Original Question:

All businesses are affected by climate change. Some, such as energy companies, are significantly impacted whereas others are less impacted. Please identify 5 strategically relevant factors that all firms must address when considering climate change. Please do not frame this within the context of a single firm, consider only those issues that are universal to the strategy of all firms. All response must include in-text citations and reference list.

Discussion 1:

I think the 5 strategically relevant factors that a firm must address when considering climate change is latitude, elevation, ocean currents, topography and vegetation. It all depends on where the firm is located. If a firm is located near water and a storm hits, it a likely change that the firm can flood or be completely wiped out. You would want to have your firm located in a area where it will not be affected if the climate change. If the climate is to hot or to cold that can also affect the location of a firm. You just would not want your firm in any area where the weather is unpredictable because you will not know what to expect from the weather and how it will affect your firm. It can affect it a little or a lot. For example look at here in Maryland up in Ellicott City, the stores were affect two times by flooding in that area. Some was able to rebuild and some just did not rebuild.

Discussion 2:

The rising world population and growth of the middle class has led to global concerns of sustainability. The growing middle class (largest group demographically) indicates that standards of living are improving for those worldwide; However, resources are being consumed and produced in mass amounts/rates (Czinkota, 2013, para. 1). It is great that firms can provide these resources and goods to consumers, but unfortunately the entire system of production and transportation is based around fossil fuels (Gurria, 2013, para. 20). Fossil fuels are convenient, but they pollute the atmosphere of the earth and are extremely difficult to get rid of. Accumulation is the underlying problem because for every Ton of C02 emitted this year – 45% will remain in the atmosphere for the next 100 years (Gurria, 2013, para. 10). Every business uses electricity and transportation to get their products to their consumers, therefore all businesses contribute to and are impacted by climate change in one aspect or another. That is why there is a growing need for firms to address strategically relevant factors of climate change in their business model. Some of these factors that firms may wish to address are:

1. Political/legal: Emissions allowed from fossil fuel ran machinery has already been imposed, how soon will governments impose a zero-emissions from fossil fuels policy?
2. Environmental: How can the supply chain move towards renewable energy?
3. Technological: What technological factors are already in place that can be shifted to reduce the carbon footprint?
4. Socio-Cultural: How will not moving towards clean energy impact the client and customer base?
5. Economic: Is there a possibility to get ahead of the curve before emissions cost the firm money?

-Shaina

References:

Czinkota (2013). Global consumerism and sustainability. Retrieved from http://michaelczinkota.com/2013/01/global-consumerism-and-sustainability/

Gurria (2013). The climate challenge: achieving zero emissions. Retrieved from http://www.oecd.org/environment/the-climate-challenge-achieving-zero-emissions.htm