Environmentalists Versus Big Business
Introduction
Looking at the conflict between big business and environmentalists, it is quite clear that business considers environmentalism a barrier to production as well as generation of more profits. Businesses consider the regulations environmentalists push forward as a burden in terms of increased costs of adherence.On the other hand, environmentalists indicate and maintain that by being more responsible towards the environment, businesses will actually be able to save more money by taking good care and responsibly using the very resources they depend on. The debate continues.In this text, I discuss how this clash has contributed towards a healthy debate and whether the opposition has moved towards more consensus or polarization of public opinion. I also discuss whether the two sides at conflict are shoving the national interest aside in favor of their own. Lastly I give my opinion about the best approach from which to tackle this conflict.
The debate
The debate between environmentalists and business has not been healthy historically. Environmental conservation groups have over time tried to exert their influence over issues to do with environmental legislation putting them at direct loggerheads with businesses.These clashes have been widely been witnessed in the media with environmentalists filing numerous lawsuits with regard to environmental regulations violation (Tisdell 2005). Though there has been substantial developments with businesses becoming more environment friendly, more needs to be done to make the debate between businesses and environmentalists be more beneficial and effective.
The role of the conflict in shaping public opinion
According to (Ghosh 2008), the conflict between the environmentalists and businesses over environmental issues has lead to the polarization of public opinion. He goes on to say that environmental groups have the ability to influence public opinion but they have not effectively utilized it to forge collaboration between themselves, the public and business organizations in the conservation of the environment. This has caused the businesses to view environmentalists as a threat rather than partners in environmental conservation efforts.Further, a biog number of Americans contribute money on a regular basis to some of this organizations involved with environmental conservation and most Americans regard themselves as “Greens” in reference to their affiliation with these organizations. With that in mind, Anderson et al. (2001) notes that environmentalists have the capacity to call a boycott on the products of a company that is not considered environmentally “irresponsible”.
The place of national interest in the conflict
Blair et al. (2001) argues that both environmentalists as well as big businesses occasionally pursue their own interests at the expense of the national interests. He goes on to note that various environmental organizations look at ecological concerns in a spiritual as well as a philosophical way and with that in mind, tend to too rigid and uncompromising in their calls for a total change in the practices of organizations so as to conserve the environment. On the other hand, a big number of business organizations tend to look at the issue of environment in a data-driven and scientific way and regard environmental issues as important but not urgent.These businesses insist that the only way to deal with environmental issues as well as come up with working solutions is to adopt a strategic step-by-step approach.
With such hard-line stances taken by both groups, it is clear that the national interest is in most cases at stake. Tisdell (2005) also notes that environmental groups just like businesses have to ensure they survive. They hence come up with several strategies that may be viewed as confrontational or cooperative depending on the factors at play. Tisdell (2005) argues that some environmental organizations have been known to cooperate with some big businesses to obtain funding while others demonize businesses to gain media attention.In my opinion, we can not rely on the state to protect the environment neither should we submit to the elitism where leaders of big organizations dominate in decision making. While it is clear that there exists some factionalism in business with some businesses in the larger business setting cooperating with environmentalists while others refusing to cooperate, there is need to have unity of purpose to end the animosity between big business and environmentalists.
Conclusion
Protecting the environment not only intrinsically valuable but also economically beneficial. Businesses and the industry at large need the environment much more than the environment needs them. With that in mind, it makes more sense for businesses to join hands and protect instead of destroy what it needs.
References
Anderson, T.L., & Leal, D. (2001). Free market environmentalism. Palgrave Macmillan
Blair, A.M., & Hitchcock, D. (2001). Environment and business. Routledge
Ghosh, A. (2008). Environmental conservation: challenges & actions. APH Publishing
Tisdell, C.A (2005). Economics of environmental conservation
2nd Edition. Edward Elgar
Is this your assignment or some part of it?
We can do it for you! Click to Order!
