Deck 8: Ethical Issues Regarding the Natural Environment

Question 1

Stuart Hart asserts that the current sustainability market has largely focused on large scale efforts and technology with hopes of trickle down effects that have been ineffective.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Norman Bowie argues that business has what sort of obligation to consumers

A)To help educate them about environmentally responsible behavior.
B)To provide products that are as green/sustainable as possible.
C)Both a & b
D)Neither a nor b

Answer 2

A

Question 3

: According to Denis Arnold and Keith Bustos, the consensus of scientific work on global climate change is that we have yet to accumulate sufficient evidence to suggest it is a real phenomenon.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

The case study "Maintaining a Seat at the Table: The Shell Group" explains in detail why Shell rejects the idea that anthropogenic climate change is real.

Question 5

Norman Bowie suggests businesses simply have which moral obligations

A)To force consumer preferences toward green behavior
B)To obey the law, to avoid negligent behavior, and to tell the truth
C)To tell the truth and to obey special sustainability obligations
D)To obey the law and to force consumers toward green behavior

Question 6

Denis Arnold and Keith Bustos, in "Business Ethics and Global Climate Change", suggest the U.S. adopt which of the following public policy recommendations

A)Target goals for reduced emissions in the transportation and energy sectors corresponding to past emissions
B)Appropriate tax incentives for CO2 emissions reductions and penalties for failing to meet CO2 targets.
C)Both a and b
D)Neither a nor b

Question 7

The case, "Royal Caribbean: Exotic Promises and Toxic Waters" implies that a main difficulty in enforcing environmental standards with cruise lines is that they are often not American and thus not subject to our laws.

Question 8

Hawken, Lovins, and Lovins would suggest that today's capitalist is typified by which of the following beliefs

A)Growth in natural resources will maximize human well-being above and beyond GDP
B)Resource shortages will be met with substitutes in the market
C)Sustainability concerns are irrelevant since economic growth is the primary concern
D)None of the above

Question 9

Norman Bowie argues that special obligations of business are unnecessary and that environmentalists need simply insist that businesses follow the laws.

Question 10

U.S. consumers make use of a disproportionate level of atmospheric resources, so the harm caused to non-U.S. citizens will be disproportionate to their use of atmospheric resources.

Question 11

Denis Arnold and Keith Bustos would compare the tobacco industry to global climate change skeptics as part of a similar "industry of denial".

Question 12

The first step in the "Green Leap" as described by Stuart Hart is which of the following

A)Increasee regulation and incentives for business to invest in "Green Sprout" technology
B)Enhance industrial efforts in developing countries to increase employment, creating a new consumer base
C)Incubate sustainable technology at the BoP
D)Migrate sustainable technologies to the affluent consumers

Question 13

In "Morality, Money, and Motor Cars", Norman Bowie suggests that businesses don't go the extra mile for green and/or sustainable products because consumers often reject green products as too expensive or too much trouble.

Question 14

According to Norman Bowie in "Money, Morality and Motor Cars," business has no special obligation to stop polluting above its natural limits.

Question 15

Stuart Hart's Bottom of the Pyramid strategy (BoP)is a creative way to appeal to unprofitable businesses around the globe.

Question 16

According to Alan Holland an economic approach to sustainability criteria is to strive for each generation to leave at least as much capital to the next generation as it has created for itself.

Question 17

According to Denis Arnold and Keith Bustos, Bowie's position in "Business, Ethics, and Global Climate Change," Bowie fails to take into account the interests of non-U.S. citizens and future generations.

Question 18

Hawken, Lovins, and Lovins describe today's capitalism to have emerged in a time when labor was scare and natural capital was abundant whereas today labor is abundant while natural capital is depleting.

Question 19

According to Denis Arnold and Keith Bustos in "Business, Ethics, and Global Climate Change," a basic principle of justice is that it is unfair to require others to pay for the costs of benefits one has secured for oneself without their uncoerced consent.

Question 20

Arnold and Bustos highlight that much of the skepticism of climate change comes from business interests. As shown in the case study, "Ethics and sustainability at Alcoa: A Symbiotic Relationship", Alcoa is a company that does not work to fight climate change regulation and instead seeks to enforce and enact it.

Question 21

Explain Bowie's argument in "Money, Morality and Motor Cars" regarding businesses' obligations to the natural environment. Then explain Interface's business model as outlined in the case study, "Interface Corporation and Sustainable Business". What would Bowie say about the actions of Interface

Question 22

As identified by Denis Arnold and Keith Bustos, recall the demographics of both those who recognize global climate change and the global climate change skeptics.

Question 23

Alan Holland cites the interests of multinational corporations as a main impediment toward sustainability efforts. What can you recommend to move corporations toward more sustainable development.Would you lean toward a more regulation, market, or morality centered argument.Support your argument by integrating and evaluating other authors in this chapter or in previous chapters.

Question 24

Hawkens, Lovin, and Lovin proclaim modern day capitalism as a "financially profitable, nonsustainable aberration in human development." Describe both the tenets of their notion of natural capitalism and the strategies designed to work toward such a society.

Question 25

Differentiate, according to Alan Holland in "Sustainability", the concepts of "natural" and "human-made" capital.

Question 26

In your own words, define sustainable development Alan Holland does in "Sustainability".

Question 27

Compare and contrast Bowie's argument in "Money, Morality and Motor Cars" for a "market solution" to global climate change with Arnold and Bustos' main argument in "Business, Ethics, and Global Climate Change" opposing this solution. Explain whose view you agree with more and why.

Question 28

Hawken, Lovins, and Lovins suggest that an economy needs four types of capital to function. Names these four types of capital and define them.

Question 29

Briefly interpret what Alan Holland means in "Sustainability" when he suggests we measure sustainable development with economic models.

Question 30

Evaluate "the Green Leap", the crux of Stuart Hart's argument in "Taking the Green Leap at the Base of the Pyramid". Be sure to include which of his two major types of sustainability efforts is in line with his argument and the steps toward execution of his strategy.