research and disseminate knowledge and foster and develop managers around effective sustainability and stewardship practices, announced plans today for the Nexus Sustainability Leaders Summit, an annual national conference on corporate sustainability, water and energy resiliency, and stewardship.

The event, scheduled for Oct. 29 and 30, 2024, at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, combines and builds off Marquette’s Sustainability 2.0 Conference and The Water Council’s Water Leaders Summit.

“As two Milwaukee-based organizations that are leading innovators in sustainability and resiliency, we felt it was natural to combine our efforts and take advantage of the resources and audiences of each organization,” said Chris Merker, co-director of Marquette’s Sustainability Lab and founder of the Sustainability 2.0 Conference.

“For over 15 years, the Water Leaders Summit has brought together some of the nation’s thought leaders to explore water’s role in larger issues of climate change, sustainable finance and more,” said Dean Amhaus, The Water Council’s president and CEO. “We will continue to do that through Nexus, and we can’t imagine a better partner than Marquette University.”

The conference will explore a range of sustainability-related topics in the areas of water, energy, finance, diversity and inclusion, and the ESG (environmental, social and governance) reporting movement.

“Businesses are facing unprecedented challenges from climate change, shifting customer expectations and a more stringent regulatory climate,” Merker said. “This event will invite thought leaders from across the nation to probe those challenges and propose solutions.”

The first Water Leaders Summit was held in 2007 as a precursor to the formation of The Water Council in 2009. The summit’s popular longtime moderator, author and journalist Charles Fishman, will moderate the new event.

In 2023, The Water Council and its partners won a Development Award from the National Science Foundation’s Regional Innovation Engines Program to develop a water and energy resiliency engine in Wisconsin. The engine’s work will help inform topics of Nexus, while the event will serve as an outlet for engine partners and stakeholders to learn about and discuss pertinent issues.

“The Water Council has never shied away from evolving and innovating in our 15-year history,” Amhaus said. “With the rapid escalation of significant climate-related issues and the growing role of the financial industry, the time is right to join efforts with Marquette University to tackle important topics facing our nation and the world.”

The Marquette College of Business Administration first held the Sustainability 2.0 Conference in 2019 to discuss how the adoption of ESG and sustainability standards in business and industry continue to give rise to an emerging paradigm for responsible and ethical business practice. The school has long been recognized as a sustainability leader in study and practice.

At its 2022 conference, Marquette President Michael R. Lovell announced that Marquette had become the first university to join The Water Council’s WAVE program for improving, reporting and recognizing good water stewardship. Lovell also sits on The Water Council’s board.

“We want Nexus to become known as the conference for corporate sustainability,” Merker said. “It’s an exciting time for Marquette, The Water Council and Milwaukee.”

[출처=미국 물위원회(TWC)(https://thewatercouncil.com/media/newsroom/releases/twc-marquette-launch-joint-sustainability-summit/) / 2024년 3월 13일]

[번역 = 방호윤 기자]