I'd decided to take a break, but I've been prompted to think aloud, after observing what appears to be an emerging trend amongst corporations and politicians - influenced by the debate surrounding climate change.
Since Economist Sir Nicholas Stern released a major report last October, warning that global warming could shrink the global economy by 20%, a number of organisations and politicians including Tony Blair appear to be under pressure to be seen to care about the environment.
On his return from a recent holiday in the United States, the British Prime Minister announced that he was working on a plan to offset carbon emissions from his long haul holiday flights. Conservative politician Tim Yeo recently announced that he too is making his contribution to tackling climate change and its effects, by replacing his flights to Glasgow with longer Train journeys.
Now am beginning to notice that a number of organisations including the Coop and HSBC are now offering so-called "green" mortages and loans that they claim are aimed at offsetting their carbon emissions by planting trees that will absorb that equivalent in developing countries.
Since Economist Sir Nicholas Stern released a major report last October, warning that global warming could shrink the global economy by 20%, a number of organisations and politicians including Tony Blair appear to be under pressure to be seen to care about the environment.
On his return from a recent holiday in the United States, the British Prime Minister announced that he was working on a plan to offset carbon emissions from his long haul holiday flights. Conservative politician Tim Yeo recently announced that he too is making his contribution to tackling climate change and its effects, by replacing his flights to Glasgow with longer Train journeys.
Now am beginning to notice that a number of organisations including the Coop and HSBC are now offering so-called "green" mortages and loans that they claim are aimed at offsetting their carbon emissions by planting trees that will absorb that equivalent in developing countries.
Now high street chain Marks and Spencer has announced a 200 million pound "green" programme. Check out the details in this press release.
http://www2.marksandspencer.com/thecompany/mediacentre/pressreleases/2007/com2007-01-15-00.shtml
So are these organisations and individuals really concerned about the effects of their behaviour on the climate or is it just becoming a PR Fad?
Are we going to see more organsations adopt green policies like they adopted corporate social responsibility programmes years ago that have arguably been used to deflect public scrutiny? Over to you!
http://www2.marksandspencer.com/thecompany/mediacentre/pressreleases/2007/com2007-01-15-00.shtml
So are these organisations and individuals really concerned about the effects of their behaviour on the climate or is it just becoming a PR Fad?
Are we going to see more organsations adopt green policies like they adopted corporate social responsibility programmes years ago that have arguably been used to deflect public scrutiny? Over to you!
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