Problem Statement
Caring for nature is one of the main focuses of attention of people around the world nowadays. Every day, the overall environmental situation on the planet is getting worse. The most significant contributors to this problem are large corporations such as Amazon, which have a vast number of enterprises worldwide. Therefore, the solution to the question should begin with the adoption of specific policies by these corporations. This study aims to investigate the impact of Amazon on the environment, analyze the company’s actions, and propose alternative approaches to solve the issue.
Analysis of Data
Protests
Although Amazon is widely known as an online platform, existing order centers contribute a lot to environmental pollution. However, this issue did not receive enough attention until the company employees forced the chief executive Jeff Bezos to focus on it. Many people have organized protest movements, urging the Amazon CEO to do something about the damage the corporation is doing to the environment (Peltz, 2019). Similar proposals were made in many cities in several countries of the world, and in the end, they were crowned with success, as they forced Bezos to put forward the so-called Climate Pledge.
Actions of Amazon
The Amazon CEO program sets several goals for the corporation to help clean up the environment. First, Bezos aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 and 100% use of renewable energy sources in the company in 2030 (Peltz, 2019). This step is the first significant action on the company’s path to cleaner production. Such efforts have a tremendous impact on the entire market, setting an example for other corporations. Simultaneously, Amazon has begun the active construction of solar and wind power plants to obtain renewable energy sources. Finally, the CEO donated $ 10 billion to combat the climate crisis (Weise, 2020). These funds were spent on creating the so-called Bezos Earth Fund, designed to unite scientists, activists, and organizations of various kinds to solve a common problem. Bezos’s most fundamental idea is the development of the space industry, with the help of which humanity could leave the Earth with its dwindling resources.
Alternative Solutions
Emissions
The ideas of going into space, as well as switching to renewable energy sources, are certainly positive. However, such goals are too global, so it might be worth focusing on more pressing and vital tasks. For example, it is necessary to invent new methods for eliminating existing emissions into the atmosphere. The full transition to renewable energy will not take place soon, and until that time, it is necessary to somehow deal with the existing pollution. Therefore, the logical option is to develop filtration systems and market them. Plus, Amazon can use its influence to popularize them and motivate other companies to do the same.
Research and Development
It is also necessary to develop methods of getting rid of current problems and to study fundamentally new directions in technology and science. At the moment, the most popular is the concept of switching to electric vehicles. However, the widespread introduction of such technology creates a problem of environmental pollution with battery waste. Thus, it is necessary to develop new types of energy that are not only renewable but also do not harm the environment after the end of their service life. In a way, the Amazon CEO is taking this path with the Bezos Earth Fund, but the concept needs further development.
Recommendations
Thus, Amazon is one of the few corporations taking active steps towards solving the climate problem. However, the plans under consideration at the moment are too ambitious and aimed at the distant future. Hence, it is recommended to pay attention to more everyday and ubiquitous environmental issues, such as dealing with actual emissions. At the same time, it is necessary to continue researching possible options for replacing harmful energy sources with non-waste alternatives. Finally, further development of the Bezos Earth Fund is needed as an established platform that can unite people around a common problem.
References
Peltz, J.F. (2019). Jeff Bezos expanded Amazon’s climate change pledge. His workers want more. The Los Angeles Times. Web.
Weise, K. (2020). Jeff Bezos commits $10 billion to address climate change. The New York Times. Web.