Very few issues pertaining to ‘the well being of the earth’ have ever taken a toll on the so-called multinational companies all over the world. But when it comes to greenhouse gases and carbon emissions, they are very much at risk too. Nevertheless, only the European companies seem to care about this fact, and very few companies from the United States gave a damn, though they agree that climate change is a threat to them.
Responses to a global survey revealed that although companies throughout the world perceived climate change as a risk, only a handful of them have set greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets – most of them are European companies. Lack of information to establish a cost for future financial risks, in the absence of US governments regulations requiring greenhouse gas emissions controls in areas where companies operate are said to be reasons for not setting targets. Thankfully, presidential candidates Senators have agreed on regulating greenhouse gases.
Implementation of these said rules and regulations all over the world is always debatable. Ripples causing market crashes in recent times, are perceived as immediate risks and pose monetary hang ups, but since climate change is always talked about in the context of ‘long term effects’ it fails to raise waves. Information regarding immediate monetary and infrastructural effects of climate changes over the world is also available, but seldom put to use. Being one of the top contributors to carbon emissions in the world, companies in the US should plan for the immediate future, their emission reductions, in terms of ‘carbon credits’ being bought or direct reduction of emissions at the source.
Source:Wbcsd