随着本世纪中叶的临近,CEO们仍然面临着关键的抉择,例如优先考虑环保实践,否则将面临落后的风险。制造业CEO必须采取全面综合的方法,平衡气候风险管理与环境正义,以正面应对气候变化。环境正义意味着确保所有人无论种族、肤色、出身或收入水平如何,都能平等地免受环境危害,并享有决策权,解决污染问题,并获得清洁的空气和水。
作为世界上最大的污染部门,负责 全球碳排放量的五分之一制造业通过共同解决环境正义和气候转型问题,在推进可持续发展议程中发挥着关键作用。
遗憾的是,气候变化对边缘化群体的影响尤为严重,进一步加剧了社会和经济不平等。当今的领导人有责任处理气候风险与环境正义之间的联系,并制定有利于环境、社区和企业的公平解决方案。正如前一篇文章所讨论的,不这样做的后果可能是灾难性的。
气候转变既带来机遇,也带来挑战
一方面,制造商需要紧急减少排放并转向更清洁的技术,例如 清洁技术或末端技术——这可以减少制造商的碳足迹,提高竞争力并降低成本。然而,向“更绿色”的商业实践和技术转型也可能扰乱现有的劳动力市场和供应链,使平衡气候风险管理和环境正义变得棘手。
美国环境保护署 (EPA) 将这种破坏称为“创造性破坏”并认为,随着新系统和技术取代旧系统和技术变得更加环保,将会有赢家和输家。
例如,摆脱化石燃料可能会影响依赖传统产业的社区,导致失业和经济不稳定。向可再生能源转型可能会影响能源生产岗位集中的农村地区,如果地方政府和政策制定者不提供足够的再培训和支持,可能会导致熟练劳动力外流,并导致经济衰退。
这是一种平衡行为
There is no such thing as a straightforward or smooth transition during such disruptive change. Some argue that the idea of a “just transition” is a myth. The concept of “just transitions” first appeared in North America in the 1980s—used by labour unions—and has become integral to discussions around climate transition risks and environmental justice. It’s an aspirational concept but difficult to execute. Any transition separates the industry leaders from the bottom contenders —businesses and policymakers can try mitigating the impact, but avoiding any negative influence is impossible.
The complexity of balancing climate action and environmental justice is not just theoretical but evident in the real world. For example, a recent study found that 54% of all energy transition mineral mining projects in Australia overlap with Indigenous Peoples’ Lands. Specific minerals are needed for a sustainable transition—such as lithium for electric vehicle batteries—but the question of how to mine these minerals while considering the well-being of local communities is tricky.
制造商必须积极识别气候风险,同时制定计划以减轻气候转型对边缘化群体的影响。领导者面临的迫切问题是:如何做到这一点?企业如何确保谨慎处理气候风险转型,以最大程度地减少对边缘化群体的影响?
应对气候转型和环境正义:制造商的策略
气候转型可能导致工厂和矿山关闭,澳大利亚计划关闭其燃煤电厂就是明证。这一趋势已成定局,政策制定者正在从其相对较近的汽车行业关闭事件中汲取教训。尽管此次关闭事件与气候转型无关,但它为如何将转型目标与社区福祉结合起来提供了有益的经验。
2013 年至 2017 年间,福特、霍顿和丰田等主要制造商停止了在南澳大利亚的本地生产,主要原因是成本上升、全球竞争以及转向更省油和电动汽车。 100,000 people lost their jobs这对严重依赖汽车行业的供应链和社区造成了影响。制造商必须站出来,关注这些变化,才能更有效地应对类似的转型。下文我们将探讨一些提供支持的策略:
建立过渡计划委员会
组建包括社区领导、工人和企业在内的当地委员会,共同制定和监督过渡计划,确保整合当地观点。
谨慎地分阶段过渡
延长关闭时间使工人、家庭和企业能够为即将到来的重组做好准备。供应链企业得以制定战略,实现产品多元化,并寻找新客户。
以人为本
霍尔顿的“过渡中心”成立于2014年,在充满挑战的时期提供支持。该中心提供有关健康生活、心理健康和金融知识资源的信息,并将其服务扩展到整个供应链,以满足更广泛的社区需求。
重新培训并提升员工技能
丰田 allocated a significant budget for training and transitional support over four years, extending six months beyond the closure. All 4,000 employees were surveyed to determine if they wished to stay or leave, and encouraged to create personal transition plans actively.
Transition challenges are imminent, but must be managed
气候转型和环境正义对于创造可持续的未来至关重要。制造商在平衡这些目标方面发挥着至关重要的作用。尽管存在挑战,但积极主动的规划和社区参与可以带来显著的变化。
ManuVate offers a powerful solution for manufacturers striving to achieve environmental justice, especially in the face of complex challenges. As a crowdsourcing platform, ManuVate facilitates the generation and compilation of ideas internally and externally. This approach allows large manufacturing enterprises, with their extensive networks and diverse employee bases, to tap into insights and innovative solutions. Learn more about how we can help at 玛努维特.
Frequently Asked Questions About Equitable Climate Solutions in Manufacturing
How Does Manufacturing Affect the Environment?
Manufacturing affects the environment through greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, water usage, and industrial waste. It contributes to pollution, resource depletion, and climate change if not managed sustainably.
What Are Equitable Climate Solutions in Manufacturing?
Equitable climate solutions in manufacturing are strategies that reduce environmental impact while ensuring fairness, inclusion, and shared benefits across workers, communities, and supply chains during the transition to sustainability.
How Can Manufacturers Reduce Their Carbon Footprint?
Manufacturers can reduce their carbon footprint by using renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, electrifying processes, minimising waste, optimising logistics, and adopting circular economy practices.
What is the Role of Equity in Sustainable Manufacturing?
Equity in sustainable manufacturing ensures that climate action is inclusive. It means providing fair opportunities, protecting vulnerable workers, and supporting local communities during environmental and technological transitions.
Why is Climate Risk Management Important for Manufacturers?
Climate risk management is important for manufacturers to prepare for environmental disruptions, meet regulatory requirements, protect supply chains, and ensure long-term business resilience in a changing climate.
What Strategies Help Manufacturers Balance Climate Risk and Productivity?
Strategies include investing in low-carbon technologies, diversifying energy sources, improving supply chain transparency, conducting climate risk assessments, and embedding sustainability in operational planning.
How Does Manufacturing Contribute to Climate Change?
Manufacturing contributes to climate change through the release of carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases from fossil fuel use, industrial processes, and material extraction and processing.
What Policies Support Equitable Climate Solutions in Industry?
Policies that support equitable climate solutions include carbon pricing, green job training programs, just transition frameworks, ESG disclosure mandates, and government incentives for clean technology adoption.
How Can Manufacturers Ensure Just and Inclusive Climate Transitions?
Manufacturers can ensure just and inclusive climate transitions by involving workers in decision-making, investing in reskilling programs, partnering with communities, and prioritising ethical labour and supply chain practices.
What Are Examples of Climate-smart Practices in Manufacturing?
Examples of climate-smart practices include using renewable energy, implementing closed-loop production, adopting energy-efficient machinery, reusing materials, and designing products with low environmental impact.