SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Sustainability potential for long-term well-being of the natural environment, including all

l biological entities as well as the interaction among nature and individuals, organizations, and business strategies. Sustainability includes the assessment and improvement of business strategies, economic sectors, work practices, technologies, and lifestyles while maintaining the natural environment.

rain, the result is acid rain. Acid rain can also corrode paint and deteriorate stone; leaving automobiles, buildings, and cultural resources such as architecture and outside art vulnerable unless they are protected from its effects. Global Warming - when carbon dioxide and other gases collect in Earths atmosphere, they trap the suns heat like a greenhouse and prevent Earths surface from cooling. Without this process, the planet would become too cold and to sustain life. However during the twentieth century, the burning fossil fuels gasoline, natural gas, oil, and coal accelerated dramatically, increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane in Earths atmosphere. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from refrigerants, coolants and aerosol cans also harm Earths ozone layer, which filters out the suns harmful ultraviolet light. World carbon dioxide emissions are currently around 30 billion metric tons and are expected to rise to 40.4 billion metric tons by 2030. Kyoto Protocol a treaty among industrialized nations aimed at slowing global warming. Most nations, scientist, and businesses now agree that something must be done about climate change. Cap-and-Trade Program - sets carbon emissions limits (caps) for businesses, countries, or individuals.

Atmospheric Issues Air Pollution - typically arises from three different sources: stationary sources such as factories and power plants; mobile sources such as cars, trucks, planes and trains; and natural sources such as windblown dust and volcanic eruptions.
For Example: Linfen City in Shanxi Province, China, has the dirtiest air in the world, largely because of large coal-burning power plants in the region.

Effects: o Shorter life spans along with chronic respiratory problems in humans and animals, especially in elderly and very young. o Birth defects, cancer and brain nerve and respiratory system damage o Harm plants, animals and water bodies

Acid rain - In addition to the health risks posed by air pollution, when nitrous oxides and sulfur dioxides emitted from manufacturing facilities react with air and

Water Issues Water Pollution - results from the dumping of sewage and toxic chemicals from manufacturing into rivers and oceans; from oil gasoline spills; and from the burial of trash and industrial waste in the ground where it can contaminate underground water supplies. Water Quantity - in addition to concerns about the quality of water, some parts of the globe is increasingly worried about its quantity. There has been a six fold increase in water use worldwide since 1990, and as a result, one-fifth of the worlds population now has no access to safe drinking water. It is estimated that by 2030, almost half of the worlds population will live in areas with major water stress.

Deforestation - although rainforests help to absorb 2 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, for many people and businesses rainforest land seems more profitable when stripped of trees. Because of this rainforests are being destroyed at a rate of nearly 5,000 square miles a year. Urban Sprawl - began in the United States with the post-World War II building boom that transformed the nation from primarily low-destiny communities designed to accommodate one-car households, bicyclists, and pedestrians to large-scale suburban developments at the edges of established towns and cities.

Biodiversity Deforestation, pollution, development, and urban sprawl have put increasing pressure on wildlife, plants and their habitats. Many plants and animals have become extinct, and thousands more are threatened. Genetically Modified Organisms

Land Issues Land Pollution - results from the dumping of residential and industrial wastes, strip mining, and poor forest conservation. Such pollution causes health problems in humans, jeopardizes wildlife habitats, causes erosion, alters watercourses (leading to flooding) and can eventually poison groundwater supplies. Waste Management - issue on how to dispose of waste in an environmentally responsible manner. In order to reduce pollution around the planet, businesses are all going to have to be aware of and accept responsibility for the problem of pollution.

These are created through manipulating plant and animal genes so as to produce a desired effect like resistance to pests and viruses, drought resistance, or high crop yield.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND REGULATION Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - the most influential regulatory agency that deals with environmental issues and enforces environmental legislation in the United States.

Goals of the Environmental Protection Agency 1 2 3 4 Clean air Clean and safe water Safe food Preventing pollution and reducing risk in communities, homes, workplaces, and ecosystems Better waste management, restoration of contaminated waste sites, and emergency response Reduction of global and cross-border environmental risks Quality environmental information Sound science, improved understanding of environmental risk, and greater innovation to address environmental problems A credible deterrent to pollution and greater compliance with the law Effective management

Agency with the ability to track 75,000 industrial chemicals currently produced or improved into the United States.

