In this first of a two part Feature series, CemWeek is talking to Howard Klee, WBCSD Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) Program Director.  The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a CEO-led, global association of some 200 companies dealing exclusively with business and sustainable development.

The Business Council provides a platform for companies to explore sustainable development, share knowledge, experiences and best practices, and to advocate business positions on these issues in a variety of forums, working with governments, non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations.

The CSI is a global effort by 18 leading cement producers, with operations in more than 100 countries. Collectively, these companies account for about 30% of the world's cement production and range in size from very large multinationals to smaller local producers. The purpose of the CSI is to explore what sustainable development means for the cement industry; identify actions and facilitate steps cement companies can take, individually and as a group, to accelerate progress toward sustainable development; provide a framework for other cement companies to become involved; and create the content and context for further stakeholder engagement. To date the CSI remains one of the largest global sustainability programs ever undertaken by a single industry sector.

CemWeek: First of all, thank you for discussing the Cement Sustainability Initiative with CemWeek, offering a personal as well as professional perspective on the group’s activities. To start with, could you tell us a bit more about yourself and how you arrived at your current position?

Howard Klee: I have a doctorate in chemical engineering from MIT. I spent most of my professional career in the private sector in the energy and chemical business, first with Chevron and then with Amoco (acquired by BP).  Most of this time was spent in the United States, although there were several assignments elsewhere, including two years in China in the mid 90’s.  My work covered a variety of responsibilities from engineering design and construction in early years, to running part of a large refinery, to business development work in China, to managing environmental regulatory affairs in Washington DC.

We moved to Switzerland ten years ago, when my wife was recruited for a position with the United Nations office in Geneva.  I joined the World Business Council shortly after we arrived, to help manage the Cement Sustainability Initiative which was just getting organized at that time.