Business schools are being encouraged by their association to tackle the “significant economic and social consequences” of climate change by focusing on sustainability.

The Association of Business Schools (ABS) is urging business schools to contribute to sustainability in three ways: through teaching and assessment, research and consultancy and as organisations - improving their own sustainability.

And it says green issues are directly linked with the recession with more companies becoming aware of how financial savings can also benefit the environment.

“Presently there is lots of excellent work being done by business schools and we would like to see that developed so sustainability is built into core programmes,” said Victoria Robinson, head of marketing at ABS.

“We’re working to embed sustainability into the whole ethos of business schools - from the buildings people are taught in, to what they are being taught.”

And with governments tightening climate change targets, the Association believes measuring and reducing environmental impact along the supply chain has huge significance for individuals, managers and organisations.

Professor Howard Thomas, ABS chairman (pictured), said: “There is hardly a day goes by without some major national or international announcement on sustainable development and at the same time devastating natural disasters which are increasingly linked to climate change.”

The government added that businesses have a vital role to play in the fight against climate change, while at the same time the best opportunity to benefit from reducing carbon emissions.

The minister for energy and climate, Mike O’Brien, said: “It will be businesses that will reap the rewards and create job opportunities, through more efficient, sustainable products and through taking advantage of this emerging market.”

ABS chief executive, Jonathan Slack, who is currently involved in writing new sustainability guidelines, said the Stern Review in 2006 highlighted the risks of global warming and climate change to the world economy.

“There is also rapid degradation in the marine environment, combined with melting ice-caps and glaciers linked to sea-level rises. All of which have significant economic and social consequences.”

In Pillars of the Sustainable Economy, a recent ABS report, the sustainable teaching at centres like Warwick Business School and University of Bath’s Centre for Action Research is highlighted.

The full report can be downloaded from www.the-abs.org.uk.

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