Introduction
Today, there is a wide range of difficulties, issues, and obstacles for individuals, society, and the globe. Nonetheless, among such concerns, the world community puts climate change in the first place as one of the most important. For 200 million years, the Earth’s atmosphere has been continuously transforming, but it has never happened as fast as it is now. The global temperature is a complex system where the gradual accumulation of quantitative changes can lead to an unexpected qualitative leap with unpredictable consequences.
The climate is changing, and it is happening right here and now, and it is relatively not about a distant phenomenon that will take place sometime in the future. It is expected that the annual precipitation level will decrease in some parts of the world in the long term. In contrast, precipitation and temperature fluctuations in other regions will significantly affect some plants’ growing seasons.
The situation of climate change is the central issue of the 21st century, and its solution is a turning point in history. Nevertheless, humanity still has time to stop the adverse effects of climate change, but this will require unprecedented efforts from all sectors of society. Climate change is an urgent, meaningful, and significant global problem that requires special attention and immediate solutions from the public.
The Issue and Its Importance
It is no secret that climate change is the most profound and significant concern in the modern world, attracting the attention of academics and the public. As a rule, such an issue refers to a set of conditions and phenomena unanimously recognized as practical and directly influencing the environment and the population on a global scale (Nunes & Ferreira Dias, 2022). According to the experts, this problem is an international and comprehensive perspective with no specific local or regional framework (Nunes and Ferreira Dias, 2022). Consequently, climate change is a significant and prolonged shift in the statistical distribution of natural conditions in numerous aspects.
One should emphasize that climate change is a situation of extreme importance, and humanity may be on the verge of disaster if the circumstances are neglected without taking appropriate measures. Thus, for instance, the dynamics of urbanization, the rapid pace of urban development, and the improvement of the population’s quality of life together may express a potential danger and hazard to the environment (Javaid et al., 2022). Hence, without taking crucial actions today, one can witness terrible and irreparable consequences tomorrow.
Climate chaos is an invisible but genuine threat, representing an increase in temperature and growth in the number of extreme weather events. It is known that climate change can have severe consequences for several developing countries in terms of falling economic growth, investment, labor productivity, and increased political instability (Javaid et al., 2022). Indeed, these difficulties are not exhaustive, but their mention is enough for a deeper understanding of the picture of the situation. Therefore, the problem related to environmental changes is particularly relevant, and the fight against the climate crisis is essential.
The Role of Business in the Issue
As a rule, business is one of the most influential players associated with the urgent issue. It is known that many organizations for producing and selling goods and services are directly interconnected with nature, the environment, and the process of consumption, redistribution, and modification of mineral wealth. For instance, entrepreneurs have a wide range of opportunities to form innovative and unique ideas for mitigating and preventing the effects of climate change, its impact on people, plants, animals, and a number of other Earth components and phenomena, and rapid adaptation to changes.
In addition, it is necessary to recall that business continues to play an essential role in the climate change system through the correct and competent consumption, development, production, and sale of products using the natural reserve of the Earth. For example, most organizations strive to find a relatively sustainable solution with zero emissions of harmful substances, even when it goes against financial interests (Voland et al., 2022). Therefore, for the most part, the state of the atmosphere and, as a result, the presence of interrelated potential benefits or risks depends on the coordination of actions and decisions taken by a business.
Furthermore, global heating in the frequency of natural disasters and the duration of extreme weather events determine a considerable danger to all life on the planet. Companies risk significant material and property losses related to inventory, and assets, disruptions in logistics processes, increased operating income, and loss of market share (Deo & Prasad, 2022). Understanding these facts gives firms an impetus to change the structure and content of the business model, as well as to create special conditions for eradicating the problem and mitigating the consequences.
Key Stakeholders
It is believed that almost every inhabitant of the planet is a stakeholder in climate change and sustainable transition, whether a baby or an adult, a worker or an entrepreneur. In most cases, interested parties are considered politicians, scientists, businessmen, landowners, and other consumers of Earth’s resources. Thus, each contributes to preserving natural reserves following their capabilities, abilities, and level of influence on the situation.
