The sustainability profession is at an existential crossroads. Here’s how it can survive

For many sustainability professionals, these are disorienting times. Between the rollback of climate policy and environmental protections to the erosion of evidence-based truth and science itself, it’s difficult to rise to the challenges associated with creating a long-term sustainable society. Knowledge, competence, ethics and accountability are necessary qualities to raise the bar.

Key takeaways

• The sustainability profession needs to decide if it’s to raise the bar and become a trusted profession or be co-opted to sanitize increasingly destructive corporate and political activities.
• If professionals decide to raise the bar, they must do so via four core qualities: knowledge, competence, ethics and accountability.
• One defining feature of trusted professionals is their higher duty of care to society.