I recently came across the news that Volkswagen vehicles were found to be equipped with defeat devices that allowed them to skew emission data during tests. In fact, the company claimed that up to 11 million of their vehicles were equipped with such devices. Defeat devices are able to detect when the cars are undergoing tests, and switch on pollution controls to meet regulations. On the road however, the pollution controls remain switched off, which boosted the cars' performances and fuel efficiency.
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A Volkswagen vehicle. (Taken from http://arstechnica.com/cars/2015/10/
volkswagens-emissions-cheating-scandal-has-a-long-complicated-history/) |
It is worrying to see major firms engaging in practices are detrimental to our environmental. Usually, such practices are due to cost reasons. Perhaps the firm was unable to find a cost-effective way to properly reduce emissions and still maintain the performance of the cars. The Volkswagen cheating is just one of many examples of the ways firms try to meet regulations. In fact, firms are only interested in profits, and most of them will use the most cost-effective methods to meet regulations. When regulations are hard to meet, underhand methods may be used. The same applies for Corporate Social Responsibility, where firms go green for the sake of achieving a certain level of "responsibility".
This is a very real example of how environmental goals are almost always in conflict with economic goals, and it is probably worse in developing countries. Nevertheless, authorities and environmental activists still need to continue their efforts to bridge these two goals together.
References
91,000 vehicles in Australia affected by VW cheating (Channel NewsAsia)
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/91-000-vehicles-in/2175546.html
Volkswagen’s emissions cheating scandal has a long, complicated history
http://arstechnica.com/cars/2015/10/volkswagens-emissions-cheating-scandal-has-a-long-complicated-history/
Exposes are usually quite interesting to read about! But they never fail to make me feel so... deceived.
ReplyDeleteCSR is a tricky affair - the consumer hardly knows about the true intentions of businesses. Some genuinely care about the the causes they claim to advocate (not necessarily the environment) but there are also many out there which simply see CSR as a form of labelling to expand their consumer base. Are there any brands or corporations out there which you think genuinely care and practice what they preach, for the right reasons?
Hmm.. I can't think of any brands or companies, not because I think no one cares, but rather due to my lack of exposure. Perhaps you could share with me some which you think do so!
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