Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCorporate sustainability is not sustainable
from Grist:
Corporate sustainability is not sustainable
By Auden Schendler and Michael Toffel
Green initiatives are ubiquitous these days, implemented with zeal at companies like Dupont, IBM, Walmart, and Walt Disney. The programs being rolled out lighting retrofits, zero-waste factories, and carpool incentives save money and provide a green glow. Most large companies are working to reduce energy use and waste, and many have integrated sustainability into strategic planning. Whats not to like?
Well, for starters, these actions dont meaningfully address the primary barrier to sustainability, climate change. According to the International Energy Agency, without action, global temperatures will likely increase 6 degrees C by 2100, which would have devastating consequences for the planet. This means more super droughts, floods, storms, fires, crop failures, sea-level rise, and other major disruptions. Sustainability simply isnt possible in the face of such a problem, as Superstorm Sandy demonstrated.
So despite perceptions that sustainable business is up and running, the environment reminds us were failing to deal with the problem at anywhere near sufficient scale. Because climate change requires a systemic solution, which only governments can provide, firms serious about addressing it have a critical role well beyond greening their own operations. They must spur government action. But few are.
Green business as currently practiced focuses on limited operational efficiencies cutting carbon footprint and waste reduction and declares victory. But these measures fail to even dent the climate problem. And the proof is easy: Greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. Last month, we hit 400 parts per million atmospheric CO2 for the first time in 3 million years. Worse, though, such small-ball initiatives are a distraction: We fiddle around the edges thinking were making a real difference (and getting accolades), while the planet inexorably warms. ....................(more)
The complete piece is at: http://grist.org/climate-energy/corporate-sustainability-is-not-sustainable/
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
2 replies, 610 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (1)
ReplyReply to this post
2 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Corporate sustainability is not sustainable (Original Post)
marmar
Jun 2013
OP
xchrom
(108,903 posts)1. du rec.
byeya
(2,842 posts)2. Corporations: When the USA was founded, the state tightly controlled the granting of all charters
for corporations. Limited liability corporations only got a charter if it was an entity to provide for the public good.
This limited liability entity was understood to be a privilege, of limited duration but renewable if standards were met - and was isued only after of majority vote in the state assemble and a majority vote in the state senate and the governor signed the bill.