Nevertheless, some researchers have different, dissimilar, and unusual views of stakeholders’ issues in the systems of environmental shifts. For example, in the research, Trnka et al. (2022) determined three main groups of key stakeholders according to their roles and policies on agriculture and climate change: the central and regional administrations, farm and forest-based industries, and investigators associated with climate change effects and adaption. Additionally, such a choice is not unreasonable; each represented stakeholder has special rights and opportunities to implement effective and productive resolutions for the benefit of nature and society.
In contrast, another investigator focused particular attention on tourism and leisure industry stakeholders. Thus, according to Lopes et al. (2022), the interested parties in studying and solving the problem are traveling agents, politicians, and technical specialists from both local and regional institutions. As practice shows, persons designated by the author have a reasonably close connection with climatology, which means they can make a significant contribution to eradicating the impending disaster for the whole world.
Despite the disparities and dissimilarities of the scientists’ opinions, beliefs, and ideas, ordinary people and more influential personalities are involved in the transition process. Therefore, it depends on these people whether humanity will be saved or the available resources will be enough for the next generations. It may be too late when society resolves the cases of responsibility for the environment because the world now needs coordinated and, most notably, prompt actions.
The Broader Debates and Tensions
As practice shows, broad debates and tensions based on the formation, development, and implementation of new norms, standards, and policies regarding nature and the environment are at the heart of the climate change issue. It is no secret that the desire to implement some long-term innovative and revolutionary corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices on the part of political authorities and representatives of corporate power, in most cases, leads to skepticism in society and a lack of support for projects from other stakeholders. In the light of a wide range of problems, citizens tend to express diverse, contradictory opinions about global heating in the same way.
By their essence and nature, disagreements, quarrels, and misunderstandings within the framework of crisis or breakdown policies on the part of stakeholders represent the most comprehensive debate format for the following reasons. Firstly, climate change has been the subject of public and academic debate for more than 20 years (De-Lara et al., 2022). In a sense, people are divided into opposing camps: some insist on the prompt adoption of significant measures, while others do not notice the problem or deny its existence on the planet.
Secondly, unfortunately, people still cannot reach a common consensus, making it challenging to operate available opportunities and resources to realize a better future. Accordingly, there is no joint and unanimously accepted approach to solving the situation, and many discussions debate whether it is worth fighting climate change through technological inventions or policy changes (Beer, 2022). Indeed, controversies additionally concern several aspects about the place, role, and duration of global warming, its causes and consequences, and other equally important points. Hence, there are still severe uncertainties when modeling the prospective environment.
Business Attempts to Solve the Problem
The fight against climate change is one of the priorities for many entrepreneurs and business people. Accordingly, a business must not only pay taxes and produce high-quality and safe products but also additionally invest in its employees, the environment, and the territory of its presence. At least, as practice shows, to solve this problem, firms tried to take care of nature with the help of reducing emissions, saving resources, recycling second-hand materials, introducing eco-habits in the workplace, and several other procedures. Every year, more and more organizations are switching to the “green side,” being attentive to environmental risks, and thinking less about profit.
To date, there are a considerable number of vivid and convincing examples of how companies strive to make an exceptional contribution to help the planet. For example, some food and beverage businesses have promoted and continue to develop the idea of moving from traditional agri-food systems to more sustainable ones due to their proximity to nature and farmers (Mehrabi et al., 2022). This process allows not only business owners but also consumers and citizens to take an active part in supporting agriculture and producing more valuable products. One can significantly reduce the environmental impact by eating more vegetables and fruits harvested from garden beds.
Indeed, not every organization is ready for radical environmental changes, taking into account operating existing effective business models. Nevertheless, most organizations at least were and are focused on using and applying corporate social responsibility (CSR) to stimulate employees’ environmental behavior and respect for the environment (Hongxin et al., 2022). At the same time, this is not just a manifestation of generosity on the part of business, but the implementation of activities aimed at improving surroundings – both in terms of compliance with environmental standards and the development of the social sphere.
The Role of Other Stakeholders
It will be essential to recall significant contributions to eradicating the concern on the part of stakeholders such as the governments of specific countries and NGOs. Currently, in order to protect the habitat and minimize the impact of global warming on it, environmental legislation is being developed in each country, in which there is a section of international law and legal protection within a state containing the legal basis for the conservation of natural resources and the environment of life. Hence, all states should have strict and reasonable environmental legislation.
