March 21, 10:11 am
Why are US Execs balking on global warming?
Nic Patton, in an article on executives’ perspectives on global warming, reports that US execs are a whole lot less concerned about the issue than are their European and Asian counterparts.
According to the survey by Pricewaterhouse Coopers, less than 1 in 5 US execs seem to be concerned about climate change. The number for their European counterparts are 2 in 5, while their Asian counterparts are 3 in 5. Rather substantial differences.
This despite the growing volume of concerns being voiced by such names as former Vice President Al Gore, and even Heidi Cullen, the leading climatologist at the Weather Channel.
The relatively low number of concerned execs is also an interesting contrast with a recent Gallup Poll that found 82% of Americans believe that global warming exists.
The perspective of HOW global warming is occurring is not without debate. Many scientists, including those at NASA, have reported that Mars is also experiencing global warming, and to the best of our knowledge, no man-made carbon-emitting devices are on that planet.
In my opinion, US businesses are reticent to change their behavior without more concrete facts on the source of the warming. The main reason? I believe they are concerned about the imbalance of the Kyoto treaty (which at this point has not been ratified by the United States). Some execs have told me that the treaty would practically handcuff and decimate US businesses while letting China off the hook, and they don’t want that.
For the record, the US is the largest contributor to carbons in the atmosphere (24%) and China is number two (13%). But Kyoto puts massive restrictions on US businesses while letting China off the hook entirely — due to its “developing nation” status. (see the United States’ Energy Information Administration site for more info.)
Americans agree: Global warming exists. But I think American executives aren’t ready to bite the bullet and let China off the hook while trying to stop an event that some say may be caused mostly by solar activity and only slightly impacted by carbon emissions.
My guess we’re not going to see much happen with US execs in this arena until (a) the US Congress ratifies Kyoto, or (b), more positive proof comes in that carbon emissions play a significant role in the warming — that they’re not just a small factor overshadowed (pardon the pun) by increased activity of the sun.
Filed in Technology, Work, Business, Opinion, Motivation, Management, Leadership, Global Warming
Does global warming exist? I don’t know because the issue has become politicized. It seems whenever an issue becomes politicized it’s twisted and contorted to forward an agenda. Who knows what to believe these days. Politicians are teaming with scientists, but it has nothing to do with investigation, discovering the source of the problem or finding solutions. It has more to do with power and control.
And now that the politicians own the agenda, do we dare question their authority? Ask Oregon’s State Meteorologist. He was threatened with his job because he went on record to question global warming which ran counter the governor’s stance.
I’m not surprised executives are slow to react to global warming despite how the politicians would like them to react. Most of them run their companies based on facts, figures and trends. That’s something our government officials fail to understand.
It is amazing how American businesses react and the key word being react to issues such as this. We have become a nation that attempts to band-aid its problems only after we have a huge open flesh wound. When it comes to corporate world, it is apparent that the dollar is the driver and fear of loss here.
Why is it that we only want to address problems after them have become to big to manage?
We are lacking real leaders at the top of the chain here in America, whether they are political, business, or religion, We are lacking leaders who are will to set the example. They sure can talk about it, but they do not LEAD…