US BCSD Annual Meeting 2026 Summary

US Business Council for Sustainable Development (US BCSD)

Thank you to everyone who participated in the US BCSD Annual Sustainability Strategy Meeting. This year's discussions focused on a central question:
How can organizations continue advancing sustainability in a changing political and business environment?

Throughout the day, leaders from industry, academia, government, and nonprofit organizations shared practical experiences, lessons learned, and ideas for future collaboration.

 

Meeting Outcomes

Several themes emerged consistently across the discussions, and participants left with concrete next steps to build on:

  • Sustainability is becoming more integrated into business strategy.

  • Companies are focusing on metrics that drive decisions and create value.

  • Collaboration remains essential for solving complex challenges.

  • Biodiversity and resilience are becoming increasingly important topics.

  • Circular economy approaches continue to create new opportunities.

  • Artificial intelligence may unlock new tools for sustainability management.

  • We identified new byproduct synergy project ideas that we'll be exploring in the coming months, with updates to follow.

 

Selected Participant Ideas (Sticky Notes & Group Discussion)

In addition to the panel discussions, participants generated a wide range of ideas through sticky-note exercises and small-group conversations. A few of the most interesting are highlighted below; the full list will continue to inform our programming.

Policy & Regulation

  • Encourage the Texas Governor's administration to channel its interest in regulating data centers toward supporting agroforestry.

  • Explore ways to bring AI companies to the table on offsetting their emissions as the industry continues to expand.

Metrics & Measurement

  • Consider a “Trash Per Capita” metric as a simple, communicable measure of waste reduction.

  • Reduce the number of metrics used and identify the best ones to incentivize lower energy, water, and resource use per capita.

Programs & Partnerships

  • Explore SLCC partnerships with additional landholding companies to expand acreage and compound carbon credit opportunities.

  • Establish byproduct synergy projects at additional locations, and pair them with AI workshops focused on byproduct synergy.

  • Re-invigorate the Gulf Carbon Collaborative and similar regional efforts (already underway).

Industry Inclusion

  • Bring the disposal industry into the collaborative efforts alongside existing partners.

  • Host public listening and education sessions on data center sustainability and carbon capture and storage (CCS) to address community concerns directly.

Group Ideas

  • Diversify revenue sources rather than relying primarily on government funding.

  • Require buyers of land for data centers to compensate for lost ecosystem services and act as responsible environmental stewards of that land.

  • A notable data point shared by HPE: 41% of AI workers are actively blocking AI adoption — a reminder that internal change management matters as much as external strategy.

Key Themes

Sustainability Beyond Politics

Participants discussed how sustainability continues to evolve regardless of changing terminology or political priorities. Organizations are increasingly focusing on:

  • Long-term value creation

  • Risk management

  • Operational efficiency

  • Business resilience

Key Insight: Sustainability initiatives are most durable when they are embedded within business operations.

Metrics That Matter

Panel discussions explored how organizations are moving beyond reporting alone and focusing on measurements that influence behavior and improve performance. Topics included:

  • Executive compensation

  • Investor expectations

  • Internal performance indicators

  • Employee engagement

  • Long-term value creation

Key Insight: The most effective metrics are those that support better decisions.

Biodiversity and Resilience

Several speakers identified biodiversity and organizational resilience as important areas for future attention. Emerging considerations include:

  • Nature-related risks

  • Supply chain resilience

  • Resource availability

  • Long-term business continuity

Key Insight: Future sustainability strategies may increasingly focus on resilience and ecosystem health.

Circular Economy and Industrial Symbiosis

Discussions highlighted the continued importance of finding value in materials traditionally viewed as waste. Examples included:

  • Byproduct reuse

  • Material marketplaces

  • Cross-industry partnerships

  • The Sustainable Ohio Byproduct Synergy Network

Key Insight: Collaboration can transform waste streams into economic opportunities.

Carbon Markets and Nature-Based Solutions

Participants explored voluntary carbon markets, credibility challenges, and opportunities to support landowners and communities through collaborative approaches. Topics included:

  • Carbon accounting

  • Project quality

  • Additionality and permanence

  • Small landowner participation

  • Nature-based solutions

Key Insight: Trust and transparency remain essential for the future of carbon markets.

Artificial Intelligence and Innovation

AI emerged as an area of growing interest across multiple conversations. Potential applications discussed included:

  • Data analysis

  • Carbon accounting

  • Resource optimization

  • Identifying industrial symbiosis opportunities

Key Insight: AI may help organizations uncover new opportunities and improve decision-making.

Collaboration as a Common Thread

One message appeared throughout nearly every discussion: complex challenges require collaboration. Participants shared examples of successful partnerships involving:

  • Businesses

  • Communities

  • Government agencies

  • Academic institutions

  • Nonprofit organizations

These collaborations demonstrated that shared challenges often create opportunities for innovation and mutual benefit.

 

Featured Speakers

The meeting included perspectives from leaders representing organizations such as:

  • Trane Technologies

  • Entergy

  • Baker Botts

  • Sustainable Ohio

  • Ohio Byproduct Synergy Network

  • Small Landowner Carbon Collaborative

  • US BCSD member organizations

Looking Ahead

US BCSD will continue building on these conversations through:

  • Future meetings and events

  • Member surveys

  • Monthly newsletters

  • Knowledge sharing opportunities

  • Collaboration initiatives

  • Peer connections across the network

Thank you to our speakers, participants, and members for contributing your time, ideas, and expertise. Together, we continue strengthening a community focused on practical solutions and collaborative progress.

Claude Griffin

Executive Director President & CEO

US Business Council for Sustainable Development (US BCSD)