Debrief

In his blog post “Ethical Dilemma, why are we concentrating on oil companies paying for oil spills and not other companies for emitting greenhouse gases?“, my peer, Sean Fox, questioned why companies were not taking the onus on themselves in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He argued that with things such as oil spills, companies, feeling the pressure of environmental groups, quickly had to correct their actions to avoid major public relations backlash.

My Opinions

Although bringing up an interesting argument, I believe the critical flaw in Sean’s thinking to be his faith in humanity and capitalism. In my (possibly pessimistic) eyes, most company’s in the natural resources industry do not inherently want to help the environment. The only reason BP had to
respond so quickly to their oil spill was the resounding pressure put on them by the public, media outlets, and environmental groups alike. The key word in that sentence was pressure; a verb not found in the fight to rid the world of greenhouse gases. It has become a forethought in mind’s of environmental groups, a inevitability that cannot be solved in the short term. The media, not seeing a return on their ratings, have pushed greenhouse gases to the shadows. In its overwhelming prevalence of this issue has caused it to become the norm,  and so, like the thousands of death occurring in Africa everyday, its curb appeal has vanished. However, I believe that greenhouse gas emissions can be brought back into relevance. It is my belief that if the public and media should put a substantial amount of pressure on companies to reduce emissions, these capitalists, fearing the loss in profits, will put this topic at the forefront, expediting the quest to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions and, in the process, restoring the health of the planet.

“Sean Fox.” Sean Fox’s Blog. UBC Blogs, 30 Sept. 2014. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.

BP’s Crude Awakening. Digital image. A Better World. Greenpeace, n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.