Everything we use daily is produced by a corporation. These corporations play a huge role in increasing global climate change. It’s not only the energy sector but food and beverage companies as well.
While it is important for us all to understand the consequences of climate change, it is even more important for major corporations to drastically reduce their contribution to greenhouse gases as quickly as they can.
Many companies set their sights on greenhouse gas reduction targets, but most fail to reach their target as they do not take into account all the emissions associated with the lifecycle of their products. When a company makes a product, the raw materials it requires to be built creates its own emissions during its harvest, extraction, refining etc. Furthermore, when the consumer uses the product, more emissions are produced throughout the use and eventual disposal of the product. Failing to take these emissions into account results in a higher emission by these companies while the publicized commitments for lowering greenhouse gases are not being reached.
By now, it is a well-known fact that these emissions are a result of human activity. But is it also known that these emissions are the source of many consequences all around the world? According to the UN Special Rapporteur, hundreds of millions of people face food insecurity, disease, forced migration, and death. All around the world, vulnerable populations are facing harm and injustice due to the daily emissions of more protected people.
In regions such as Peru or Nepal, which reside in high altitudes, the villages are at serious risk of being damaged or destroyed as a result of melting glaciers traced back to climate change. Countries like Haiti and the Philippines are suffering from powerful weather disasters due to global climate unbalance. The small Island States are seeing a decrease in their surfaces due to the rising sea-level.
Climate change is threatening to change the world as we know it. The current rate of global greenhouse gas emissions threatens to displace two billion people because of rising ocean levels, cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars, and cause over 250,000 more deaths per year, all before the end of the century.
While individuals can make a difference, it is no longer enough, people need to work together to reduce the consequences of this rising issue. To combat climate change, it will take a global effort. This requires holding fossil fuel producers accountable for their increasing contributions to the climate crisis and active efforts to implement a clean energy economy.
By pushing consumers to believe they are responsible for this climate crisis, fossil fuel companies have interfered with making the necessary energy transition for a cleaner environment. The Paris Climate Accords calls for no more than a two-degree-celsius increase of global temperature above pre-industrial levels by mid-century. To achieve this, it will require a massive shift in the global economy towards renewable energy sources like wind, solar power, and natural gas. A shift these companies are not willing to take.
These companies have spread false perceptions on the issue of climate change, which is why many people around the world challenge the science behind it. They are the reason some people no longer think of this issue as a threat and are unwilling to change their ways to combat the problem. The fossil fuel industry was able to sow doubt into the minds of their consumers on the science of climate change. They refuse to take responsibility and have been successful in stymieing critical efforts to stop the crisis of climate change.
The fossil fuel industry’s refusal to accept responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions, the top 20 firms contributing to over 30 percent of emissions, along with their efforts to convince their consumer's climate change is not a problem, shows how the industry plays a huge role in the crisis of climate change. It is a popular belief that to work towards a renewable energy future, the fossil fuel industry must be held responsible for all the damage it has done. However, holding the industry accountable becomes complex when it is considered that many of these companies are diverse and produce various different products, some of which are not as harmful to the environment.
The current prices of fossil fuels do not present a big enough incentive for consumers to limit their fossil fuel purchases or for the companies themselves to produce less of the products causing harm. They are cheap because of huge subsidies, making the playing field uneven for alternative energy sources. To create an even playing field, subsidies must be eliminated, proving renewable energy sources can be cheaper in the long run.
Implementing carbon taxes and government taxes on products that produce greenhouse gas emissions can help get rid of the negative externalities of fossil fuel. It is an effective strategy as it holds both the consumer and producer accountable for their actions. Those who want to buy products that result in higher greenhouse gas emissions have to pay more. And producers will face decreasing demands for their products because of the increasing prices.
And while this is a great step towards a cleaner climate, it is argued that introducing the high tax on carbon so suddenly would cause a shock on the energy sector. To avoid this problem, some are saying to have the carbon tax gradually increased over time.
At the same time, some people find it unfair that both the individuals and the industry must pay these taxes. However, it was also pointed out that the carbon tax would mean a great amount of money for the federal government. If this money was given back to the consumers as a rebate to compensate for the increased fuel and electricity prices, it could allow for the carbon tax to shift the economy away from its reliance on fossil fuels while removing the unneeded burden on the consumers.
Ultimately, removing subsidies and implementing a carbon tax along with a consumer rebate are the first steps towards a cleaner climate. It would be effective in holding the fossil fuel industry accountable for its emissions and aiming to divert climate action.
Some steps companies can take to work towards a cleaner climate are:
Measure greenhouse gas emissions
Measuring the amount of greenhouse gas emissions you are producing help when considering solutions to reduce them.
Reduce energy consumption
Turn off lights in the office in the evening, taking devices off the plugs when they are not needed, and slightly changing the eating or air conditioner. These small actions can add up to a lot of energy saved.
Try renewable energies
Avoiding fossil fuels reduces companies' climate footprint significantly.
Reduce waste
Avoid using disposable cups, reduce the number of prints, reuse papers as drafts, sort waste correctly etc.
Employee transportation
Transportation is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases. To reduce their impact, employees can be encouraged to use public transportation or carpool with colleagues who live close by.
Choose green
Companies can choose to use environment-friendly infrastructure and equipment. For example, they can set up a group of hybrid or electric vehicles to renovate employee’s cars. Or, when it is time to buy new technology or equipment, companies can choose the most efficient and sustainable ones.
Sustainable suppliers
Companies can choose to partner with environmentally-friendly suppliers. And if the current supplier does not hold environmentally-friendly practices, companies can choose to change suppliers to one that does.
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