Summative Assessment

In the last hundred years, the global and Chinese climate is experiencing a significant change characterized by warming. Although there has been some warming in individual areas, it has been characterized by warming on average. " ...the ecological conditions underpinning human survival are deteriorating and there is a convergence of issues on a global scale – financial, ecological, climate, water scarcity and food insecurity, peak oil, population growth, aging populations and tighter national boundaries."(​Cotula L, Dyer N, Vermeulen S，2008)

In my hometown, China the precipitation has decreased gradually in recent years, and the climate in the northeast region is also warming significantly. In China, the economic losses caused by meteorological disasters are gradually increasing, with the economic losses exceeding 200 billion yuan last year. In my opinion, not only the economic loss but also the impact on human health, these are the adverse effects on human society.

I feel that there are complex mechanisms in climate change and sustainable development. Human and natural ecosystems are an important driving force for our social and economic development, which limits the choice of social and economic development approaches. As the largest developing country in the world, China's GDP has increased by 10 times from 1978 to 2005, and its energy consumption has increased by about 4 times. Because of China's rapid economic development, as well as the rapid increase in energy demand. China faces a very serious challenge. On the one hand, this challenge comes from international pressure. At the summit in June 2018, climate change was a major issue. I think there is a lot of pressure on climate change on the one hand, but energy saving and emission reduction is also an intrinsic demand.

In China, the biggest change in energy structure is coal. “The consumption of coal has declined during the 2010s with its percentage in the energy mix falling from 80% in 2010 to 60% in 2017.”(Financial Times). Instead of being optimized, China's energy structure is deteriorating.I think carbon trading exacerbates the problem. It's a high-margin carbon market that promotes economic growth without reducing greenhouse gas emissions.“​It will transfer control through

privatisation, over the thin layer of atmosphere upon which all life depends, to the rich and powerful and will further entrench the inequitable status quo...” (​Leake

J.,2008)

In the form of severe challenges, the Chinese government attaches great importance to climate change, so the goal of energy conservation and emission reduction is put forward in a plan. There are thousands of companies in energy-saving projects, which consume about half of the industrial consumption. Other trade policies also restrict exports of energy-intensive products.

Enterprises play an important role in promoting sustainable development. The three elements of sustainable development are economic development, social progress and environmental protection. Promoting sustainable development is inseparable from the joint efforts of the government, enterprises and the public. We can see that in addition to their own business must pursue economic interests, but also to assume social responsibility and environmental protection responsibility. Climate change will also have an impact on business development. First, for climate-sensitive businesses, climate change will have a direct impact. Like agricultural processing, heating enterprises. For example, tourism, climate change may destroy some natural landscapes. What's more, emission reduction policies that mainly affect enterprises, like some European countries, start to impose energy taxes and improve energy efficiency standards.

I think the Chinese government should raise the awareness of social responsibility of enterprises, consumers, investors and civil society organizations. Corporate social responsibility is their obligation. Only when consumers and investors realize that corporate social responsibility involves the sustainable development of the national economy and their own interests, they will give enterprises incentives and pressures by choosing investment targets, services and goods. Business operations should make positive adjustments in the face of climate change issues. In the past decade, with the advancement of international climate negotiations, the attitude of enterprises to reduce emissions has changed significantly. At first, I was worried that the emission reduction would cause the cost to rise. Later, more and more enterprises realized that energy conservation not only costs but also an important mechanism for comprehensively improving competitiveness. "European governments have been more emphatic than the global average about the dangers of global warming.... The EU has therefore adopted the renewables agenda with greater zeal....forced member states to replace low-cost by high-cost energy sources...EU’s energy policies had undermined the competitiveness of its manufacturing industries.” (Booth et al, 2011).” Some successful experiences have been given by international large enterprises. In a 2005 report, a survey of the world's top 500 companies found that 85 per cent of them had focused on climate change in their sustainability reports. Moreover, some large enterprises, such as BP in the UK, set voluntary emission reduction targets at an earlier stage, which has a positive impact on establishing a brand image and business operation. I think these companies are successful because they have economic strength, advanced technology development capabilities, strong environmental responsibility, and the country provides a good policy environment.

China has made great efforts in energy conservation and emission reduction and has made some achievements. But I think the Chinese government should provide compensation and investment funds to reward the company's social and environmental performance. This measure will encourage listed companies to implement social responsibility strategies. Responsible companies must have a cluster concept, the core of which is a corporate social responsibility, including business ethics, corporate governance and sustainability. And business and ethics are intrinsically linked, and many day-to-day business activities need to maintain basic ethical standards: honesty, trust, and cooperation. I believe that corporate social responsibility and its contribution to sustainable development are influenced by personal values and ethics.

Based on the above discussion and analysis, we can see that climate change has become a serious threat to nature and human systems. Responding to climate change and promoting sustainable development require the joint efforts of the government, enterprises and the public. Business wields considerable power and influence in society，only by changing concepts, seizing opportunities, and meeting challenges can we survive and develop in the fiercely competitive market of the future.

After understanding the above reasons, I will offer several Suggestions if it appears again. The first is to reduce The government regulatory frameworks. The second is to address The perennial problem of Business Externalities and The reduction of public goods. The third is that business has responsibilities, in addition, to enjoy their property rights and increase the volume of business.