ISSP Lexicon Project

ISSP’s Sustainability Lexicon Project (tm) Ready for Next Steps

August, 2011 - With an initial scoping and baseline phase nearing completion, ISSP’s Sustainability Lexicon Project tm will reach a significant milepost at the ISSP Conference 2011 in Portland, Oregon this September.  One of the key components of the conference will be an interactive session for attendees to contribute to the development of a more consistent lexicon for sustainability professionals.  At that session, currently scheduled for Friday, September 23, project director Ira Feldman will brief the attendees on the results of the initial survey. Ira will then facilitate a discussion to explore open issues and help frame the subsequent phases of the project.

Launched in January 2011 after several months of internal planning, the ISSP Lexicon Project brings together a range of sustainability professionals – ISSP members and others – to discuss and, where possible, move towards consensus on the terminology used by sustainability professionals across various disciplines.  ISSP as a professional society is positioning itself as the “voice of sustainability professionals,” but one of the many challenges facing the profession is the loose and inconsistent use of terminology.  “How can the profession speak with one voice when we are speaking in many tongues?” asks Feldman, who serves on ISSP’s management team and its board, and is spearheading the Lexicon Project.

For some current readings on the topic of how the world talks about sustainability, click here.

The Lexicon Project addresses perceived roadblocks on the path to mainstreaming sustainability thinking.  Feldman explains, "We've all heard the refrain that sustainability ‘means nothing' or 'means everything' so it is useless.  Some of us also view the popular 'green' terminology -- especially in the media -- as a 'dumbing down' of sustainability.  This does not need to be the case, and the ISSP Lexicon project could help significantly advance the state of play.”

The initial phase of the Lexicon Project is intentionally limited in scope with approximately 30 sustainability professionals joining in a baseline effort to capture a sense of the current state of play in the use of sustainability nomenclature and terms of art.  A survey consisting of 50 statements – some “plain vanilla” and some “intentionally edgy” according to Feldman – was developed to elicit responses from the sustainability professionals participating in this preliminary effort.  The results were surprising in some ways: not only was there closer agreement than anticipated on the use of certain terms, but also a higher than expected gap or unfamiliarity with certain existing sustainability tools and initiatives.  In other ways, the results were unsurprising, with the net result confirming the basic premise that consistency is lacking and underscoring the enormity of the challenge to move an eclectic field towards consensus.

A visual map of the Lexicon Webinar discussion held in September 2011.

(Illustration by Claire Bronson)

To be clear, the Lexicon Project is not seeking to redefine “sustainability.” Instead, the focus is to better understand how various terms and concepts are articulated in the interdisciplinary playing field of sustainability.  In the next phase, with the assistance of ISSP members and non-members, ISSP expects to frame key questions for further review and analysis.  “Will we move towards consensus?” asks Feldman.  “I think we will be able to move the needle, perhaps not all the way, but certainly we will be able to better harmonize the sustainability dialogue among practitioners who are based in varied disciplines.  Indeed, even context-based clarifications or guidance would be viewed as a useful outcome.” Where conformity in language is not possible or not desirable, the reasons for such differences or nuances (e.g., industry-specific, US v. international, etc.) can be described and explained.

An interim deliverable based on the 50-statement survey will be prepared prior to the ISSP Conference.  Thereafter, subsequent phases of the project may result in a summary report, a living document, and/or an exposure draft.  Going forward, some of the work will be done by email; some by conference calls; and by convening ISSP webinars to attract additional input. 

In its initial phase, the Lexicon Project is geared to the US market in part to avoid overextending its reach, but also because the obstacles to mainstreaming sustainability thinking in the US may be different in kind or magnitude. Of course, sustainability must be understood in global context, so the process will seek to address the US situation as informed by international perspectives and experience.  Thus, both US and international participants have been included.  ISSP believes that any progress in improving the ‘loose use’ of terms and definitions in the sustainability field might lead to greater credibility, confidence and traction in the US market, and help provide everyone in the field with a more solid and coherent basis for sustainability best practice, policy initiatives and/or voluntary programs at the federal, state or local level.

To be successful, the Lexicon Project must embrace a broad range of perspectives.  We would like to hear from consultants, regulators, corporate managers, NGO representatives, academics and others who believe would add value (content or credibility) to the ISSP Lexicon project. 

ISSP members can join the discussion in our "Lexicon Project" member forum at http://sustainabilityprofessionals.org/group/lexicon-project.

Or forward your suggestions and comments to the Project Director, Ira Feldman at ira@greentrack.com.

HOW TO TALK ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY? SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT

The state of play regarding sustainability concepts and terminology is in disarray. Any number of articles and blogs lament the current confusing and disconnected world view of how sustainability-related terms are used. Posted below are several recent examples of the on-going dialogue about this topic.

Our hope is that over time, the ISSP Sustainability Lexicon Project (tm) will bring clarity to the dialogue for the entire sustainability profession. Back To Top