There is now widespread awareness of the hypothesis that we are in the midst of a gradual, general increase in global temperatures – what is commonly known as ‘global warming’. Although gradual in terms of normal human timescales, this increase is rapid in geological terms, and possibly unprecedented. The evidence seems to be consistent with the theory that the current rise in global temperatures has been substantially caused by human activity. In particular, the last two centuries have seen human beings consuming carbon-based energy (particularly coal and oil) in very large quantities. What is undeniable is that human consumption of coal and oil results in the production of large quantities of carbon dioxide.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change. According to the IPCC:

Human influence on the climate system is clear, and recent anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases are the highest in history. Recent climate changes have had widespread impacts on human and natural systems … Anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions have increased since the pre-industrial era, driven largely by economic and population growth, and are now higher than ever. This has led to atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide that are unprecedented in at least the last 800,000 years. Their effects, together with those of other anthropogenic drivers, have been detected throughout the climate system and are extremely likely to have been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century. (IPCC, 2014)

The scientific consensus is that humankind bears direct responsibility for a large part of global warming. The implications of this are difficult to predict, and vary from the mildly alarming to the catastrophic. The scientific consensus is also that there is massive inertia in the earth’s climatic system, so that whatever we do now will only gradually begin to undo the damage wrought by the last two centuries of burning carbon. Glaciers and possibly polar icecaps will continue to melt, sea levels will continue to rise, low-lying land will be flooded, and the incidence of severe weather events will increase over the next few decades, regardless of what we do now. But, if we do nothing, and the burning of carbon fuels continues to increase relentlessly, then the consequences will eventually be far worse. Consequently, most governments have agreed to legally binding targets designed to substantially reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, with the goal of limiting global warming.

QUESTIONS

This exercise is best done as a debate, with one team being allocated to each side of the argument:
1. Make the case for the proposition that the only legitimate purpose for a commercial business in a free-enterprise system is to maximize returns to shareholders. What is the role of the Carbon Trust from this point of view?
2. Make the alternative case that all business organizations have a wider social responsibility that goes beyond the pursuit of shareholder value. What is the role of the Carbon Trust from this point of view?
3. On which side of the argument do your sympathies mainly lie? Explain why.