Issues and case analysis.
General Motors has a policy committing itself to environmental conservation and improvement. Given the nature of GM business-one of the world’s largest and successful motor dealers; carbon pollution and its effects on the global warming will click the mind of any environmental scientist or environmental activist at the mention of the name GM. Therefore, it would look quite ironical if GM lacks a comprehensive environmental policy. One such policy that underlines GM’s commitment to environment is the use of solar power of 30 megawatts in its facilities with a clear vision to double this. Solar power is generally clean and environmentally friendly a time like now when depletion of O-zone layer is a real issue to worry us (Lori, 1999). GM has also made great steps in their quest to come up with electricity-run vehicles, hence reducing the need for fossil fuels. It is notable that the largest rooftop solar panel is that at Zaragoza in Spain at GM’s car factory. It is quite commendable that 1.4 % of GM’s source of energy is renewable.
GM’s commitment to environmental conservation may not, and cannot, in my own opinion offset environmental issues with fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions; it only reduces the environmental issues and greenhouse gas emissions (IEEE INFOCOM, 1994). This is because this is so big a monster to fight and it therefore calls for intervention by all industries, environmental agencies and personal responsibilities. All nations must also commit themselves to environmental conservation through legal measures and financial support. I congratulate GM for playing their part and call upon other industries to trend in the same path.
GM’s real strategic reasons for their environmental initiatives are both from an environmental activist and economist point of view. Environmental activist in the sense that it is our responsibility to conserve the environmental; hence GM is just doing its part. Legally, GM should abide itself to set international and national laws regarding the environment. GM could be foreseeing a situation where such laws will be set in future, hence the need to conform to those laws in time (Nibbe, 1985). Economically, it is cheap to use solar energy compare to fossil fuels. GM will also be in a position to expand its market by coming up with cheaper and affordable vehicles that use electricity. This will give them an edge in the stiff competition for market control.
References.
IEEE INFOCOM, IEEE Communications Society., Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers., & IEEE Computer Society. (1994). Proceedings: IEEE Infocom '94, the conference on computer communications, thirteenth annual joint conference of the IEEE Computer and Communications Societies, networking for global communications. Los Alamitos, Calif: IEEE Communications Society.
Lori Schoenenberger; Deborah Morad;,1998 Corporate giving directory 1999 : comprehensive profiles of America's major corporate foundations and corporate charitable giving programs. Rockville MD
Twin plant news: TP. (1985). El Paso, Tex: Nibbe, Hernandez and Associates.
