Sustainability Now: Pittsburgh’s Energy Future | Teresa Leatherow | TEDxYouth@BlueSlidePark

I think it is only right to start this

I think it is only right to start this talk off with an apology an apology to

talk off with an apology an apology to

talk off with an apology an apology to the audience members an apology to

the audience members an apology to

the audience members an apology to anyone who may watch this talk to future

anyone who may watch this talk to future

anyone who may watch this talk to future generations and to the planet I was

generations and to the planet I was

generations and to the planet I was first introduced to the human cause

first introduced to the human cause

first introduced to the human cause realities of environmental degradation

realities of environmental degradation

realities of environmental degradation changes to our climate in the ways that

changes to our climate in the ways that

changes to our climate in the ways that are built our designed and our

are built our designed and our

are built our designed and our engineered world has adversely impacted

engineered world has adversely impacted

engineered world has adversely impacted our natural systems the same way I

our natural systems the same way I

our natural systems the same way I presume many of you were introduced to

presume many of you were introduced to

presume many of you were introduced to these topics through the Harvard

these topics through the Harvard

these topics through the Harvard Business Review I was preparing a

Business Review I was preparing a

Business Review I was preparing a research proposal the second semester of

research proposal the second semester of

research proposal the second semester of my first year of college when I read in

my first year of college when I read in

my first year of college when I read in a compilation of Harvard Business Review

a compilation of Harvard Business Review

a compilation of Harvard Business Review articles on supply chain management of

articles on supply chain management of

articles on supply chain management of the cotton harvesting process for

the cotton harvesting process for

the cotton harvesting process for organic versus inorganic cotton used for

organic versus inorganic cotton used for

organic versus inorganic cotton used for t-shirt production it was the first time

t-shirt production it was the first time

t-shirt production it was the first time that I was learning about the

that I was learning about the

that I was learning about the environment in a context that I felt

environment in a context that I felt

environment in a context that I felt connected with that is business and the

connected with that is business and the

connected with that is business and the first time that I began to recognize

first time that I began to recognize

first time that I began to recognize that the number one driving force of

that the number one driving force of

that the number one driving force of economic development was the same source

economic development was the same source

economic development was the same source of environmental damage I didn’t fully

of environmental damage I didn’t fully

of environmental damage I didn’t fully realize it at the time but it was

realize it at the time but it was

realize it at the time but it was learning about the environment something

learning about the environment something

learning about the environment something I admittedly did not care outright for

I admittedly did not care outright for

I admittedly did not care outright for and did not know all that much about

and did not know all that much about

and did not know all that much about through a business process that has

through a business process that has

through a business process that has completely altered my perspective and

completely altered my perspective and

completely altered my perspective and frame of reference in addition to

frame of reference in addition to

frame of reference in addition to studying supply chain management and

studying supply chain management and

studying supply chain management and business information systems

business information systems

business information systems I’m also concentrating on sustainability

I’m also concentrating on sustainability

I’m also concentrating on sustainability through industrial and environmental

through industrial and environmental

through industrial and environmental engineering applications I’ve conducted

engineering applications I’ve conducted

engineering applications I’ve conducted independent research on the intersection

independent research on the intersection

independent research on the intersection of business and engineering to inform

of business and engineering to inform

of business and engineering to inform companies on how they can optimize their

companies on how they can optimize their

companies on how they can optimize their supply chains to be more environmentally

