Business responses to climate change: a case study of selected organizations in Newfoundland

Asante, Edward Oteng (2021) Business responses to climate change: a case study of selected organizations in Newfoundland. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

Climate change is a problem that the world is struggling to solve. Many studies and much research have been directed toward this course, but we still face its impacts. Recently, scholars have investigated the relationship between climate change and businesses. Companies have begun taking responsibility for climate change and are finding ways to combat the issue. Climate change presents risks and opportunities to businesses. Therefore, this thesis aims to appreciate business responses to climate change in Newfoundland’s natural resource sector. Using a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews, the research examined how the selected businesses are responding to climate change. The major finding of the study was that Newfoundland lacks specific climate change regulations and requirements to drive adequate response measures from companies. It was revealed that the chosen organizations’ significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions were transportation and the use of equipment and fuel. However, most of the businesses had implemented measures to reduce their carbon footprint and addressed some climate change impacts they face. In terms of the influence of institutional pressures on business responses, this research showed that mimetic force (copying similar actions among firms) played a major role compared to the other forces. Generally, this thesis highlighted that businesses are not immune to climate change, hence companies are incorporating the impacts of climate change into their planning and are adopting actions to address the problem.

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