For instance, the Chinese government took care of the situation related to climate change back in the 90s of the last century, having developed several projects aimed at energy conservation, developing energy sources, and reducing carbon emissions. Moreover, it is known that by implementing this policy, the state could reduce carbon intensity by almost 50% and increase the share of non-fossil fuels to about 16% (Zhao & Qi, 2022). Thus, this information suggests that timely and well-taken measures helped, at least in the short term, to avoid severe consequences of global warming, and other regions should take note of the decisions of the Chinese administration.
Furthermore, it is impossible not to note separately the great role of NGOs in resolving the issue. In particular, support from such organizations consisted in holding seminars and working with the population to improve awareness of the impending disaster, temperature dynamics and preparing the population for the future (Marajh & He, 2022). It is no secret that this project has been successfully executed in terms of providing comprehensive assessments of the state of scientific, technical, and socio-economic knowledge about climate change, its causes, potential consequences, and response strategies.
Addressing the Issue in the Future
According to the student, the issue of climate change needs to be addressed in the future as follows. Primarily, preventing global warming must require concerted efforts, bringing together people from different regions through special meetings, the media, or the Internet. For example, Petrescu-Mag et al. (2022) believe that narratives about climate through mass media can become not only a means of communication and influence citizens but also a tool for implementing significant environmental changes. With the help of individual and collective actions, humanity can create a rational solution and leave behind a positive effect.
Additionally, one of the most prominent ways to solve the problem is the rational use of energy resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Małecka-Ziembińska and Janicka (2022) claim that this kind of nature-based solution guarantees sustainable well-being; it is a significantly underestimated but highly effective and cheap method of integrating natural resources into the urban environment. Moreover, the main directions of efforts are the transition from traditional approaches of energy generation associated with burning carbon raw materials to non-traditional energy: the use of solar panels, wind, tidal, geothermal power plants, and more.
Furthermore, particular attention should be paid to developing and improving regulatory documents to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, today, many countries of the world have adopted the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. In addition, laws relating to carbon emissions are adopted at individual governments’ levels. It is fundamentally vital that this does not necessarily have to be associated with damage to the economy.
Each stakeholder as business, government, consumers, investors, and NGOs, should play one of the most critical roles in the execution of the proposal following their capabilities, rights, responsibilities, and level of influence. In particular, it is necessary to understand the consequences of climate change and make the right decision. Stakeholders must rely on climate risk analytics and geographic information systems technology. Joint resolutions based on green strategies may assist, allowing one to do more at a lower cost, whether it is about alternative sources of energy production, fuel savings, more environmentally friendly modes of transport, agriculture, or forestry.
Potential Obstacles and Constraints
Primarily, potential obstacles and limitations to implementing the above aspects may be contradictions between specific categories of individuals and groups, limited resources, and uncertainty about risks on the part of influential persons. As practice shows, insufficient attention is paid to most similar solutions since, in most cases, they require high material costs (Valencia Cotera et al., 2022). In addition, most of the resources needed to implement the plan are limited, and the need for the correct handling of the natural reserve is becoming increasingly difficult to satisfy (Szumilas-Kowalczyk & Giedych, 2022). Accordingly, there is a particular need to eliminate these difficulties.
In general, despite noteworthy phenomena and the emergence of views on climate problems and events in the community, unrestrained temperature change continues, threatening people’s well-being and, in some cases, the existence of life on the planet. In general, solving problems within the climate emergency framework encounters several methodological obstacles, and the issues themselves are mainly the result of imperfect development models. Consequently, these troubles, goals, and measures cannot be considered outside the development sectors and strategies they arise.
Consequently, the following recommendations should be followed to eliminate such obstacles and troubles. In order to preserve the natural environment for future generations, an integrated approach to the issue of climate is needed, including the development of laws and the conclusion of international agreements, the allocation of funds for environmental restoration, and the introduction of technology as a way to solve issues in the field of climate change. Inaction can lead to irreparable damage to the natural environment and create risks to people’s lives; therefore, urgent and special measures must be taken to solve the problem.
