The document contains an analysis of climate science research and summarizes the work of those who study the phenomenon of climate change. In an era of sudden and unpredictable weather conditions and other effects of climate change that we cannot predict now, the business sector should get its act together and think about how to cope with the negative consequences of industrial activity and effectively prevent further environmental degradation. The stakes, as we all know, are high.
The analysed data on climate change leave no doubt that human activity, including through industrial development, has contributed to excessive CO2 emissions and natural imbalances. As a result, we are already struggling with the effects of excessive environmental burden, and the coming years may bring further negative phenomena. An intense debate about how to change existing patterns of production and consumption is ongoing. Business, aware of its strong relationship with the environment, is already looking for opportunities to reconcile operation and development with minimizing environmental and social costs. There are many possibilities; however, they require knowledge, determination, investments and often also consumer acceptance.
Despite the fact that effects of climate change and threats are widely discussed, still not all companies treat them as starting point when discussing their strategies or business models. There is a lot of work to be done at the level of sensitizing and making people aware of the negative effects of these phenomena on the sustainability of enterprises. Education is a fundamental component of any change. It equips us with tools that induce action. It is already now that programmes addressed to entrepreneurs, which aim at collective learning and work on potential solutions are developed, e.g., Chapter Zero Poland – Polish version of the Climate Governance Initiative, an initiative launched by the World Economic Forum and addressed to board members and CEOs, and the Climate Leadership programme, which creates a community of economic leaders working to counteract climate change. The involvement of companies in the above-mentioned initiatives shows the need to develop knowledge and competences. Similar work is performed at the level of individual organizations looking for optimal directions of zero-emission development.
Economic transformation also means a change in work and organizational culture. A different perspective on profit maximisation than the traditional, looking through the value of the product for society and the environment, requires a reformulation of the framework for daily operations. Creating an organisational culture in which the environment is a core value and a business goal at the same time, strengthens the sense of cohesion among employees and opens up space for proposing innovative solutions. This requires the above-mentioned knowledge and awareness, but also the maturity to subordinate to the environmental target and consistency in achieving it, both through strategy and daily operations. This goes beyond legal regulations, which in the coming years will impose further obligations related to emission targets - which is already starting to take place.
It is already worth taking care of communication with customers who show concern for climate change, but in practice are not always consistent in their declarations – this is well illustrated by the example of the clothing industry. Consumers know about the costs of so-called fast fashion, yet clothing consumption is not declining. Not all customers are convinced by the climate challenge. Industries that will have to adapt to the new reality should, apart from investing in technologies, also invest in consumer education. Product buyers need to know what is behind the change in pricing policy or discontinuation of some products.
In the context of the picture emerging from the latest IPCC report, the business sector is faced with the task of making a commitment to reducing CO2 emissions and setting specific and measurable goals demonstrating a real contribution to the development of a climate-neutral future. When the dust settles and the media coverage of climate change dies down, it is worthwhile for companies to continue their grassroots work.
Source: Faculty of Management, UL
Edit: Promotion Centre, UL