COVID-19 And The Longer Horizon

Within the global landscape of a pandemic, long-unaddressed social justice issues, and expanding civil protest, all of us at ISSP wondered how best to support our sector during this uncertain timeline. No better place to inquire than among the esteemed honorees of our ISSP Hall of Fame. With Fabian Sack, my Governing Board colleague who was then serving as our president, we asked each of our fourteen Sustainability Hall of Fame honorees if they would share their thoughts on where we are, what we're facing, and how our sector might most effectively advance the work to be done. Our Sustainability Hall of Fame video series, COVID-19 And The Longer Horizon, fully released this week, offers their insights.

In COVID-19 And The Longer Horizon, Hall of Fame honoree Bob Willard, ISSP-CSP, describes our current reality as the first time in human history that we confront a "perfect storm" of sustainability crises: the ever escalating climate crisis, a public health crisis, and an economic crisis. And he adds, "It's important that all three of them be in the mix as we try to figure out how we come out of this, and what the lessons learned from this incredibly challenging situation are."

In the face of this "perfect storm," changing attitudes and behaviors in communities around the world are impacting both our work and our potential for influence as sustainability professionals. The facts of science and the insights of experts now receive increasing attention from a broader public. The values of social justice galvanize hundreds of thousands to march in solidarity for diversity, inclusion, and equity around the globe. The spheres of professional life and personal life blur as digital devices serve as one of our few portals to the COVID-19 world outside. We can see these social, political, and professional shifts beginning to dismantle the siloed thinking and siloed values that for too long have shaped the systemic issues underneath the crises we face. These systemic disconnections are the very issues that we, as sustainability professionals, work to solve.

The right voices at the right time can foster uncommon cooperation and galvanize extraordinary action. Never before have global cooperation and global action been more necessary. The overwhelming take-away from COVID-19 And The Longer Horizon is the interconnectedness across both the challenges as well as the opportunities of this unprecedented moment. The global framework reflecting this interdependency is of course the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The intrinsic power of the SDGs is their interdependency: any enduring progress in sustainability is interdependent with the progress across each and every of the seventeen global goals. And the very interdependency of the SDGs also presents the complexity — and often the dilemma — to today's problem-solving and decision-making, across sectors and across the world.

Navigating that complexity is the distinct strength of sustainability professionals. As we enter the decisive decade leading up to the 2030 SDGs, the problems our sector seeks to meet and solve are daunting. Yet, the opportunities have never been greater.

"I really feel that sustainability, survival, the planet, our health — has all become one issue in our times. In a way, what the pandemic has done is collapse all of these false separations. It's literally made the divisions disappear."

Dr. Vandana Shiva
Director, Navdanya
ISSP Sustainability Hall of Fame

As ISSP Sustainability Hall of Fame honoree John Elkington, Founder and Chief Pollinator at Volan Ventures, Ltd., states in our video series, "We’re in a period where the old order is coming apart." He continues, "But that’s the most extraordinarily exciting time to be alive and working in an area like this. Because if you can get your agenda coherent enough and clear enough to key people, by God, you can move in the right direction at a very much greater speed and a very much greater scale than in normal times, when most people think they know what they’re doing."

Stay connected to this space, our ISSPBlog. Here, our contributors bring you the resources, the inspiration, and the insights to ensure that your work advances at "a very much greater speed and a very much greater scale." Both are necessary to what we need to accomplish.

About the Author:

Trisha Bauman, M.Sc.
CEO & Founder, TJBauman
Vice President, ISSP Governing Board

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From Influence to Impact: Upcoming Webinars & Working Sessions for Sustainability Leaders Ready to Scale Change

