tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33644323.post116237986271520824..comments2023-11-02T09:02:29.847+00:00Comments on Globalisation and the Environment: Multinationals and the Environment: good, bad or indifferent?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08649345297844206449noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33644323.post-1162484507296611622006-11-02T16:21:00.000+00:002006-11-02T16:21:00.000+00:00I've been grappling with this issue myself for sev...I've been grappling with this issue myself for several weeks now, as I try to write a blog piece on the impact, positive and negative, of this and similar initiatives by Wal-Mart within the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) context. Over the past year they have begun pushing organic foos and compact flourescents in their LAC stores, entering into pacts to recycle the huge amounts of plastics and cardboard they handle, and trying to make their stores more energy efficient -- at least so they claim. I'm in the midst of trying to verify that, if possible. Just these actions alone could have a big impact on LAC consumers, given Wal-Mart's retail market share in places like Mexico and Brazil. If they start working back through the supplier chain to promote similar efforts, the ripple effect potentially could be very significant. Now if Carrefour, the other retail elephant in the LAC market, matches them... Well, I am trying to balance the excitement over the potential with some consideration of the possbile negative impacts, especially any of the "unintended" variety. Have any thoughts on that subject? All input welcome!<BR/>Best Regards,<BR/>Keith RAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33644323.post-1162387159646391082006-11-01T13:19:00.000+00:002006-11-01T13:19:00.000+00:00Thanks for the comment. I belive pressure from in...Thanks for the comment. I belive pressure from investors and NGO's can have a large impact on MNE behaviour. I tend to agree with your comments - good economic incentives always help.<BR/><BR/>Re: Beta - I hope to move this blog to beta but I am not sure how to do this yet whilst maintaining the same "blog address".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33644323.post-1162386701656548742006-11-01T13:11:00.000+00:002006-11-01T13:11:00.000+00:00My feeling is that short of overthrowing capitalis...My feeling is that short of overthrowing capitalism as we know it, reducing carbon emissions will have to involve economic incentives -- i.e. companies will do it because it benefits their bottom line. I have no problem with that. People respond to incentives and we cannot afford to not take advantage of that.<BR/><BR/>Some of these incentives may come from higher energy prices without any government intervention at all -- manufacturers of battery-powered vehicles I spoke to at a recent transport conference say it is already cheaper to use these zero-emission vehicles if you're just doing city delivery. Other incentives may come from schemes such as carbon trading.<BR/><BR/>I hope pressure from investors to build a sustainable business will also be part of it. The subject regularly comes up at shareholder meetings I attend.<BR/><BR/>Finally, executives in the European transportation sector already at least pay lip service to the idea of reducing the emissions their sector causes, and with some of them, I actually believe that their heart is in it...<BR/><BR/>(I have to post anonymously because I cannot post with my blogger beta login on a non-beta blog. That feature, blogger tells me, is 'coming soon'.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33644323.post-1162386616502985042006-11-01T13:10:00.000+00:002006-11-01T13:10:00.000+00:00My feeling is that short of overthrowing capitalis...My feeling is that short of overthrowing capitalism as we know it, reducing carbon emissions will have to involve economic incentives -- i.e. companies will do it because it benefits their bottom line. I have no problem with that. People respond to incentives and we cannot afford to not take advantage of that.<BR/><BR/>Some of these incentives may come from higher energy prices without any government intervention at all -- manufacturers of battery-powered vehicles I spoke to at a recent transport conference say it is already cheaper to use these zero-emission vehicles if you're just doing city delivery. Other incentives may come from schemes such as carbon trading.<BR/><BR/>I hope pressure from investors to build a sustainable business will also be part of it. The subject regularly comes up at shareholder meetings I attend.<BR/><BR/>Finally, executives in the European transportation sector already at least pay lip service to the idea of reducing the emissions their sector causes, and with some of them, I actually believe that their heart is in it...<BR/><BR/>(I have to post anonymously because I cannot post with my blogger beta login on a non-beta blog. That feature, blogger tells me, is 'coming soon'.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com