Alex Bentley

RC 2001

Belinda Walzer

October 3, 2023

Climate Change Affects on Business

Climate change is a global phenomenon that creates both short-term and long-term

problems for everyone. The term climate change has to do with the change in weather patterns

over a long period of time usually involving the use and consumption of fossil fuels and emitting

greenhouse gasses. In a town like Boone, we have a common goal of sustainability and

preserving the environment. There are websites and signs around the town that promote the

preservation of the environment and all about Boone sustainability. We can see the efforts in

things around town like the wind turbine, the few solar panels we have on campus, and the EV

Applecart buses. But what is this really doing in the aid of climate change and what are the

effects on businesses in the community?

In a close-knit community like Boone, where the economy is driven by businesses, they

can be found responsible for a considerable share of the carbon emissions that constitute a big

contributor to climate change. The town of Boone is surrounded by mountains causing emissions

to stay within the area, forming a bowl of greenhouse gasses. With over 4,000 businesses in the

town, there is obviously going to be a large amount of carbon emissions. These businesses have

impacts on the environment, but they also benefit from environmental products, therefore there is

a direct connection between business and climate change. Businesses can use a marketing

strategy called “greenwashing”. This means that companies make things appear more

environmentally friendly than what they actually are. We see that the town has solar panels but
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we don’t realize it is a small array of them and they only get sunlight in certain parts of the day

because they are placed in between two buildings on campus. They want it to look like they're

making a huge change in the environment and sustainability of the town but in reality, their lack

of effort is revealed. Businesses can jeopardize the future of the planet and if they do not act as

responsible members of the global community, then most species will be gone before the end of

the 21st century.

The solution is not to take out some of the businesses but to reduce the amount of carbon

emissions they produce. Businesses need to increase the usage of renewable resources and

reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted. There are many simple ways businesses can

help to reduce their carbon footprint. They could start, if not already by recycling. As simple as it

may sound, recycling can be a huge first step towards environmental cleanliness and the

reduction of greenhouse gasses. Recycling reduces our dependence on raw materials and helps to

slow the release of greenhouse gasses. Plastic is the main material that doesn’t get recycled the

most and it goes to landfills where it slowly breaks down giving off greenhouse gases. It also is

bad for marine life when it ends up in oceans and streams. Another way could be to encourage

green commuting, An alternative to driving your car to work every day would be traveling to

work via bike, carpooling, or taking the bus can all be ways of green commuting rather than

everyone sitting in traffic wasting gas and putting emissions into the atmosphere. If we cut down

the amount of cars on the road then it will cut the amount of time the cars that commute are on

the road therefore limiting the CO2 emissions. The most viable option would be allowing

workers to work from home if applicable, cutting out their commute entirely. Obviously, this is

not a solution for all jobs and businesses but any change in commute patterns to halt emissions

would be a step in the right direction.

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In conclusion, businesses and climate change have a direct correlation and there are

simple solutions that could be implemented to aid the slowing of global climate change and

create a safer and more sustainable environment. Climate change is a growing concern for the

world as a whole and if we don’t act soon the world as we know it could become inhabitable for

the generations to come. Actions taken now by the community can protect the future of the

environment.
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Works Cited

“Going Green: Benefits of Sustainability in Business.” Maryville Online, 5 May 2021, Going
Green: Benefits of Sustainability in Business | Maryville Online

Mahecha, Mona, and Monika Punia. “Climate Change and Business Development: A Critical
Analysis of Ways to Achieve Sustainable Development.” Revista Brasileira de Políticas
Públicas, vol. 13, no. 1, Apr. 2023, pp. 367–83. EBSCOhost, https://doi-
org.proxy006.nclive.org/10.5102/rbpp.v13i1.8805.

Oliveira, Luiz Eduardo de, et al. “Integration of Business Climate Resilience on the
Transmission Expansion Planning Over the Low-Carbon Energy Transition.” 2022 18th
International Conference on the European Energy Market (EEM), European Energy
Market (EEM), 2022 18th International Conference on The, Sept. 2022, pp. 1–6.
EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.proxy006.nclive.org/10.1109/EEM54602.2022.9921128.

Dear Alex,
Some good work here! I think your project is off to a good start and I can see that you put in
some effort into this genre. However, I think the process of peer reviews and self-
assessment could really help you understand the contours of this genre a bit more. You’re
welcome to complete the self-assessment for credit if you’d like.
Best,
Dr. W