February 20, 2026

February 20, 2026 As someone who works closely with sustainability practitioners and leaders, I constantly hear the same themes: “How do I get leadership to say yes?” “How do small businesses realistically do this?” “How do we scale change without burning out?” That’s exactly why I’m so excited about our upcoming webinar and working sessions. These aren’t theoretical discussions. They’re practical, interactive, and designed for those of us doing the hard work of driving sustainability forward — often without formal authority, large budgets, or perfect systems. Here’s what’s coming up and why I believe these sessions matter right now! Webinar: The advantages and challenges for small businesses in sustainability March 5, 12:00pm EST REGISTER HERE We often center sustainability discussions on large corporations. ESG frameworks. Reporting mandates. Multi-billion-dollar net-zero commitments but small businesses make up the majority of our economy. In our upcoming webinar, The Advantages and Challenges for Small Businesses in Sustainability , Colleen Spear brings clarity and practicality to this often overlooked audience. As the founder of Spearpoint Strategies in New England, Colleen works directly with small businesses across industries — from bottle manufacturing to law to clothing design. She helps organizations embed sustainability into operations and strategy through certification support, fractional management, and strategic planning. This session will explore: The barriers small enterprises face in sustainable business spaces Why most sustainability advice overlooks small business realities The natural strengths small businesses possess How to apply sustainability practically within constrained environments Small businesses often lack the complexity — and bureaucracy — of larger corporations. That agility can be a major advantage. Decision-makers are accessible. Values can be integrated quickly. Cultural shifts can happen faster. Rather than positioning small businesses as behind, this session reframes them as powerful drivers of innovative, community-centered solutions. If you work with small enterprises, advise them, or operate one yourself, this webinar will provide actionable insights and language you can apply immediately. Webinar: Influencing Up: Strategies for Sustainability Leaders April 28, 5:00pm EST REGISTER HERE Our upcoming session with Dr. André Taylor, Strategies for ‘Influencing Up’ as a Sustainability Leaders , focuses on one of the most critical — and underdeveloped — skills in sustainability work: influencing without authority. Dr. Taylor brings a powerful combination of experience. He began his career as an environmental manager and scientist before earning a mid-career PhD in leadership at Monash University. Today, he serves as Leadership Specialist and Adjunct Associate Professor at the International WaterCentre and works extensively with sustainability and executive leaders. Why does this matter? Because sustainability practitioners rarely have direct authority over finance teams, executives, procurement departments, or policymakers. Yet we are expected to influence all of them. This session will explore: How to gain buy-in from senior leaders How to navigate functional silos How to influence across sectoral boundaries How to build authority when you don’t have the title What I appreciate most about this session is that it reframes influence as a skill — not a personality trait. We’ll dive into practical tools and concepts that help sustainability leaders: Speak the language of decision-makers Align initiatives with strategic priorities Understand motivations and incentives Work effectively across power dynamics If you’ve ever felt stuck waiting for approval, resources, or executive sponsorship, this webinar is designed for you. Implementing the AIMS Framework: From Momentum to Scale Four Interactive Working Sessions: March 18th (12pm EST) | Amplify REGISTER HERE April 22nd (12pm EST) | Influence REGISTER HERE May 12th (12pm EST) | Multiply REGISTER HERE June 25th (12pm EST) | Scale REGISTER HERE For those ready to go deeper, we’re offering a four-part interactive working series led by Dr. Jacqueline Kerr. Dr. Kerr has been published in Harvard Business Review and is in the top 1% of cited social scientists worldwide. Her work blends behavior change, implementation science, and systems thinking to help sustainability leaders deliver results — even in resource-constrained settings. These sessions aren’t passive webinars. They’re Miro-based, hands-on working sessions built around real initiatives participants are leading. Here’s how the journey unfolds: AMPLIFY — Recognizing Hidden Success We begin by mapping sustainability wins — even small ones — and identifying their ripple effects. Participants will: Surface hidden ROI Identify informal impact makers Recognize patterns across companies Publicly commit to amplifying a success story Key insight: change is already happening — it’s just often invisible. INFLUENCE — Removing Barriers Without Authority We diagnose stalled initiatives using an Action Audit framework. Together, we map barriers across: Strategy & Design People & Engagement Systems & Structures Feedback & Adaptation Participants will leave with: Clear barrier diagnoses Peer-tested influence strategies Commitment to remove one key blocker The big realization here? Most stalled initiatives are people challenges embedded within unsupportive systems. MULTIPLY — Creating Action Hubs We explore what makes groups succeed versus stall and design collaborative “action hubs” around shared problems. Participants will: Identify high-impact problems worth solving together Map who needs to be involved Develop invitation language Learn facilitation tactics that build ownership When groups co-design solutions, momentum becomes self-sustaining. SCALE — Building Systems That Spread Change Finally, we design pathways for scaling impact beyond individual teams. We’ll: Map where wins can spread Identify facilitator pipelines Explore how peer networks enable growth Commit to developing new leaders The insight here is transformative: when you train facilitators and activate system levers, change no longer depends on one sustainability champion pushing relentlessly. Why These Sessions Matter Now Across sectors, sustainability professionals are navigating political tension, budget constraints, competing priorities, and burnout. What excites me about this lineup of upcoming webinars and working sessions is that they address the real work: Influence without authority Practical sustainability in small enterprises Behavior change and implementation Scaling change through systems, not heroics These experiences are designed not just to inform — but to equip. Whether you're looking to sharpen your executive influence, support small business transformation, or move from isolated wins to systemic impact, there’s a session built for you. And perhaps most importantly, these sessions create community. You won’t just learn frameworks — you’ll see patterns across organizations, borrow strategies from peers, and build networks that last beyond a single meeting. If you’re serious about driving sustainable change in 2026, I invite you to join us. We’re not just talking about sustainability. We’re building the leadership capacity to deliver it.

