Climate change is an issue that has gained much widespread concern in recent years. With the rising temperature and sea level all over the world, this matter is one that is a cause for mounting alarm. The issues that accompany this problem are numerous, but one of the main definitive cases is that this is predominantly caused by human beings. Scientists have attributed the climate change largely to greenhouse gas emissions and have issued dire warnings if the emissions are not curtailed. In response to this, some countries like Australia are introducing a carbon tax as a solution on cutting the pollution. Businesses ranging from small enterprises and mid-level retailers to global business empires will be greatly affected by this legislation.
With the universal effect of the carbon pricing mechanism, even small businesses that are not emission-intensive will still be significantly shaken, since most small businesses' greenhouse gas emissions come from electricity and petrol use. Planning on how to combat these adverse effects has become a priority and is a foremost action that is necessary for every business owner. A carbon management response plan is one of the most important strategic management tools that can be used when formulating a strategy that will minimize the effect of the carbon emissions pricing change. It will support the carbon reduction scheme that is crucial to be undertaken by every business to lessen the impact on all areas of operations.
Like any business plan, a carbon management response plan should address essential components within the entire business structure, from the raw materials to packaging and distribution down to customer preferences and company social responsibility. There are a lot of challenges that should be tackled with the ever changing economic condition and structural reform. One of these is the growing trend of customers who are environmentally conscious of the impact of the products that they purchase. Because of this, businesses should increasingly demonstrate that they are addressing their corporate responsibility beyond the regulatory frameworks.
As with any challenge, a business should rapidly adapt to the low carbon economy and take hold of the emerging opportunities that will arise. A well-thought-of carbon management plan should ensure long-term sustainability and prosperity and will enable any business to weather the impact of climate change. Without a plan that incorporates all areas of the business that is significantly affected, a business can very well be left to dry and will be unable to compete in the global marketplace.
