LSHM N243

Learning Outcome #4
Investigating the Relationships Between Ethics and Sustainable Development

Sub-Outcomes
S01 Describe what is meant by a public good. SO2 Describe cases of environmental ethics, locally and globally. SO3 Describe corporate social responsibility and the measures organizations take to ensure that they are viewed as responsible.

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Public Good
A public good is an item whose consumption is not decided by the individual consumer but by the society as a whole, and which is often financed by taxation. e.g. law enforcement (police), clean air, public parks, universal health care A public good may be consumed without reducing the amount available for others, and cannot be withheld from those who do not pay for it. No market exists for such goods, and they are (often) provided to everyone by governments. (BusinessDictionary.com)
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Threats to the Environment

While there are many threats to the environment, they can be summarized in two categories:
1. POLLUTION the undesirable and unintended contamination of the environment by the manufacture or use of commodities. 2. RESOURCE DEPLETION the consumption of finite or scarce resources.

Feb - June, 2011

Environmental Ethics - Problems

LOCAL:
According to a U.N. Development Programme report in 2003, the UAE emitted 33.6 tonnes per capita, second only to nearby Qatar and over nine times the world average of 3.7 tonnes. The 2008 WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) Living Planet Report gave the UAE the worlds worst ecological footprint per person. It placed the United States second and fellow Gulf Arab state Kuwait in third place.

The UAE also faces challenges with producing enough sustainable clean drinking water through desalination.
http://www.kippreport.com/2010/10/reasons-the-uae-has-such-a-high-carbon-footprint%e2%80%a6/

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Environmental Ethics - Problems

Environmental Issues in the UAE Desalination and sustainable clean drinking water the use of clean water is trending towards being greater than plants are able to produce it. This will result in more plants using more energy to process the water. Fuel consumption In 2006, the UAE (population of approximately 6 million) consumed almost 500 billion kWh of gas. In 2008, Germany (population of approximately 80 million) consumed 942 billion kWh of gas. http://www.kippreport.com/2010/10/reasons-the-uae-has-such-a-high-carbon-footprint%e2%80%a6/

http://www.arabianbusin ess.com/dubai-s-trafficpollution-among-world-sworst-52827.html

Feb - June, 2011

Environmental Ethics UAE Initiatives

Environmental protection laws established by Sheikh Zayed in 1999, these laws aim to protect the environment and its quality, control various forms of pollution and avoid the immediate and long term damages or negative effects of economic, agricultural, industrial or urban development plans and programmes. It also seeks to develop natural resources, conserve biodiversity, and rationalize its usage across the country for the benefit of the present and future generations. (Abu Dhabi government) Government bodies (e.g. Abu Dhabi Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council) aim to develop effective environmental policies and standards. Forestry program and Tree Planting Week aim to decrease the UAEs environmental footprint.
http://www.abudhabi.ae/egovPoolPortal_WAR/appmanager/ADeGP/Citizen?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=p_citizen_homepage_hidenav&lang=en&did=152382

Feb - June, 2011

Environmental Ethics UAE Initiatives

National Environment Day to recognize and celebrate individual and collective initiatives for the environment. Preservation of Natural Ecosystems to protect sensitive desert ecosystem Estidama (in English sustainability) formed in 2008, this initiative supports sustainable living and works with communities, organizations, businesses and policy makers around the country to promote responsible decision making. Renewable Energy Initiatives while UAE is one of the largest oil exporters in the world, it is also spearheading global efforts to adopt renewable energy resources.
http://www.abudhabi.ae/egovPoolPortal_WAR/appmanager/ADeGP/Citizen?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=p_citizen_homepage_hidenav&lang=en&did=152382

Feb - June, 2011

Environmental Ethics - Problems

GLOBAL:

Climate change
Energy (clean vs. dirty) Waste management Clean and drinkable water Biodiversity and land use

Industrial toxins
Air and water pollution Ozone layer depletion Depletion of fisheries Deforestation

http://www.senconinfo.com/index.php/green-tips/3-top-10-environmental-issues Feb - June, 2011 9

Environmental Ethics - solutions

LOCAL: Masdar City
This Abu Dhabi project plans to have this small city run only on solar energy and other renewable resources. It also plans for a zero carbon and zero waste environment. This is very advanced thinking and will hopefully encourage other such projects in the UAE and around the world.
http://www.masdarcity.com/en/index.aspx
http://www.masdarcity.ae/en/31/explore-masdar-city/
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Environmental Ethics - Solutions

GLOBAL: Individuals

How can each of us make a difference?

Reduce, reuse, recycle Use less air conditioning Drive less and drive smart Use less water Turn electricity (e.g. lights) off when not using Plant a tree

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Why Ethics for the Environment?

Should ethics only apply to people, or should it be a broader concept? We know that if we do not take care of the environment, we as humans are in big trouble!

Examples of questions in the area of environmental ethics are:

Should we continue to clear cut forests for the sake of human consumption? Should we continue to propagate (grow in population)? Should we continue to make gasoline powered vehicles? What environmental obligations do we need to keep for future generations? Is it right for humans to knowingly cause the extinction of a species for the convenience of humanity?
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Climate Change
Global warming Greenhouse gases Fossil fuels Melting ice caps Sea level rising

Conservation
Species extinction Poaching Endangered species Biodiversity Habitat destruction

Pollution
Light Noise Water Air

Energy Conservation
Renewable resources Alternative resources Efficient energy use

Intensive Agriculture
Irrigation Overgrazing Pesticides Genetically modified crops

Resource Depletion
De-forestation / logging Fishing Mining & land damage Consumerism & overconsumption

Waste
E-waste (e.g. old computers) Litter Marine debris Landfills & Non-biodegradables
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Activity
Choose a large company website and find one initiative that the company has to behave in an environmentally ethical way. Find:
The name of the company The environmental initiative How the initiative is making a positive impact on the environment.
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/global500/2010/full_list/index.html

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Corporate Social Responsibility

A need for more responsible behavior from businesses with respect to the environment.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility is the commitment of a business to contribute to sustainable economic development, working with employees, their families, the local community, and society at large to improve their quality of life.
2002 World Business Council for Sustainability Development

Businesses must look beyond their immediate business motives (i.e. revenue and profit maximizing) and review the impact of their business practices on society.
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Corporate Social Responsibility

Case 12.2 Starbucks and Fairtrade Coffee Class discussion

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Corporate Social Responsibility

CSR can be a win-win for a company. By being more sensitive to the environment and the community it serves, consumers will trust and respect the company and likely support it with increased business. Today, finding a competitive advantage is an increasing challenge, so CSR can serve to create that advantage while helping others.

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Corporate Social Responsibility

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Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate activities to support CSR:
1.

2.
3. 4.

5.

Choose to operate on an ethical level that is higher than what the law requires. (e.g. competitive salaries with incentive plans) Make contributions to charitable organizations and non-profit institutions. (e.g. Japan Tsunami relief, health care and feeding the hungry). Provide benefits for employees and improve the quality of life in the workplace beyond economic and legal requirements. (e.g. child care, flexible work hours) Take advantage of an economic opportunity that is judged to be less profitable but more socially desirable than some alternatives. (e.g. purchasing Fair trade chocolate and coffee). Use corporate resources to operate a program that addresses some major social problem. (e.g. pharmaceutical companies that provide free medications to public health care programs in poor countries).
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Drivers of Corporate Social Responsibility

External Drivers

Internal Drivers
Corporate leaders Marketing managers Operations managers Human resources managers

Governments Community activists Consumers Market expectations Other corporations Industry associations Non-government organizations (NGOs)

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Independent Reading
Case 12.3 Timberland and Community Service

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