Turning Member Feedback into Action: ISSP’s 2026 Strategic Plan

By By Elizabeth Dinschel & Bangaly Kourouma • January 16, 2026

January 16, 2026 At the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP), strategy is not theoretical. It is practical, action-oriented, and grounded in the real needs of sustainability professionals working in complex and rapidly evolving environments. The ISSP 2026 Strategic Plan is a one-year, execution-focused roadmap designed to strengthen ISSP’s role as a global professional association for sustainability practitioners. Built directly from member feedback gathered through Town Halls, surveys, and ongoing conversations, the plan focuses on three strategic priorities: financial stability, relevant professional knowledge, and meaningful member engagement. This article explains what the 2026 Strategic Plan is, why these priorities matter, and how member input directly shaped ISSP’s direction. What the ISSP 2026 Strategic Plan Is—and Is Not The 2026 Strategic Plan is not a long-term vision statement or a five-year forecast. It is a focused, one-year plan designed to deliver measurable progress. The plan is intended to: Strengthen ISSP’s financial sustainability Modernize sustainability education and credential resources Improve the member experience across career stages Each priority includes defined actions, timelines, and success metrics, ensuring accountability and transparency.

Paper cut-out figures holding hands in a chain against a dark blue background.

Listening, Learning, and Rebuilding Connection: Reflections from Our First ISSP Town Hall

By Elizabeth Dinschel, December 18, 2025 • December 18, 2025

Elizabeth Dinschel, MA, MBA, is the Executive Director of ISSP Earlier this month, we hosted our first global ISSP Town Hall since I stepped into the role of Executive Director. I logged off that call energized, humbled, and deeply grateful for the honesty, generosity, and care that our members brought into the space. This Town Hall was never meant to be a one-way update. It was designed as a listening session — a chance for ISSP leadership and staff to hear directly from sustainability professionals across regions, sectors, and career stages. And you delivered. What follows are a few reflections on what I heard, what we learned, and where we’re headed next together. Why We Called This Town Hall ISSP has gone through a period of transition — new leadership, new staff, and a renewed focus on modernizing how we serve a truly global membership. Change can be energizing, but it can also create moments of uncertainty and disconnection. We knew we needed to pause, gather our community, and listen with intention. The Town Hall brought together members from multiple continents, industries, and disciplines. Sustainability practitioners, consultants, engineers, communicators, policy professionals, and career-transitioners all showed up with thoughtful questions and candid feedback. One thing was immediately clear: this community cares deeply about its work, about each other, and about ISSP’s role in supporting sustainability professionals at a challenging moment for the field.