supply chains to be more environmentally

supply chains to be more environmentally efficient and sustainable and just

efficient and sustainable and just

efficient and sustainable and just recently traveled across the ocean to

recently traveled across the ocean to

recently traveled across the ocean to study abroad and climb a 60 metre

study abroad and climb a 60 metre

study abroad and climb a 60 metre offshore wind turbine and cope

offshore wind turbine and cope

offshore wind turbine and cope in Denmark it was here the proclaimed

in Denmark it was here the proclaimed

in Denmark it was here the proclaimed sustainability capital of the world that

sustainability capital of the world that

sustainability capital of the world that I realized that investing in developing

I realized that investing in developing

I realized that investing in developing and implementing cutting-edge

and implementing cutting-edge

and implementing cutting-edge technologies to better serve the

technologies to better serve the

technologies to better serve the environment and by extension the

environment and by extension the

environment and by extension the residents of Copenhagen was done simply

residents of Copenhagen was done simply

residents of Copenhagen was done simply because it was logical and the right

because it was logical and the right

because it was logical and the right thing to do

thing to do

thing to do now I don’t have a green thumb I don’t

now I don’t have a green thumb I don’t

now I don’t have a green thumb I don’t self-identify as a tree hugger and

self-identify as a tree hugger and

self-identify as a tree hugger and although most of my money is spent at

although most of my money is spent at

although most of my money is spent at REI I couldn’t be even consider than

REI I couldn’t be even consider than

REI I couldn’t be even consider than avid outdoors woman I am however an

avid outdoors woman I am however an

avid outdoors woman I am however an aspiring change maker an unconventional

aspiring change maker an unconventional

aspiring change maker an unconventional path traveler a risk-taker an ordinary

path traveler a risk-taker an ordinary

path traveler a risk-taker an ordinary person looking to improve our world

person looking to improve our world

person looking to improve our world through systems based designs and

through systems based designs and

through systems based designs and improved choice architecture the value

improved choice architecture the value

improved choice architecture the value of these and additional not mentioned

of these and additional not mentioned

of these and additional not mentioned experiences have completely shifted my

experiences have completely shifted my

experiences have completely shifted my personal values and professional

personal values and professional

personal values and professional trajectory these experiences to date

trajectory these experiences to date

trajectory these experiences to date have culminated in the recent launch of

have culminated in the recent launch of

have culminated in the recent launch of a B Corp in its infancy my

a B Corp in its infancy my

a B Corp in its infancy my community-based project an organization

community-based project an organization

community-based project an organization called coop connecting ordinary people

called coop connecting ordinary people

called coop connecting ordinary people pun fully intended the goal of the

pun fully intended the goal of the

pun fully intended the goal of the organization is to communicate through

organization is to communicate through

organization is to communicate through science-based communication and includes

science-based communication and includes

science-based communication and includes to probe to promote inclusivity through

to probe to promote inclusivity through

to probe to promote inclusivity through communication to talk to Pittsburgh’s

communication to talk to Pittsburgh’s

communication to talk to Pittsburgh’s energy stakeholders about climatic

energy stakeholders about climatic

energy stakeholders about climatic issues this is done through advanced

issues this is done through advanced

issues this is done through advanced science based communication in

science based communication in

science based communication in collaboration with scientists engineers

collaboration with scientists engineers

collaboration with scientists engineers and other related experts explaining

and other related experts explaining

and other related experts explaining these issues to non experts the goal of

these issues to non experts the goal of

these issues to non experts the goal of our programming is to hold what you all

our programming is to hold what you all

our programming is to hold what you all have to say think and question central

have to say think and question central

have to say think and question central to our mission and central to our

to our mission and central to our

to our mission and central to our success we do this by partnering with

success we do this by partnering with

success we do this by partnering with local organizations to provide a forum

local organizations to provide a forum

local organizations to provide a forum based series that discusses climate

based series that discusses climate

based series that discusses climate change through an interdisciplinary lens

change through an interdisciplinary lens

change through an interdisciplinary lens which includes large and small

which includes large and small

which includes large and small businesses government representatives of

businesses government representatives of

businesses government representatives of any level local community members and

any level local community members and

any level local community members and scientists and engineers

in today’s technologically dominant

in today’s technologically dominant world more information than ever before

world more information than ever before

world more information than ever before is available inaccessible the goal of

is available inaccessible the goal of

is available inaccessible the goal of coop is to promote networking

coop is to promote networking

coop is to promote networking science-based communication interactive

science-based communication interactive

science-based communication interactive learning platforms and evaluation to

learning platforms and evaluation to

learning platforms and evaluation to take 3 to take the critical steps that

take 3 to take the critical steps that

take 3 to take the critical steps that are necessary to achieving our three

are necessary to achieving our three

are necessary to achieving our three major goals which are an informed

major goals which are an informed

major goals which are an informed community an engaged community and

community an engaged community and

community an engaged community and enabling underrepresented voices you see

enabling underrepresented voices you see

enabling underrepresented voices you see the issue with climate change scientific

