Lest some members of your executive teams have some question about whether climate change is a relevant topic for your boardroom, I advise you to have them read this essay called “Why Climate Change Will Matter to Every Company, by two analysts/advisors from BSR, which is one of the sustainability consulting firms.
The authors’ contention is that climate change policy isn’t just a concern for energy or heavy manufacturing companies but a concern of every type of industry.
Forget for a moment, the physical impact of not doing anything. Your executive team should concern itself with climate change for the simple reason that the U.S. Congress is debating the issue, and it may have an impact on federal policy regarding international trade, agriculture and transportation. Just for starters.
So, even if you do nothing, the U.S. government may do something for you, which may come in the form of taxes, fees, levies or more compliance obligations. You shouldn’t wait around and the essay I’ve referenced above provides some pretty specific illustrations of what that is so.
