Corporate Responsibility in the Face of Global Economic Integration
Sir Peter Blake
Head of Expeditions
The Cousteau Society
I am not a scientist, or a marine biologist, but I have spent much of my life on the oceans of the world. I have traveled far and wide.
There are changes taking place that are alarming. Species are disappearing. The oceans are still being used as a dumping ground-starting in streams and rivers-industrial waste products/human waste/agricultural "run-off'. The ice caps are melting at a faster and faster rate.
I don't think you need to be a scientist to understand that we are all looking at a situation that is getting worse by the day-not improving as we might wish.
In what I have to say, I have taken the advice of some of the world's top scientists, to make sure that my facts are correct. I am also speaking from the heart-which for me is even more important.
I have kept my talk in very simple terms-because I think the problem is a simple one. The big problem is getting it understood in simple language on a worldwide basis.
Members of PBEC could make a real difference, a huge difference, if they believe that a difference is necessary-as I do. PBEC's membership, which includes 1100 of the regions major corporations, accounts for $US 4 trillion in global sales and employs 10 million people.
The estimated value of the world's ecological goods and service is US$33 trillion dollars.
This includes such things as:
- Oxygen content of the atmosphere from photosynthesis
- All the biochemical cycles
- Water cycle
- Productivity, production of all food for all animals
- The ozone layer that protects us from harmful UV radiation.
These ecological goods and services make the world habitable for humans as well as for other life forms of the bioshpere. It would be impossible to duplicate these services with present or projected future technologies at the scale that would come close to the natural levels.
A healthy planet is necessary for successful long term commerce. Sustained economic prosperity depends on healthy human populations. Thus, the future of humanity is inexorably linked to the health of the living planet, the Biosphere.
The Biosphere is the relatively thin life-supporting stratum of the Earth's surface, extending from a few kilometers into the atmosphere to the deep-sea vents of the oceans. The biosphere is a global ecosystem composed of living organisms (biota) and the abiotic (non-living) factors from which they derive energy and nutrients.
The Earth:
The populations of organisms that have evolved here (regardless of how life began), and the process of evolution by natural selection has resulted in the formation of amazing life forms.
We like, and can relate to large animals, the ones that sit at or near the top of the food web. But in reality, it is the creatures smaller than 1 millimeter-mostly under 100 microns in size-which give the earth its unique character.
These are the earthworkers that do the biogeochemical work that results in our atmosphere and climate stability. They release oxygen as a waste product of energy captured from the sun. They respire the major share of the carbon dioxide.
Large animals and terrestrial plants take a part, but to a lesser extent. Trees are probably more engaged that large animals, as they produce a significant amount of oxygen and help regulate the water cycle.
At any rate, the earthworkers are virtually unknown to most humans, even though they are the life forms that have made, and keep, the planet's life support system functioning. They have evolved over billions of years.
Briefly, microbes and single celled organisms are the chief workers of this planetary system. They keep this water planet of ours "right for life". Single celled phytoplankton provide much, if not most, of the oxygen we breathe.
It has been said that you could remove every living creature bigger than 1 millimeter off the earth and it would still be earth. It would still have blue sky and an oxygen atmosphere. However, try the reverse and the system would soon crash.
The splendors of planet earth are to be enjoyed by the higher life forms that walk the planet, but always remember that it is the little guys that make it possible. Think of the tiny creatures as the rivets that fasten the plates of spaceship earth together. We owe it to future generations not to lose a single one.
Life is tied to liquid water. Life is chemically connected to the movement of air and water and to the soil.
As humanity has increased its presence on Earth, we are now about as powerful as the frost and perhaps the rain-we have disturbed the tight natural elemental couplings.
Agriculture essentially slits open the earth's belly and allows the land to bleed nutrients and sediments. Burning fossil fuels is undoing the eons of carbon storage that have kept the global temperatures within "life's limits"-etc.
The Oceans:
The world's oceans occupy almost three quarters of the surface of the world. They have an average depth of approximately 1 mile. Life began in the oceans and they are central to a healthy planet. We all live on a Water Planet.
Water is the critical key to the existence and distribution of life on Earth. Healthy oceans are necessary for a healthy biosphere.
The natural functioning of the biosphere can be understood in terms that describe the functioning of the human body with the ecosystems serving the functions of organs and tissue systems. For example: The great forests are the lungs, the atmosphere the fur (the ozone layer protects us, carbon dioxide content regulates heat content, etc.). Estuaries and wetlands are both kidneys and reproductive organs, rivers are arteries, and the seas are the bodily fluid.
