It is no secret that large oil companies often are a source of controversy for environmentalists because of the way their actions effect the environment.
Recently, Shell sued Greenpeace for holding protests against Shell’s $4.5 billion Arctic Drilling Project. Shell lost the case in Dutch court and will have to put up with the protests as long as they are conducted in a fashionable manner. Greenpeace is outraged over the consequences this drilling project – which will only provide three years of oil – could have on the Arctic’s fragile environment. Shell isn’t the only company trying to get in on the Arctic Action; companies such as BP, Exxon, Gazprom and Rosneft have also expressed interest in the Arctic’s oil.
While Shell insists they are being environmentally conscious as they explore the Arctic, it is clear that this is a risky move that could have serious negative impacts on the environment and that the damage could be irreversible. So with this risk, why does Shell insist on going in? Profit. It’s the age old business problem; how does a company that does not help the environment justify spending billions of dollars on harmful endeavors? Does Shell value stomping out the competition more than being ethical and environmentally friendly?
To see more information on Shell’s ethical dilemma, Click Here.