the issue with climate change scientific

the issue with climate change scientific facts sustainability and plain and

facts sustainability and plain and

facts sustainability and plain and simple human behavior is that something

simple human behavior is that something

simple human behavior is that something as routine as our everyday actions and

as routine as our everyday actions and

as routine as our everyday actions and choices have become distant every day we

choices have become distant every day we

choices have become distant every day we make energy decisions large and small

make energy decisions large and small

make energy decisions large and small that have real economic environmental

that have real economic environmental

that have real economic environmental and social impact co-op works with local

and social impact co-op works with local

and social impact co-op works with local organizations to make all of the

organizations to make all of the

organizations to make all of the information that’s readily available to

information that’s readily available to

information that’s readily available to us comprehensible and relevant to the

us comprehensible and relevant to the

us comprehensible and relevant to the community because science and

community because science and

community because science and engineering are at the heart of most

engineering are at the heart of most

engineering are at the heart of most energy related decisions it is critical

energy related decisions it is critical

energy related decisions it is critical that non expert stakeholders understand

that non expert stakeholders understand

that non expert stakeholders understand the unique challenges and opportunities

the unique challenges and opportunities

the unique challenges and opportunities unique to the city of Pittsburgh is the

unique to the city of Pittsburgh is the

unique to the city of Pittsburgh is the innate connection one has with other

innate connection one has with other

innate connection one has with other community members pittsburgh has an

community members pittsburgh has an

community members pittsburgh has an incredible opportunity to address these

incredible opportunity to address these

incredible opportunity to address these issues and co-op is the organization

issues and co-op is the organization

issues and co-op is the organization that seeks to provide the space and the

that seeks to provide the space and the

that seeks to provide the space and the programming for this to actualize the

programming for this to actualize the

programming for this to actualize the way that we all discuss the

way that we all discuss the

way that we all discuss the technicalities of various disciplines be

technicalities of various disciplines be

technicalities of various disciplines be it science and engineering business or

it science and engineering business or

it science and engineering business or policy has in effect created a silo

policy has in effect created a silo

policy has in effect created a silo effect the prevents –nt conversation

effect the prevents –nt conversation

effect the prevents –nt conversation among these groups to result in much of

among these groups to result in much of

among these groups to result in much of anything never minding the urgency and

anything never minding the urgency and

anything never minding the urgency and the complexity of these issues we’re

the complexity of these issues we’re

the complexity of these issues we’re speaking in our own professional

speaking in our own professional

speaking in our own professional languages in using our own technical

languages in using our own technical

languages in using our own technical jargon instead of speaking the language

jargon instead of speaking the language

jargon instead of speaking the language of the future the choices that you and I

of the future the choices that you and I

of the future the choices that you and I are confronted with every single day

are confronted with every single day

are confronted with every single day make it apparent that these choices are

make it apparent that these choices are

make it apparent that these choices are not only in

not only in

not only in mentally and socially damaging not only

mentally and socially damaging not only

mentally and socially damaging not only occurring and globally far-off places

occurring and globally far-off places

occurring and globally far-off places but happening here locally in Pittsburgh

but happening here locally in Pittsburgh

but happening here locally in Pittsburgh every single day many of our systems our

every single day many of our systems our

every single day many of our systems our ideas and our approaches of what we have

