The document summarizes a collaboration between ETH Zurich and Harvard to conduct peer reviews of their sustainability practices and annual reports. It identifies positive aspects of Harvard's sustainability report including its design, data transparency, and storytelling. Areas for improvement include having fewer goals, addressing positive bias, including more voices, and making comparability easier. The benefits of peer exchange are outlined as sharing challenges, independent review, building trust, and learning from each other. Lessons on planning effective exchanges include preparation, communication, logistics, building early trust, and continued follow up.

1. ETH Zürich/Harvard
Collaboration:
Peer Review & Best Practice Sharing
ISCN Presentation
June 13, 2019

2. Omar Kassab
Project Manager
ETH Sustainability
David Havelick
Sustainability Manager
Harvard Office for Sustainability

3. Omar Kassab
Project Manager
ETH Sustainability
David Havelick
Sustainability Manager
Harvard Office for Sustainability

4. Peer review of Harvard’s
Annual Sustainability Report
Positive Aspects
• Dynamic online reporting
• Effective storytelling
• Attractive design
• Transparent data
• One-page snapshot
Ways to Improve
• Small number of goals
• Positive bias
• Lack of other voices/quotes
• Governance unclear
• Comparability is difficult

5. Benefits of peer exchange
• Share common challenges
• Independent review
• Creating space for trust
• Long-term partnership
• Tapping synergies on multiple levels
• Learning from each other’s mistakes
• Getting inspiration
• Global perspective

6. Lessons Learned:
Planning for an Effective Exchange
• Preparation
• Communicate beforehand
• Plan the logistics for the visit together
• Build trust early
• During the visit
• Give presentations at the beginning
• Share overview of university context (including stakeholders and governance)
• Meet regularly
• Wrap-up presentations
• Plan follow-up call
• After the visit
• Share experiences, best practices, lessons learned
• Continue the exchange

7. Omar Kassab
Project Manager
ETH Sustainability
David Havelick
Sustainability Manager
Harvard Office for Sustainability