As with human health, all of the systems must function to keep the body alive.
Developing the practice of sustainable ecology on a global scale would help insure a healthy planet for future generations and their future economies.
Coral Reefs:
Coral reefs are the greatest expression of life in the sea. The vitality of reefs has declined dramatically in the last 25 years, especially in coastal areas of the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean. The health of the coral reefs is linked to man's impacts via direct and indirect activities that foul water quality, or alter climate beyond tolerable ranges.
The Oceans are showing signs of human induced strain: Over half of the world's coral reefs are estimated to be under mid to high stress.
It has been suggested that the reef systems are more sensitive to a changing environment than are our finest oceanographic instruments and their condition can be considered an indicator of the health of the oceans.
As such, coral reefs are the harbingers of the declining health of the seas.
Today, the surface of the moon is better mapped than the sea floor of the oceans.
Ocean exploration, combined with education, is fundamentally important to increase the knowledge base of the planet. People throughout the world must be made aware of the problems of the stress on the Earth's resources caused by a radical increase in population and consumption.
For the ice caps to continue melting at the present rate will present everyone with almost insurmountable problems in the not too distant future-man's part in global warming needs to be appreciated and understood-not just by informed scientists-but by everyone.
The analysis of many important projects has shown that political and industrial decisions take into account only short-term consequences.
The list is very long:
- Radioactive waste
- Nuclear proliferation
- Depletion of fisheries stocks
- Massive deforestation
- Building on flood plains
- Major construction projects such as the Aswan dam.
These errors we have made are the result of the absence of a long-term vision.
Then there are:
- Soil erosion
- Changes in the composition of the earth's atmosphere.
- Widespread pollution of our seas.
- Dust generated from deforestation and agriculture is also globally distributed by atmospheric circulation. It is polluting the oceans.
So, long term environmental planning must take into account population growth. It must be made in full awareness of the effect on future generations.
The consequences of global warming are far reaching-sea levels rise, and rising temperatures-more intense storms, and so on.
How Can You Help?
We must all think about sustainable ecology-where long term consequences of our decisions and actions are fully considered. This is what will insure the continued prosperity of mankind.
To realise that good long-term business will require the practise of sustainable ecology.
This will require seeking long term, rather than short term, solutions that take into account economies, social issues and sustainable ecology.
Remember:
If we keep dumping wastes into streams, rivers, seas and oceans; if we keep those factory smoke stacks belching; if we don't improve the exhaust emissions from our vehicles, ships and planes; if forests are depleted more and more; if agriculture does not wake up in time to the effect it is having "down stream"; --- the oceans will "give up "-we will be in danger of killing off the life forms that make this planet habitable for us.
This is not just posturing. This is reality.
Remember, everyone can make a difference. It's time to begin.
There is no point in my preaching: "don't use a motor car, don't fly in an aeroplane"-that is not practical. But looking at the way we live and making a few smart changes will have a huge benefit for future generations-for my children-for yours-and our grand children-and beyond.
Wherever we look these days, the largest trees, the biggest game, the heaviest fish, the oldest corals, are vanishing from the earth. They are dying for sport, profit, and due to our manipulation of the planet.
If this continues at its current pace we will lose much of the collective wisdom of the planet.
As we cut the elders down, shoot them, hook them, eradicate them with disease, we are losing this living history. Ecological systems cannot be fabricated by humans, but require biological processing on the scales of ecological and evolutionary time. We must not lose sight of the role of wisdom in nature and our own civilization.
For my part, I am, in parallel with the Cousteau Society, going to endeavor to educate as many people as possible-about how fantastic this water planet of ours is.
I want as many people as possible to fall in love with the environment-with all its life forms. I want to take them on a televisual and Internet interactive series of expeditions to many parts of the globe-to understand the oceans, the weather, the part that water plays, the rivers, the forests, the coral reefs, the stocks of fish, the mighty whales, the wonders of the Arctic and the Antarctic, life in, on and around the seas of the world.
Intensely interesting education is the key. Then, and only then do I think we will start to change the way we all think.
I would like to think that all members of PBEC will start the ball rolling-the difference you can make will also make a difference to your bottom line, one day.
We all have a big part to play.
People have said to me-"why bother"-what can you do that will make much difference. My reply is that we must all "bother"-it's too important not to. For the reasons I have gone through before.
For those who feel as I do, please get involved. I am just at the end of the telephone, fax or e-mail.
To get involved will show that you understand and care enough to want to make a difference.