ideas and our approaches of what we have

ideas and our approaches of what we have grown to accept as normal with regards

grown to accept as normal with regards

grown to accept as normal with regards to energy sourcing distribution and use

to energy sourcing distribution and use

to energy sourcing distribution and use provide some of the greatest challenges

provide some of the greatest challenges

provide some of the greatest challenges but also serve as the foundation for

but also serve as the foundation for

but also serve as the foundation for some of the greatest opportunities of

some of the greatest opportunities of

some of the greatest opportunities of our future

our future

our future let’s move the conversation outside the

let’s move the conversation outside the

let’s move the conversation outside the conference room beyond the lab and

conference room beyond the lab and

conference room beyond the lab and beyond political engagement recognizing

beyond political engagement recognizing

beyond political engagement recognizing that businessmen and women scientists

that businessmen and women scientists

that businessmen and women scientists and engineers and policy makers are

and engineers and policy makers are

and engineers and policy makers are people too

people too

people too let’s also realize and shift our focus

let’s also realize and shift our focus

let’s also realize and shift our focus to what you and I can do whether or not

to what you and I can do whether or not

to what you and I can do whether or not we are members of these stakeholder

we are members of these stakeholder

we are members of these stakeholder groups acknowledging that we are all

groups acknowledging that we are all

groups acknowledging that we are all part of the Pittsburgh community what

part of the Pittsburgh community what

part of the Pittsburgh community what sustainability means in specific

sustainability means in specific

sustainability means in specific contexts business science or engineering

contexts business science or engineering

contexts business science or engineering policy and therefore within local

policy and therefore within local

policy and therefore within local communities is critical to further

communities is critical to further

communities is critical to further understand and explore the bottom line

understand and explore the bottom line

understand and explore the bottom line for all community members is that

for all community members is that

for all community members is that sustainability is about environmental

sustainability is about environmental

sustainability is about environmental issues climatic uncertainty and energy

issues climatic uncertainty and energy

issues climatic uncertainty and energy security and more importantly than that

security and more importantly than that

security and more importantly than that sustainability is about inclusivity it

sustainability is about inclusivity it

sustainability is about inclusivity it is about recognizing that fundamentally

is about recognizing that fundamentally

is about recognizing that fundamentally regardless of the stakeholder group that

regardless of the stakeholder group that

regardless of the stakeholder group that we represent is that issues regarding

we represent is that issues regarding

we represent is that issues regarding energy security warrant our concerns and

energy security warrant our concerns and

energy security warrant our concerns and should therefore require our input only

should therefore require our input only

should therefore require our input only our creating solutions co-op is working

our creating solutions co-op is working

our creating solutions co-op is working to provide the programming that enhances

to provide the programming that enhances

to provide the programming that enhances communication participation and

communication participation and

communication participation and transparency in so many ways that allows

transparency in so many ways that allows

transparency in so many ways that allows all of us to be stakeholders in these

all of us to be stakeholders in these

all of us to be stakeholders in these conversations because sustainability is

conversations because sustainability is

conversations because sustainability is so much about inclusivity there’s a

so much about inclusivity there’s a

so much about inclusivity there’s a critical stakeholder that’s absent from

critical stakeholder that’s absent from

critical stakeholder that’s absent from most of our conversations and that is

most of our conversations and that is

most of our conversations and that is you and I but differently the bottom

you and I but differently the bottom

you and I but differently the bottom line for all community members

line for all community members

line for all community members regardless of the

regardless of the

regardless of the a quote a group that we represent is

a quote a group that we represent is

a quote a group that we represent is that environmental issues climatic

that environmental issues climatic

that environmental issues climatic uncertainty and changes in our climate

uncertainty and changes in our climate

uncertainty and changes in our climate have a lot to do with the way that we go

have a lot to do with the way that we go

have a lot to do with the way that we go about our everyday lives it’s important

about our everyday lives it’s important

about our everyday lives it’s important for us to understand these critical

for us to understand these critical

for us to understand these critical issues and the ways that we can engage

issues and the ways that we can engage

issues and the ways that we can engage and address these issues we can and must

and address these issues we can and must

and address these issues we can and must look for points of unity and commonality

look for points of unity and commonality

look for points of unity and commonality across very different issues and

across very different issues and

across very different issues and experiences while not everything can be

experiences while not everything can be

experiences while not everything can be blended into a lowest common denominator

blended into a lowest common denominator

blended into a lowest common denominator platitude we can and must support the

platitude we can and must support the

platitude we can and must support the integrity of individual moments and the

integrity of individual moments and the

integrity of individual moments and the specificities of the community

specificities of the community

specificities of the community experience an interdisciplinary approach

experience an interdisciplinary approach

experience an interdisciplinary approach that centralizes all key stakeholders

that centralizes all key stakeholders

that centralizes all key stakeholders interests is increasingly necessary to

interests is increasingly necessary to

interests is increasingly necessary to understand understanding that not one

understand understanding that not one

understand understanding that not one stakeholder group will be able to

stakeholder group will be able to

stakeholder group will be able to sustain their self-interests if there is

sustain their self-interests if there is

sustain their self-interests if there is no planet off of which to work it is

no planet off of which to work it is

no planet off of which to work it is time that we start viewing the planet

time that we start viewing the planet

time that we start viewing the planet and you and I as such stakeholders thank

and you and I as such stakeholders thank

and you and I as such stakeholders thank you

you

you [Applause]