Using Case Studies from Specific Companies, Outline How Seriously Multinationals Address the Risk of Co2 Emissions?

Using case studies from specific companies, outline how seriously multinationals address the risk of CO2 emissions? Nowadays many people are concerned about the global warming and this focused the attention on another really serious problem – the increasing level of CO2 emission in the atmosphere. At higher concentration this gas is considered extremely toxic, therefore this issue has to be seriously taken in consideration. Unfortunately, with every year passing this process is accelerating.On that account, many countries gathered their strength in equalizing the greenhouse gases levels in the atmosphere and signed an agreement at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Also many multinational companies decided to assist and help with the situation by using different strategies for the reduction of CO2 emissions. Realizing the gravity of the situation, many industrialized countries focused on achieving the ultimate goal – reducing their emissions of g reenhouse gases. On 11 December 1997 in Kyoto, Japan 37 countries have signed a protocol, which oblige them to lower their overall emissions by 5. % compared by the level from 1990. The Protocol entered into force on 16 February 2005. As the main polluters of the environment, these countries managed to gather their strengths for the future of our planet. The only remaining major polluter, which has not signed the protocol is the United States. Not only countries recognized the danger of CO2 emissions, but also multinational companies are thinking about the future of our world. For example, more and more major auto manufacturers, as the one’s to be blamed for the increasing level of gases, commit to eco-friendly developments.For instance, hybrid engines, which use not only fuel, but also energy in order to reduce Co2 emissions. In fact the first gasoline-electric car was developed in the distant past by Ferdinand Porsche in 1901. Unfortunately, this technology became widely av ailable when it was released for mass production in Japan in 1997 by Toyota. This is the first manufacturer, which sells hybrid vehicles in Japan and the United States in 2002, and is now leader in this emerging field. The company’s Research and Development division has also responsible for many other breakthroughs in eco-friendly engines.For example Variable Valve Timing-intelligent engine, Direct-Injection petrol and Direct-Injection common rail diesel engines. All of these improved engines are built to reduce fuel consumption and emission levels. On the other hand, Toyota may be not so green as we think it is. After the company has become one of the three major automotive companies and joined the Detroit Three in 2007, it lost the trust of the environmental community. First of all, Toyota supported a lawsuit, which was about to reduce toxic emissions from cars by 30% within a decade.This legislation would require cars to get up to 43 miles per gallon. And this is not profi table for the company. To sum up I would like to quote Keith Naughton from â€Å"Newsweek Magazine†. He said : â€Å"Toyota is discovering it isn't easy being green while going for the green. † While Toyota is just pretending to be eco friendly, there is another also Japanese company, which is focusing it’s efforts to reduce global warming emission. Yamaha Motor is taking a whole new approach in reducing the CO2 emissions – not only in it’s products, but also in the company’s entire business activities.For example, they reduced the C02 emissions in the Nakaze Factory (The factory, which paints and forms the parts for the motorcycles) by approximately 289 tons by installing solar and wind power generators. Unfortunately, this generators will just be used only for lightning and air conditioning in the office buildings. If Yamaha really wants to contribute in reducing the global warming gases, it will have to came up with many similar ideas and to power more electronics, which are used in the factory.In my opinion, most of the multinationals companies do not really care about the environment. They are using the nowadays trend to live greener life, in order to attract more customers. I think, that almost all of them have some hidden agenda to advertise and promote themselves. This is a serious issue, which we are facing. Each and every one of us can contribute to the solving of the problem. For example we can take the public transport more often, recycle or bye energy efficient light bulbs. Everyone have to understand, that this planet is not only for us.We have to leave a place for our children to live in. The world has already recognized the gravity of the situation. There is a serious problem, which we are facing and if we don’t cut the emissions there might be no place for the future generations to grow. The Kyoto Protocol is a major progress in reducing the carbon dioxide emissions. Personally, I am optimistic about the future. Many multinational companies are aware of their harmful impact on the environment and they have committed themselves to eco-friendly innovations and are aking various approaches in lowering the level of carbon dioxide. All in all, we are obligated to assure our children’s future. Planet Earth is our home, and we have to anything we can to save it. References: 1. Ellerman, A. Denny et al. (December 1998). The Effects on Developing Countries of the Kyoto Protocol and Carbon Dioxide Emissions Trading. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 2019. Available From: http://ssrn. com/abstract=569250 [Assesed August 13, 2004] 2. Hayes, James. (3/6/2010). Whose CO2 is it anyway?.Engineering ; Technology [online]. Vol. 5 Issue 4, p48-50. Available from: http://web. ebscohost. com/ehost/detail? sid=72a4efd7-5e6e-47b2-884a-45713a7b4001%40sessionmgr11;vid=1;hid=15;bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=bth;AN=48847280 3. Richard Schmalensee, Thomas M. Stoker, and Ruth A. Judson. (February 1998). World Carbon Dioxide Emissions: 1950–2050. [online]. Review of Economics and Statistics[online]. Vol. 80, No. 1 , Pages 15-27 4. Naughton, Keith. (Nov 10, 2007). Toyota’s Green Problem. [online].In Newsweek magazine. Available from: http://www. thedailybeast. com/newsweek/2007/11/10/toyota-s-green-problem. html 5. Sedgwick, David. (5/23/2011). Detroit 3 make big gains in supplier survey. Automotive News[online]. Vol. 85 Issue 6465, p1-29. Available From:http://web. ebscohost. com/ehost/detail? sid=05d16e37-af1c-4a3a-873a-05636d5a7679%40sessionmgr14;vid=1;hid=15;bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=b 6. Unknown, (2011) United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, http://unfccc. int/kyoto_protocol/items/2830. php