With all of that said, I thank you for your writeup. I wasn’t able to make it, and from the sounds of it, I didn’t miss much. The bit about the Titanic was quote-worthy and I will keep handy in my mental list of explanations for “non-believers”… unfortunately, Watson is right. There are still many, many people out there that think all of this is simply a practice in spinning our wheels.

Lyle, I always like what you write. No, MBAs should not be exempted — at least, not if I am to believe the dean at my B-school (Fuqua). Blair Sheppard is quite clear that he wants business to take the lead in creating a sustainable world, and the last thing he wants is government mucking it up.

There is some appeal to the notion of business doing the clean-up. It’s largely been business that’s caused the problem (at least, proximally), and the reach of the multinationals is far greater and potentially much stronger than any other organization, with the possible exception of some religions. But can business pull it off? Is there a way for the capitalist model to thrive in a world where consumption is sustainable? I subscribe to an email list composed of many of the top scholars in sustainability, and I can tell you that there is substantial doubt.

At the first sustainability conference I went to, I asked one of the insiders what the carbon footprint of the conference was, and wouldn’t it be worthwhile to calculate it? Her response was, “But we are working toward a solution.” OK, that’s a good thing, but then I suggested that her response sounded very much like a rationalization. It did make her stop and think — and she had no rebuttal.

But back to business schools. Are we producing evil madmen or angels of salvation? Certainly plenty of the first, although there are fewer than there were a couple of years ago. Angels of salvation? Perhaps too strong, but what helps me be at least a little optimistic is that many of my students are very passionate about many aspects of sustainability, they largely understand the key issues, and they see many business opportunities in transforming our economy. I think that’s a positive step.

Lyle, I said at the top that I always like what you write. It’s because you always make me think, laugh, or cry, and sometimes all three. This one requires thought. I don’t entirely share your pessimism about where the rest of the world is. No, it’s not where I think it should be, nor am I convinced it will ever get there. But, working in a business school, I have found that it just doesn’t help to be pessimistic. There is no question in my mind that the best thing I can do is cheerlead for my students whose hearts are in the right place, who really do want to make a difference, and who are getting real jobs that have the potential to do so. Like Angelique, who went to Winnepeg to help figure out how First Nations can make the most (financially) out of installing wind turbines on their lands. Or Mark, who leaves in a couple of weeks for a job where he will be developing wind projects. If they are still learning the details, well, that’s why they are in school, and they deserve guidance, not chiding, from people — like you and me — who can provide it.