Sustainability Resources

Engaging with different types of resources will help you understand your industry on a deeper level.

Caution

When using resources on this guide, continue to evaluate credibility and relevance for your audience. A resource can be considered credible in one situation but questionable in another, or its quality can suddenly degrade. Additionally, credible resources can still contain problematic content like content marketing, inaccurate opinion pieces, flawed research, or misrepresented evidence.

Professional Organizations

Professional organizations and trade associations promote their industries and provide networking opportunities to members. Their websites offer information and educational materials for professionals in the industry.

The following examples are organizations for professionals in sustainability:

National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP)

U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)

Trade Publications

Trade journals or trade magazines provide industry-specific insights, giving prospective professionals an insider’s view of the field.

The following examples are trade publications with a focus on the environment:

WSJ Pro Sustainable Business

Popular Magazines

Popular magazines, although aimed at a general audience, can be useful for understanding an industry in a larger context or from a consumer’s point of view.

Popular magazines that could be useful to professionals in the environment include:

Newspapers

Newspapers cover current events relevant to professionals in all fields.

Newspapers with useful sustainability coverage include:

New York Times

UW-Madison students can create a free personal account through the library

Podcasts

Most industries have reputable experts who podcast about their chosen field, providing an insider’s look. These types of information resources vary widely and require vetting, but can be credible.

The following resources offer might useful perspectives on sustainability as an industry:

The Climate Question (BBC)
Volts
Zero (Bloomberg)

Websites

You can find information from resources that don’t fall into a particular category of publication, though many of the most influential websites started as blogs.

The following resources cover sustainability issues:

Newsletters

Newsletters have become an increasingly popular way to follow specific topics or industries.

Here are some examples of newsletters that might be useful for professionals interested in sustainability:

Books

Most industries have notable books that insiders find useful or that have had an influence on that industry. Asking insiders is the best way to find out which books are considered essential in your field.

Here are a few examples of influential books on the environment:

The End of Nature (Bill McKibben)
Environmental Strategy for Businesses (Matthew Potoski)
Net Zero Business Models: Winning in the Global Net Zero Economy (John Montgomery and Mark Van Clieaf)
Silent Spring (Rachel Carson)
The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History (Elizabeth Kolbert)
This Changes Everything: Capitalism Vs. the Climate (Naomi Klein)

Scholarly Journals

Scholarly journals publish in depth research, usually conducted by professors.

The following resources offer academic perspectives on sustainability: