Sustainability Report: measuring our impact in 2009

What makes a business sustainable? How do we measure the sustainability of a business? While no definite answers to these questions exist, AECOM is committed to accounting for the impacts of our practice and operations. As technical consultants, we have a unique ability to influence the sustainability of the world's environments while as a business, we share with all business the obligation to be more sustainable.

We have released a Sustainability Report for our planning, design + development sector of business worldwide in 2009. Following a rubric established by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), our report examines the impact of our business, both in projects and operations, in the areas of environmental, social and economic sustainability.

This 58-page document was prepared by Director of Sustainable Development Claire Bonham-Carter, following a path set by similar reports in 2008 for AECOM's legacy firms of EDAW and DMJM H&N. The 2009 report is one of several prepared this year within AECOM.

Highlights include an array of projects completed or advanced over the last year that demonstrate sustainable best practices across our fields of Economics, Environmental + Ecological Planning, Strategic Planning and Masterplanning, Landscape Design, Architecture and Engineering and Program + Construction Management. From climate action planning in California, to a wetland park in China, to landscape restoration in Australia, to green roof guidance in the UK, to the zero-carbon MASDAR City in the UAE, to the renovation of the Pentagon in Washington, our contributions to sustainable placemaking over the past year have been extensive.

We are particularly proud of the efforts we have made within our communities. Pro-bono work included helping to develop the Texas Collaborative for High Performance Schools Criteria, strategic planning for the city of Pengzhou, China in the wake of the earthquake that struck Sichuan Province, and ongoing consulting for the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust in Kenya. AECOM employees devoted their time to the Community Development Initiative in Australia, the New Roots Community Farm in California, Park(ing) Day, and tree-planting activities across North America.

Numerous competition and award wins combine with several book publications and a host of speaking engagements to make 2009 a year of thought leadership for sustainability within AECOM. Focused practice development helped to spread knowledge and skills throughout our large and evolving organization. We obtained green certifications for four of our offices in 2009, as our number of LEED-accredited staff increased to 489. We continue to foster our staff through annual development programs and to offer the highest level of quality to our clients.

Finally, we take an honest look at the footprint of our business worldwide, examining carbon emissions, energy and water consumption, and waste production. Numerous initiatives in 2009 aimed to shift employees' commuting to zero-carbon modes.

While we are proud of our accomplishments in 2009, we recognize that sustainability is a goal in the pursuit of which we can never rest. We will look back on 2010 in a year's time, expecting to document yet a higher standard.

Jake Herson