Conclusion
Summarizing the above, it is necessary to state that climate change is the most severe and vital problem that causes concern from ordinary citizens and more influential people. In particular, such a crisis rapidly moves beyond a purely academic discussion and becomes a global political and social problem. Undoubtedly, the planet’s climate has constantly been changing throughout the Earth’s geological history, and significant fluctuations in global average temperatures have accompanied these transformations. However, now warming is happening much faster than ever in the past, and such a phenomenon requires immediate action.
To date, there are several stakeholders whose activities have a deep and close connection with the presented problem. For example, businesses, government, and NGOs have a remarkably influential role in changing the atmosphere and directing their actions in the right direction. In general, their operations are based on developing particular policies, educating the population, or using a minimum of resources to create products that are crucial to people. Nevertheless, regardless of this, absolutely every citizen can take part in a plan to save the planet, whether a worker or a businessman.
References
Beer, C. T. (2022). “Systems change not climate change”: Support for a radical shift away from capitalism at mainstream US climate change protest events. The Sociological Quarterly, 63(1), 175-198.
De-Lara, A., Erviti, M. C., & León, B. (2022). Communication strategies in the climate change debate on Facebook. Discourse on the Madrid climate summit (cop 25). Profesional De La Información, 31(2), 1-17.
Deo, K., & Prasad, A. A. (2022). Exploring climate change adaptation, mitigation and marketing connections. Sustainability, 14(7), 4255.
Hongxin, W., Khan, M. A., Zhenqiang, J., Cismaș, L. M., Ali, M. A., Saleem, U., & Negruț, L. (2022). Unleashing the role of CSR and employees’ pro-environmental behavior for organizational success: The role of connectedness to nature. Sustainability, 14(6), 3191.
Javaid, A., Arshed, N., Munir, M., Amani Zakaria, Z., Alamri, F. S., Abd El-Wahed Khalifa, H., & Hanif, U. (2022). Econometric assessment of institutional quality in mitigating global climate-change risk. Sustainability, 14(2), 669.
Lopes, H. S., Remoaldo, P., Ribeiro, V., & Martín-Vide, J. (2022). The use of collaborative practices for climate change adaptation in the tourism sector until 2040—a case study in the Porto metropolitan area (Portugal). Applied Sciences, 12(12), 5835. Web.
Marajh, L., & He, Y. (2022). Temperature variation and climate resilience action within a changing landscape. Remote Sensing, 14(3), 701.
Mehrabi, S., Perez-Mesa, J. C., & Giagnocavo, C. (2022). The role of consumer-citizens and connectedness to nature in the sustainable transition to agroecological food systems: The mediation of innovative business models and a multi-level perspective. Agriculture, 12(2), 203.
Małecka-Ziembińska, E., & Janicka, I. (2022). Nature-based solutions in Poland against climate change. Energies, 15(1), 357.
Nunes, L. J., & Ferreira Dias, M. (2022). Perception of climate change effects over time and the contribution of different areas of knowledge to its understanding and mitigation. Climate, 10(1), 7.
Petrescu-Mag, R. M., Burny, P., Banatean-Dunea, I., & Petrescu, D. C. (2022). How climate change science is reflected in people’s minds. A cross-country study on people’s perceptions of climate change. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(7), 4280. Web.
Szumilas-Kowalczyk, H., & Giedych, R. (2022). Analysis of regulatory possibilities and obstacles to expand renewable energy and preserve landscape quality in the Silesian voivodship. Resources, 11(2), 23. Web.
Trnka, M., Bartošová, L., Grammatikopoulou, I., Havlík, P., Olesen, J. E., Hlavinka, P.,… & Žalud, Z. (2022). The possibility of consensus regarding climate change adaptation policies in agriculture and forestry among stakeholder groups in the Czech Republic. Environmental Management, 69(1), 128-139.
Voland, N., Saad, M. M., & Eicker, U. (2022). Public policy and incentives for socially responsible new business models in market-driven real estate to build green projects. Sustainability, 14(12), 7071.
Valencia Cotera, R., Egerer, S., & Máñez Costa, M. (2022). Identifying strengths and obstacles to climate change adaptation in the German agricultural sector: A group model building approach. Sustainability, 14(4), 2370.
Zhao, X., & Qi, Y. (2022). Three decades of climate policymaking in China: A view of learning. Sustainability, 14(4), 2202. Web.