Environmental Professionalism and Sustainability: Too Important to get Wrong

A Call for Contributions on the topic of

ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONALISM AND SUSTAINABILITY:
TOO IMPORTANT TO GET WRONG'

Greenleaf Publishing invites contributions for a special issue of Greener
Management International (GMI) on the topic of ' Environmental
Professionalism and Sustainability: Too Important to Get Wrong', to be
edited by Christopher Sheldon, Green Inck, UK (c.d.sheldon@open.ac.uk).

* Contributions and coverage

Just what is an environmental sustainability professional? Though we may
all think that we know what is meant by the phrase, what constitutes the
definition behind it? Even if we can agree what it is, what do such people
have to 'profess' and what are their common links and interests? Won't the
trappings of professionalism make a body of practice that is currently
inclusive and free thinking, more inward looking and sclerotic?

Isn't everyone in 'the environmental business', in the same way that
everyone is in 'the breathing business'?

George Bernard Shaw said that all professions were 'conspiracies against
the laity', but if so, does it follow that ecological sustainability is too
important to divide into 'them' and 'us' in such a way?

On the other hand, there are arguments that a relatively new body of
knowledge needs some element of protection in terms of its integrity,
without wanting to restrict access. How can one be achieved without
damaging the other? What would the role of such a profession be? What
mechanisms would it use to identify itself and what values would it
espouse? How would it avoid dilution in the ongoing debate about
sustainable development? More importantly, precisely what would such a
profession be protecting?

Articles for this special edition may thus analyse any of the various
factors that influence the emergence of an 'environmental sustainability
profession'. The editor welcomes proposals for articles from professionals
of businesses, governments and NGOs, together with academics and leaders
from civil society on the theme above. Although the subject lends itself
well to detailed theoretical debate, the editor will also be looking to
achieve a balance between the conceptual and the practical. Contributors
may like to consider such themes and questions as:

* Commercialism vs. altruism in environmental consultancy
* The role of modern professional bodies
* Education and continual professional development
* Confidentiality, trust and reactive litigation
* Environmental 'whistle blowing'
* Ethics, values and the environmental professional
* Structures and forms of organisation needed to support environmental
professionals
* Does the profession need regulation?
* The limits and responsibilities of a fiduciary relationship
* The balance between specialism and common vocation
* The role of environmental professional in sustainability/CSR/sustainable
development
* Is the public sector by definition professionally altruistic?

Contributors should also make sure that they are addressing issues that
derive from or can be applied to real-world business practice/activity. The
special edition will follow the editorial guidelines of Greener Management
International (GMI) available at:
http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com/gmi/contribu.htm


Submission timetable and deadlines
* Deadline for abstract submissions: 30 April 2005
* Deadline for full paper submissions: 30 July 2005
* Deadline for revised paper submissions: 31 August 2005
* Release date of the Special Issue: October 2005
Abstracts and papers must be sent to the guest editor
c.d.sheldon@open.ac.uk only by email as attachments (identifying 'TOO
IMPORTANT TO GET WRONG' as the 'subject' of the email).

Contact details
For further information, to discuss ideas for contributions and to submit
abstracts/proposals, please contact the Guest Editor directly by e-mail at:
c.d.sheldon@open.ac.uk

Contribution Guidelines are available at:
http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com/gmi/contribu.htm

To subscribe to the journal at a discount of up to 30%, go to:

http://www.greenleaf-publishing.com/gmi/subsinfo.htm

Completed papers should be between 4000 and 6000 words, complete with
abstract and pictures of the authors.

Posted on March 21, 2005