Discuss the challenges that global warming presents to both Essay - 1

Discuss the challenges that global warming presents to both governments and business - Essay Example These businesses include those reliant on fossil fuels in production or others that produce products that are the source of carbon emissions themselves. However, since everything comes at a cost, businesses are reluctant to combat the challenges that are bringing climate change. Climate change in general has affected businesses in all the industries regardless of their size. The primary reason for this assertion is the fact that the world is largely dependent on fossil fuels, the burning of which results in CO2 emissions, for its energy needs. Chief science adviser to Tony Blair, Sir David King believed that climate change has even greater threats than those posed by terrorism (Carey, 2004). The immediate reaction, as to what should we do in this regard, would be to develop alternatives for fossil fuels. What those alternatives are is then the challenge for businesses and governments to address. John Carey in his cover story for Bloomberg Business Week believes that the idea is to cu t down on usage of fossil fuels and to develop energy efficient vehicles and factories (Carey, 2004). The main contributor to greenhouse gas emissions however remains the energy sector. Surprisingly, and for the greater good, businesses adopting methods to address these concerns are thriving. Climate Group, an effort by companies and governments, helps to share stories of corporate success. Michael Northrop from the Climate Group says, "It's impossible to find a company that has acted and has not found benefits" (Carey, 2004). Although evidence exists of the energy sector benefitting from changes, the challenge exists in changing the dimensions of the industry to accommodate environmentally friendly substitutes to fossil fuels. Many companies are however reluctant to invest the appropriate amount of both time and money to find the most viable alternatives to fossil fuels. Oil companies have been primarily responsible for greenhouse gas emissions and have allegedly failed to restrict their contribution in the name of profit (Monteleone, pp. 144-154, 2007). Thus, it then poses a question to governments as to what should policy be aimed at. The answer is not that simple as even that comes at cost. Limits on pollution in the form tradable permits are being sought as a solution by the EU and the US in an attempt to curb greenhouse emissions. CEO of Xcel Energy Inc. Mr Wayne H. Brunetti says that one solution would be to give the companies the chance to figure out a solution and to allow them to set goals for 50 years down the road. He also stresses on the need for flexibility and the need for cooperation between institutions (Carey, 2004). The concerns of governments and environmental activists however are not restricted to the energy sector. Intel Corporation, the world’s largest chipmaker has been under scrutiny for its contribution to climate change. The challenge then again for businesses is to look for substitutes.  Intel’s Stephen Harper says that the search for alternatives is still on and they are planning to find solutions to the growing concerns about climate change (Carey, 2004). Surprising enough is the contribution of animal farms to the greenhouse process. The contributions made by the animal agricultural sector to greenhouse gas em

Should Sugary Drinks Be Taxed Like Cigarettes Essay

Should Sugary Drinks Be Taxed Like Cigarettes - Essay Example The people who oppose the imposition of taxes on sugary drinks include Mohammed Elzofri, a reported store owner; Corky Booze, an alleged former auto racer; and various agencies such as the American Beverage Association, which governs the beverage industry and particularly supports companies such as â€Å"Coke, Pepsi, Red Bull, and Gatorade† (Should Sugary Drinks Be Taxed Like Cigarettes? Calif. City Considering Idea par. 25); as well as the Americans Against Food Taxes. According to Elzofri, imposing taxes on sugary drinks, particularly on sodas would significantly be detrimental to the poor people and to business owners like him. His support was that more than 80 percent of people who purchase from his store buy sugary drinks and thus, imposing a tax on these would definitely make the drinks more expensive and possibly prohibitive. It was revealed that a tax on a two-liter drink would be tantamount to an addition of 68 cents to the current selling price. Concurrently, Booze w as reported to have averred that the government should not dictate what people should or should not consume and the imposition of the tax on sugary drinks would be most hurtful to the local community. He noted that the poor people who do not have the means to leave the city and purchase these drinks in other cities that do not impose taxes on them would be left with no options except to contend with these or not to purchase them at all. While other local citizens who could afford to leave Richmond would just purchase these drinks in other cities. This was corroborated by the American Beverage Association which shared Booze’s contentions that the imposition of taxes on sugary drinks would be most hurtful to those who could not afford. On the other hand, the people who were reported to openly support the imposition of taxes on sugary drinks include Dr. Jeff Ritterman, a cardiologist and also the city councilman; Doria Robinson, a noted community activist; and Dr. Kristen Bibbin Domingo, who is allegedly an internist at the University of California, San Francisco. According to Ritterman, the imposition of taxes on sugary drinks is seen as an effective way to prevent obesity. This was supported by Domingo, who apparently conducted a study on the effect of a tax imposition on sugary drinks to health and medical costs. As disclosed by Domingo, â€Å"a nationwide penny-per-ounce soda tax would reduce consumption by 15 percent and would, over a 10-year period, prevent several million diabetes cases and nearly 100,000 heart disease cases, as well as saving $17 billion in medical costs† (Should Sugary Drinks Be Taxed Like Cigarettes? Calif. City Considering Idea par. 30). In addition to substantial savings on medical costs, the tax imposition would allegedly generate as much as $3 million in revenues, as alleged by Ritterman. These are definite benefits for the city and for the health of the constituents. As added by Ritterman, the revenues could be earmar ked from programs such as â€Å"local sports fields, diabetes treatment for low-income children, and school-based nutrition classes† (Should Sugary Drinks Be Taxed Like Cigarettes? Calif. City Considering Idea par. 12). Likewise, Robinson, the community activist concurred that a tax on sugary drinks would eventually assist in breaking the addiction on sodas; and therefore, corroborates Ritterman’