AGU, the world's largest association of Earth and space scientists, and ASAE, the American Society of Association Executives, have announced a groundbreaking collaboration to assist the association community in developing and improving sustainability initiatives.

Association leaders labeled ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives as one of their top priorities during research conducted for ASAE’s 2022 Association Insights Center (AIC). As part of that research, association executives also indicated they had a low degree of confidence when it comes to designing an ESG strategy and working toward its implementation. To learn more about AIC’s ESG content, consult the Association ESG Primer.

As the world’s largest association of Earth and space scientists, AGU is a leader in ESG leadership, from reducing its carbon footprint in meetings and divesting from fossil fuels to leading the establishment of an ethical framework for climate intervention. Now, AGU brings this powerful track record to partner with ASAE, sharing best practices and helping to guide other associations’ ESG and sustainability commitments.

The ASAE-AGU partnership agreement centers on three initiatives:

• AGU CEO and Executive Director Randy W. Fiser and ASAE President and CEO Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE, will co-chair a Sustainable Association Collaborative to help association CEOs explore sustainability issues. The collaborative’s initial focus will be “office space through the lenses of ESG and sustainability.” The group will be limited to 7 organizations to maximize participation and value for participants.
• ASAE and AGU will develop a sustainability toolkit designed to help associations embarking on their sustainability journey. AGU will serve as subject matter experts for the toolkit and ASAE will help curate the types of resources that may be most useful to associations. The toolkit will launch at the 2023 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition in Atlanta Aug. 5 – 8.
• AGU will showcase their sustainability initiatives on the Expo floor at the 2023 ASAE Annual Meeting and lead a session around how associations can develop workable approaches to the E pillar of ESG.

“We are so proud to be in partnership with ASAE,” Fiser said. At AGU, we walk our talk. Our members are the Earth and space scientists around the world confronting and answering the challenge of climate change. And in our climate leadership, we take every opportunity not just to champion open science but also opening science to greater diversity, open access to publications and a brighter, more collaborative, more just future for all.”

“ASAE is committed to advancing The Power of Associations to effect positive change in the world today,” Mason said. “By partnering with AGU, an established leader and model for sustainability initiatives, ASAE is working to assist association leaders in understanding and overcoming roadblocks to sustainability and plan for the future. Associations have told us that ESG and sustainability are critical priorities for their organizations and, through this partnership with AGU and the collective knowledge sharing that will result, we look forward to creating avenues for associations to advance their ESG and sustainability prospects.”