As energy costs and climate change made headlines in 2006, many businesses began to change their wasteful ways and adopt more sustainable practices. But it's still all about profit.
I get it, but do we need to define the word "profit"? In terms of global climate change, it is foolish to focus on building a big nest egg for our grandkids of Exxon or Massey Energy stock when those grandkids may need to abandon their homes is Louisiana or Florida (as a result of the burning of oil and coal which generate atmospheric CO2 which raises temperatures which melts glaciers which causes flooding). It parallels that bit in the Bible about what availeth it for a man to gain the whole world if he does so at a cost to his immortal soul. If you recast that in non-religious terms of planetary sustainability- what availeth it for a man to become a billionaire if he does so by compromising the natural systems upon which his great-grandchildren will depend for their survival? So sure, I understand that it is all driven by profitability. That works when fuel conservation saves big bucks, but fails when doing the right thing shows no immediate payoff. From my perspective that leave the question open- is it too little too late? The marketplace has so far not been up to the job of whipping global warming, in the absence of politicians with the honesty to risk career ending setbacks for the benefit of future generations.
Chris, I like your idea. If we could somehow change the very definition of the word profit then maybe we could help the politicians and the business community catch up to public desire. But what to change it to?
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Comments: 3
So sure, I understand that it is all driven by profitability. That works when fuel conservation saves big bucks, but fails when doing the right thing shows no immediate payoff. From my perspective that leave the question open- is it too little too late? The marketplace has so far not been up to the job of whipping global warming, in the absence of politicians with the honesty to risk career ending setbacks for the benefit of future generations.