Resources and Environment for Economic Development - Literature review Example

JOURNAL ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION Name Course Date JOURNAL ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION Readings Article 1 Sharma, Yadab Raj. ‘Resources and Environment for Economic Development.’ Academic Voices 2, no. 1 (2012): 86-89. Article 2 Chen, Yu-Shan and Chang, Ching-Hsun ‘Greenwash and Green Trust: The Mediation Effects of Green Consumer Confusion and Green Perceived Risk.’ J Bus Ethics 114 (2013): 489–500. Subject/ Theme of the Article Article 1 Sharma looks at how human activities have impacted on the environment as a whole. This is because the article talks of environmental pollution as a result of human activities. He mainly focuses on how industrialisation has affected the environment as it has greatly contributed to pollution of the environment.1 Article 2 Chen and Chang focus on the relationship that exists between companies, consumers and the environment. According to the authors consumers have become environmental conscious leading to companies changing their advertising strategies. This has led to companies depicting their products as environmental friendly which might not be the case. These actions are what the authors refer to as Greenwash, but consumers are finding it difficult to trust these companies as result of greenwash. Therefore, Chen and Chang look at the relationship that exists between greenwash and green trust in relation to the conservation of the environment.2 Methods used Article 1 Sharma adopt a qualitative approach to the research as he tries to expand on the issue of environment and development. The article bases its information from secondary sources and primary sources such as observation and general knowledge in relation to environment and development. Article 2 Chen and Chang approach the research using quantitative method of research which is evident from the use of questionnaires and hypotheses. These questionnaires are to be used to answer the various hypothetical questions designed to assist in reaching a conclusion for the article. Argument/ Findings Article 1 Sharma is of the view that environment is essential for the survival of the human species. This is despite the numerous efforts that man has tried to ensure their survival. According to the author the environment can do without humans but human on the other hand cannot do without the environment. This is evident in the activities conducted by humans such as creation of industries which depend on environmental resources to run. The author also argues that humans are not willing to rely on some of the renewable resources such as water and air as they view them to be less profitable than non-renewable resources such as oil. Therefore, this has led to depletion of non-renewable resources in addition to destruction of the environment as they attempt to reach them. Additionally, the author argues that failure to preserve the environment greatly impacts on the lives of humans. This is because what is left is not enough to sustain the ever growing human population. Therefore, in an effort to remedy the situation the Sharma proposes certain approaches that would benefit both humans and the environment. One such remedy is population control as the author states that the population should correspond to the existing resources. Additionally, the authors states that countries should switch to renewable sources of energy such as water and wind. In doing so, this reduces over dependence on non-renewable resources thus safeguarding what is remaining for the future. There is little damage to the environment when using renewable sources in conducting day to day activities than when using non-renewable resources. Therefore, the world should make good use of the existing resources and ensure the protection of the environment at all costs. Article 2 Chen and Chang are of the view that issues of environment especially protection of the environment have been on the rise in recent years. This has affected tha manner in which companies conduct their activities as they try to ensure the protection of the environment. Consumers, on the other hand, have also become environmental conscious when it comes to purchasing company products. This has led to companies labelling and depicting their products as environmental friendly. The reason for doing do is to try and win over the consumers over their opponents. However, Chen and Chang note that this is not the case and have labelled the actions of companies as greenwash. Greenwash according to the authors refers to where companies advertise their product as environmental when in the real sense they are not. These actions have led to consumers losing trust in products by companies that depict them as environmental friendly. This is attributed to the inability by consumers to understand the environmental implication of the products, as a result of greenwash, with the authors terming it this as green consumer confusion. Chen and Chang are of the view that companies should refrain from greenwash if they are to realize profit from the sale of its products. Additionally, too much green wash increases chances of green consumer confusion. This, in turn, leads to consumers losing trust on the products of the various companies. Therefore, according to Chen and Chang if the companies are to gain the trust of the consumers they have to reduce the amount of greenwash. In doing so, this reduces green consumer confusion and perceived risk, thus leading to creation of trust. This is to say that companies with little amount of greenwash are more likely to gain the trust of consumers. This is compared to companies that engage in too much greenwash. Evidence Article 1 Sharma has raised very important issues that touch on the environment and how it relates to development which in this case is industrialisation. According to Sharma as humans continue developing and innovating new industrial ideas they tend to affect the environment. This is because these new developments require environmental resources to meet their needs. This, in turn leads to destruction of the environment especially non-renewable resources. This position was also reached at by Hens and Pimentel who are of the view that development cannot be achieved without the use of natural resources. Therefore, this shows that natural resources do play a crucia; role in development. However, they are of the view that natural resources should be used in a proper manner. This is to mean that despite the need to use natural resources they should be used in an sustainable manner. One of the ways this could be achieved is steps such as forestation and reduction in the amount of pollution.3 Therefore, just as Sharma stated the environment should be conserved not only our use but also for the future generations. Article 2 According to Feinstein greenwash has great impact not only to the consumers but also to the environment as a whole. This is because greenwash manipulates consumers into believing that companies are environmental conscious as a result of their adverts. However, this is not the case for most companies that portray themselves as environmental conscious. These actions are normally to gain an edge over their competitors. However, once consumers realize that they are being conned they tend to avoid products from such companies.4 This is also the position stated by Furlow who states that greenwashing affects the relationship that exists between companies and consumers. According to Furlow greenwashing does not go well with consumers especially those that are environmental conscious. This is attributed toi the growing concern of protecting the environment. Therefore, when companies portray themselves as environmentally friendly, when they are not they will get negative reception. This is because consumers feel cheated and start avoiding their products, which could lead to such companies experiencing losses as consumers avoid their products.5 Observation After looking at both articles it is quite clear that environment and protection of the environment is such an important subject in the world. This can be attributed to the fact that human activities have been degrading the environment without much care. This has led to initiatives to address this issue and to try and safeguard the environment. Additionally, companies have taken advantage of the environmental issue to advance their interests. This is evident whereby companies portray them as environmental conscious while advertising their product. This has infuriated consumers who are concerned about the protection of the environment. This has, in turn, affected the sales of such companies as consumers develop negative attitudes towards them. Therefore, what is evident in both articles is that issues of environment attract a lot of attention. This can be attributed to the growing need across the world to safeguard the environment by utilising the resources properly. Additionally, products that tend to degrade the environment are greatly opposed by consumers. Conclusion In conclusion, a lot has to be done to conserve the environment as well as the already depleting resources. This would require collaboration from every sector from countries to businesses to individuals. The primary aim for such actions is to ensure that the environment is suitable and able to sustain everyone. Additionally, the issue of greenwashing has to be addressed as it poses great danger to the environment. This can only be achieved by ensuring that companies are honest about their products. This not only helps conserve the environment but also help companies attain consumer’s trust in their products. Bibliography Chen, Yu-Shan and Chang, Ching-Hsun ‘Greenwash and Green Trust: The Mediation Effects of Green Consumer Confusion and Green Perceived Risk.’ J Bus Ethics 114 (2013): 489–500. Feinstein, Nick. ‘Learning From Past Mistakes: Future Regulation To Prevent Greenwashing’ Boston College Environmental Affairs Law Review 40, no. 1 (2013): 229-257. Furlow, Nancy. “Greenwashing in the New Millennium," Journal of Applied Business and Economics 10, no. 6 (2009): 22-25. Hens, Luc and Pimentel, David. ‘Environment, Development and Sustainability,’ Sustainable development 8, no. 4 (2006): 465-639. Sharma, Yadab Raj. ‘Resources and Environment for Economic Development.’ Academic Voices 2, no. 1 (2012): 86-89. Read More