Institute for Regional Studies of the Californias (IRSC) at San Diego State University

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Home Staff Visiting Scholars Publications Activities and Events Research Projects Research Reports SCERP Web Sites & Resources Three Californias Project Proyecto de las Tres Californias Fall 2011 Baja California Course >>View Course Syllabus (.pdf) Institute for Regional Studies of the Californias San Diego State University 5500 Campanile Drive, AL 377 San Diego, CA 92182-6039 Location:Arts & Letters 377 Telephone: (619) 594-5423 Fax: (619) 594-5474 Email:irsc@mail.sdsu.edu Last Update: 12/9/11	Home The Institute for Regional Studies of the Californias (IRSC) provides San Diego State University with a forum for the investigation, discussion, and dissemination of information about the United States-Mexican border region. The Institute focuses on the border area of California and Baja California, but also monitors border regions elsewhere in the world Created in 1983, the Institute has undertaken multidisciplinary applied research projects on important regional concerns including transborder environmental issues, policy perspectives of the California-Mexico relationship, quality of life, and sustainable development. IRSC also plays an active role in Mexico-related professional organizations and is frequently consulted on transborder issues by the media, nongovernmental organizations, the public sector, and other border stakeholders. Other Institute activities include conducting binational symposia; improving communication between public and private sector representatives on both sides of the border; serving as a clearinghouse for information on transborder events, issues, and institutions; and encouraging the effective use of educational resources among the region’s universities. The Institute serves as a major link between SDSU and Mexican institutions. IRSC has an ongoing publications program that includes books, monographs, and shorter items. Many titles are co-published with SDSU Press. Recent IRSC research includes projects on border environmental issues and policy, regional economic issues, and transborder planning issues. IRSC serves as the SDSU link to the Southwest Consortium for Environmental Research and Policy, a congressionally established consortium of Mexican and U.S. universities for research and policy studies on environmental issues of the border. Free Workshop on Sustainable Business Practices “SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PRACTICES” Your Key to a Competitive Future Background In these times of heightened environmental awareness, companies are increasingly facing demands to reduce their environmental footprint. Consumers, employees, shareholders, financial institutions and the public want environmental performance metrics and commitment to sustainability. The Industrial Environmental Association (IEA), supported by the Greater San Diego Chamber of Commerce and San Diego State University’s Institute for Regional Studies of the Californias, has been awarded a grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) to help businesses in the border region achieve increased environmental program success. *Why Sustainable Business Practices are Important* Sustainable business practices are now considered a critical element of corporate and environmental policies in most multi-national companies. A key strategy these companies use to improve their own environmental performance is to evaluate and select suppliers, vendors and contractors of products and services according to standards they identify as part of their sustainability goals. *Free Workshops* To be notified of upcoming half day workshops that will be presented free of charge, contact: iea@iea.sdcoxmail.com or (619) 544-9684 *What you will Learn* Learn how you can enhance the effectiveness of your environmental program by instituting advanced environmental management systems (EMS), with special focus on sustainability in the supply chain. Benefits of this strategy include: reducing operating costs, remaining competitive through understanding of green procurement/green supply chain requirements and expanding to potential markets/customers that give priority to sustainable businesses. This Sustainable Business outreach will provide your business with the tools to: enhance basic compliance improve environmental performance prevent pollution/emissions conserve natural resources increase efficiencies retain and increase competitive advantage attract new customers/consumers develop green procurement policies/green supply chains learn about facility site certification Funding for this project is from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, administrated by the Border Environment Cooperation Commission, under the guidelines of the Border 2012 Program.
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