No responsible business does anything without considering what it’s going to do to their bottom line, including environmental responsibility.
According to a study completed by the World Wildlife Fund [WWF] and the Carbon Disclosure Project [CDP], US corporations can act to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions by a mere 3% annually. By doing so, they can cut carbon dioxide emissions to some 1.3 billion tons below 2010 levels. Some climate change naysayers and environmental-action opposers believe that these kind of statements reflect a hatred for American business and the economy.
Part of the problem is getting businesses to realize that environmental action can actually save them money in the long run. Fossil-fuel usage aside, even slight changes can improve efficiency, saving energy. Saving energy does two things, reduces carbon dioxide emissions and saves money. A story that caught my attention last year was very interesting. At the Nissan manufacturing plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, an air-leak detection squad uses their ears and a special tool to detect leaks in the compressed-air systems. Nissan estimates that they’ve reduced their carbon footprint by 8,000 tons.
Environmental action that saves money, it turns out, is good for business. According to the WWF/CDP joint report, US businesses could save $780 billion over the next ten years. Some companies are already doing their part, such as Hewlett Packard and Sprint, both of whom are pledging to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by up to 24% in the next four years. The WWF and CDP are hoping that such big corporations taking the lead will encourage others to follow in their footsteps.
