As hundreds of campuses across North America commit to serious GHG reductions, athletic departments haven’t gotten the memo about the role they can play to increase community engagement (or the revenues they can produce by unlocking green sponsor dollars.) That’s the lesson to be drawn from Mark McSherry’s survey of major college athletic programs. Less than 10 percent have developed sustainability plans nor are a majority even measuring their GHG footprints.(Hello? Authentic leadership anyone?)

This while:

• Honda wants us to dream about a healthier future.
• Sprint wants us purchasing green phones from their green stores.
• Coca Cola wants to be known for being at the forefront of global water conservation innovation.
• Mastercard wants kids to help their dads be better men (environmentally speaking)
• GE wants the power grid to have a brain.
• GM wants us to know about their 230 MPG Volt (via NYTIMES)
• Utility companies in 24 US states need their customers to know about the Renewable Portfolio Standards most are mandated to promote.

And with all this jockeying for sustainability leadership among the world’s biggest corporations, front office marketing folks at major US intercollegiate programs aren’t jumping on the sustainability innovations taking place on their own campuses? Shameless self-promoting, but also valuable consulting help at sports4.org