I am facilitating a panel at GreenGov next week on the subject of the sustainability profession.   One of the topics I have discussed in preparation calls with the panelists is whether there are differences between the role of a sustainability professional in a government department and one working in a company. [Spoiler alert] The conclusion is that there are some differences but many more similarities. We will address this further in the panel on Wednesday next week but you will have to come along if you want to hear about them.

 My preparation has had me thinking yet again about the difference between corporate responsibility and sustainability. I posted a pictorial blog about this topic here only a week ago.

While there is no conflict with having a sustainability practitioner in a government department, it is somewhat obvious that you cannot have a corporate social responsibility professional in a government department.   The primary mission of government is to deliver public policy and services that meet the broad needs of society (and indirectly of environment to whatever extent you consider that environment brings benefit to society). Therefore, we would hope that everyone in government is responsible in that regard as part of their basic set of objectives.

 The primary mission of a corporation in contrast is to deliver returns to shareholders. One could argue that more progressive companies define their mission as to deliver services that their customers want,  and that in so doing they will also deliver good returns to shareholders. But either way,  the primary defined mission of most corporations is not to deliver broad public and societal good.   Looked at in this context, the role of corporate responsibility is to address the tension that can exist between the needs of customers and investors on the one hand and the broader public good on the other. 

 So you can have a sustainability officer in a government department (or a non-profit for that matter) as the role need not be defined by presence or otherwise of a profit driver. But the role of the CSR practitioner is defined in the context of the profit mission of companies.

 If you are coming to GreenGov 2011, please join us in the Education and Education stream on Wednesday at 8.30 where I have the honor of moderating a panel with Valerie Patrick of Bayer Corp, Ira Feldman for the  International Society of Sustainability Professional and Terry Yosie of the World Environment Center.

 Also consider taking a look at these links for the Association of Climate Change Officers and Corporate Responsibility Officers Association (in which I am involved) for perspectives on these related and evolving practices.