MGT 365 Week 9 Discussion - Post And Response

Isaac Beltz

Now more than ever, big businesses are working towards being environmentally friendly. According to Gates Notes, " International Energy Agency puts the reduction around 8 percent. In real terms, that means we will release the equivalent of around 47 billion tons of carbon, instead of 51 billion." Even though that does not seem like a lot, experts suggest this to be very good. Moving on, climate change can affect businesses in a couple ways. First, we have the prevalence of natural disasters becoming more frequent. Depending on where these storms strike, this could disrupt supply chains, factories, and businesses. Also, with climate change destroying natural environments like Antarctica, this could affect the fishing industry. I look at it like an elimination of a species on the food chain. Once one thing becomes extinct, then the whole food chain is disrupted and predators are unable to eat. The fishing industry would be in trouble if the game that they hunt is diminishing. Furthermore, according to the New York Times, companies are trying to figure out where they have placed their carbon footprint. Some opportunities for companies would be to research and develop successful methods of reducing their carbon footprint, whilst gaining the same amount of profits (or at least close to). This is an opportunity for companies to be forced to look for ways to practice CSR. Just like Amazon wanting zero emissions by 2030 or so, other companies should follow suit. One thing is for certain, one company cannot defeat climate change. It is up to us as a whole to solve this problem. That is why it is so important for companies to work together to develop the technology and innovation successfully to be eco-friendly.

 

Gates, B. (n.d.). COVID-19 is awful. Climate change could be worse. Retrieved October 14, 2020, from https://www.gatesnotes.com/Energy/Climate-and-COVID-19

Gelles, D., & Sengupta, S. (2020, January 23). Big Business Says It Will Tackle Climate Change, but Not How or When. Retrieved October 14, 2020, from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/23/business/corporate-climate-davos.html

Jeffrey Mandeville

Climate change is not a new thing. The World Economic Forum's annual global risk report show the top 5 risks being environment (theguardian). Large corporations have downplayed the treat of climate change for many years now. If business do not help fix the climate problems the have created due to environmental disregard, then the climate will become irreversible. Wildfires in California have been increasing in these past few years. Dry conditions allow for dry grass and tree to become easily flammable. The Californian caused over $25.4 billion in damages just last year (New York Times). International business can also be affected. Businesses that trade internationally could have their trade stop because of climate change. More frequent natural disasters where their business operated could disrupt their flow of trade. Also, natural disaster could affect the speed of trade which would force companies to switch to a more local company where the trade is not disrupted and cost effective.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/jan/15/climate-crisis-environment-top-five-places-world-economic-forum-risks-report

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/23/business/corporate-climate-davos.html