Clean Water Act. This law granted the EPA the authority to establish effluent standards on an industry basis and continued the earlier laws requirements to set water quality limits for all contaminants in surface waters. It makes it illegal for anyone to discharge any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters without a permit.

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Pollution Prevention Act. It was focused on industry, government, and public

attention on reducing pollution through costEnvironmental Legislation Clean Air Act. Passed in 1970, a effective changes in production, operation, and raw materials use.

comprehensive federal law that regulates atmospheric emissions sources from a variety Food Quality Protection Act. It amended the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and Federal Food, Drug, Endangered Species Act. 1973, established a program to protect threatened and and Cosmetic Act to fundamentally change the way EPA regulates pesticides.

endangered species as well as the habitats in which they live. An endangered species is one that is in danger of extinction, whereas a threatened species is one that may become endangered without protection. Toxic Substances Control Act. To Energy Policy Act. It aimed to focus the nations priorities on alternative forms of energy in the hopes of lessening U.S. dependence on foreign oil.

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ALTERNATIVE ENERGY With ongoing plans to reduce global carbon emissions, countries and companies alike are looking toward alternative energy sources, including wind power, solar power, nuclear power, biofuels, electric cars, and hydro and geothermal power. Wind Power. The Great Plains of the US is one of the greatest sources of wind energy in the world, and many people believe that harnessing this energy will go a long way toward providing for the US energy needs in the future, possibly up to 20 percent of total energy needs. Geothermal Power. It comes from the natural heat inside the Earth, which is extracted by drilling into steam beds. Solar Power. It uses the light and heat from the sun to generate electricity. This 100 percent renewable, passive energy source can be converted into electricity through the use of either photovoltaic cells (solar cells) on homes and other structures or solar power plants. Nuclear Power. It is a pollution-free and cost competitive. On the other hand, critics are concerned with the safety of nuclear power plants and the disposal of waste. Biofuel. These are derived from organic materials like corn, sugarcane, vegetable oil and even trash. Hydropower. Throughout history, people have used water as a power source and a

means of transportation. From the waterpowered mills of centuries past to modern hydroelectric dams, water is a powerful renewable energy source.

BUSINESS RESPONSE TO SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES Studies suggest that improving a companys environmental performance can increase revenues and reduce costs.

3 Ways to Increase Environmental Performance o Through better access to certain markets o Differentiation of products o The sale of pollution-control technology

A firms innovation in sustainability can be based on applying existing knowledge and technology or creating a completely new approach. Better environmental performance can also reduce costs by improving risk management and stakeholder relationships, reducing the amount of materials and energy used, and reducing capital and labor costs.

Green Marketing is a strategic process involving stakeholder assessment to create meaningful longterm relationships with customers, while maintaining, supporting, and enhancing the natural environment. Green washing involves misleading a consumer into thinking that a product or service is more environmentally friendly that in is. It can range

from making environmental claims that are required by law and therefore irrelevant to puffery, or exaggerating environmental claims, to fraud. Recycling Initiatives. Recycling. The reprocessing of materials, especially steel, aluminum, paper, glass, rubber, and some plastics, for reuse. In fact recycling is one of the countrys greatest sustainability success stories. Low Medium High commitment commitment commitment Deals only Attempts to Has strategic with existing comply with programs to problem environmental address laws environmental issues Makes only Deals with Views limited plans issues that environment for anticipated could cause as an problems public opportunity to relations advance the problems business strategy Fails to Views Consults with consider environmental stakeholders stakeholder issues from a about their environmental tactical, not a environmental issues strategic, concerns perspective Operates Views Conducts an without environment environmental concern for as more of a audit to assess long term threat than an performance environmental opportunity and adopts impact international standards Proactive firms develop strategic management programs that view the environment as an opportunity for advancing organizational interests Stakeholder Assessment. Stakeholder analysis is an important part of a high-edging and actively

monitoring the environmental concerns of all legitimate stakeholders.

Risk Analysis. Through risk analysis, it is possible to assess the environmental risk associated with business decisions. The International Organization for Standardization developed ISO 14000 as a comprehensive set of environmental standards that encourage a cleaner, safer, and healthier world The goal of ISO 14000 standards is to promote a common approach to environmental management and to help companies attain and measure improvements in environmental performance.

Social responsibility entails responding to stakeholder concerns about the environment, and many firms are finding creative ways to address environmental challenges.