Each year, Sustain SC convenes members into topic-specific summits to take a deep dive into special focus areas that are aligned with our Roadmap to Sustain SC.
Read more about our 2022 Sustainability Summit that kicked-off the Roadmap and our 2023 Energy Forum.
The 2022 Sustainability Summit
The Sustain SC Summit is a members only event by invitation held at exclusive locations across the state. The inaugural Summit in 2022 launched a study with EY that helped drive the creation of The Roadmap to Sustain SC. Future Summits will center around ways to implement the seven accelerators of the Roadmap.
A LOOK BACK
The Inaugural Sustainability Summit
April 25-27, 2022 at Brosnan Forest
PRESENTED BY
Reflections on the 2022 Summit
Sustain SC’s inaugural Sustainability Summit exceeded all expectations. It brought nationwide sustainability leaders with South Carolina-based companies together with leaders from statewide government, conservation and business to discuss sustainability and how to make global goals achievable at the local level. Norfolk Southern generously hosted the event at Brosnan Forest, a location which proved to be both picturesque and inspiring.
With opening remarks from Governor Henry McMaster, the leadership panelists—Harry Lightsey, South Carolina Secretary of Commerce, Jim Newsome, President and CEO of the SC Ports Authority and Alan Shaw, President/Incoming CEO of Norfolk Southern—each spoke about the unique challenges and opportunities of their organization’s sustainability journey. At nightfall, a fireside chat shifted the conversation to SDG goals, a perfect segue to the following day, the launch of Sustain SC’s pilot study with Ernst & Young (EY) to address South Carolina’s low SDG ranking.
The Summit was more than a deep dive, but an opportunity for attendees to meet with key leaders face-to-face, strike up meaningful conversations, spark new ideas and relationships centered around sustainability goals past, present and future.
About the Event
Purpose
Bring South Carolina-based companies sustainability leadership together with statewide government, conservation, and business leaders to elevate the conversation of connecting global sustainability goals at a local level in South Carolina. We believe South Carolina can be a model on a global scale for our work done at the local level.
About our
Location
Brosnan Forest is a regionally important hub of high-value habitat in one of the most rapidly developing areas in South Carolina. Owned and managed by Norfolk Southern since the 1830’s, it is a 14,400-acre ecological preserve, located in the lowcountry coastal plain region. Brosnan Forest boasts one of the most important longleaf pine forests in the United States and nearly 13,000 acres of the preserve are protected under a conservation easement. The property is home to the largest population of red-cockaded woodpeckers on private land and serves as a mitigation bank for the birds. Additionally there are two wetland and stream mitigation banks on site and over 10,000 acres are enrolled in a forest carbon project.
Our Missions
Norfolk Southern integrates sustainability into daily operations in ways that advance our business, help our customers achieve their sustainability goals, and honor our commitments as a responsible corporate citizen. We strive to satisfy these commitments while driving business forward, to ensure long-term success for all stakeholders: investors, customers, employees, communities, and industry partners.
Sustain SC is connecting the sustainability goals of business in South Carolina with local solutions for the benefit of our economy, environment, and people.
Together, we are leading the charge to elevate the conversation around commerce and conservation and drive sustainable economic development.