Socio-Cultural Dimension At Workplace: Conservation Of Environment And Ethical Approaches

Social and Environmental Issues

Discuss about the Socio-Cultural Dimension at Workplace.

With increasing population and modern outlook of people, the society is facing numerous dilemma and issues related to several social and political aspects. As commented by Bowler et al. (2012), these issues are handled ethically through autonomy, distributive justice and responsibility. It is the responsibility of society to conserve the environment properly after its massive usage due to industrialization and modernization. As the organizations are utilizing the maximum benefit of the renewable and non-renewable sources of energy, it is their responsibility to make the best use of it and conserve it for future use. According to Chapin et al. (2013), conservation of environment refers to protection of land, water, soil and forests in an integrated and planned way. A framework is needed to be developed for addressing landscape, global dimensions as well as eco-system for the present and future benefit of the environment. There are several aspects of socio-political issues such as conservation of the environment, reformation of guns and same-sex marriage. In this context, ethical approach and discussions will be done on basis of organizations approach and advancement towards environmental conservation across the globe.

In this contemporary society, one of the major socio-political issues that have recently arisen is the extent of environmental conservation approaches taken by several organizations operating across the world. As opined by Finger & Princen (2013), protection of environment is a practice of safeguarding and protecting natural environment, its wildlife and humans along with maintaining an ecological balance in this bio-diverse environment. With the rising population, the level of food consumption and usage of non-renewable and renewable resources are increasing. Moreover, technological advancement and industrializing are also increasing rapidly to cater the rising demand for food and basic necessities of people. Hence, industrial countries are engaging in several environmental agreements for keeping balance between ecology and their usage. Chasek, Downie & Brown (2013) had an opinion that several practices are involved that ensure development of policies for sustainable usage and conservation of land.  It also ensures strengthening of several institutions as well as coordinating mechanisms to encourage environmental conservation to the maximum extent. Strong environmental conservation laws need to be set up and make all the international, national and state organizations to strictly adhere to its policies, rules and regulations. These laws also extend their regulations against soil, water or air pollution and even to global warming and depletion of non-renewable resources (Conca & Dabelko, 2014).

Methods of Conservation of Environment

Ghai & Vivian, (2014) suggested that it is our Earth and hence we should ensure its protection and safety. Since, we are utilizing the maximum resources of the Earth for meeting our own demands, respect should be given to nature along with conservation of the same. As per environmental laws, several methods are to be adopted that helps in strong conservation of environment.  One of the methods of conservation of environment is adoption of green practices to reduce carbon footprint. In this method, organizations adopt environmental conscious operations and practices in the workflow that reduces global warming and take a strong step towards sustainability. It can be done through less printing that leads to less paper usage. O’riordan (2014) had a proposal that organizations need to go digital to prevent paper wastage in the workplace. Moreover, when the electrical equipment are not in usage, it is the responsibility of all the human beings irrespective of workplace or home, should unplug the appliances to conserve energy. Along with this, organizations should emphasize on recycling process where waste materials are recycled and given a new shape and form for future usage. It, therefore, makes the maximum utilization of waste materials and hence reduces the wastage of it. Even more, the organizations can also build green offices from recycled and renewable materials and use certain sustainable fabrics like bamboo or hemp for its window making and floor-up (Mannion, 2014). These ethical approaches embraced by the organizations will definitely help in conservation of environment.

As mentioned by Sullivan (2013), another method of conservation of environment is tough embracing as well as promoting alternative and renewable sources of energy. It will definitely help in sustainable living as well as conservation of non-renewable resources. Solar, wind and tidal energies are the renewable sources that can be used to the maximum extent in generating electricity for all purpose activities at home or in industries. It is subsequently better than utilization of fossil fuels, which is a non-renewable energy and once depleted cannot be replenished. This ethical and moralistic behavior of the organizations towards conservation of resources is another justified way of social changes. Susskind & Ali (2014) commented that it is the responsibility of all the industries across the world to protect every single element of the environment. The organizations should involve in CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) activities to ensure more plantation of trees, conservation of soil erosion and low level of wastage disposal to water bodies.  It, therefore, helps in protecting the human and other organizations from excess heating up and ill-effects of global warming.  The conservation of soil helps in retaining the nutrients beneath it that leads to production of good quality crops and supply of oxygen to environment (Pearce, 2014).

Ethical Approaches towards Environmental Conservation

Sutherland et al. (2015) stated that all the organizations should conduct training sessions at workplace for educating the employees in pursuing several practice habits for environmental conservation. With the increase in purchase of vehicles, the fuels like petrol, gasoline and diesel are mostly used. Their combustion produces the emission of harmful gasses like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and other greenhouse gasses that pollute air. So, employees are taught that while they go out for any purpose, they should either walk down to the place or take any public transport. It will definitely help them in saving their money and will also add less pollution to environment. According to Tscharntke et al. (2012), people are also taught about less usage of chemicals and artificial pesticides for growing plants. Nowadays, organic growing of plants is more emphasized by the global environmental conservation bureaucratic bodies. It will help in conservation and preservation of soil nutrients and will make our food products less toxic in nature.

In addition to this, there are several other ethical ways of conservation of energy and less input of pollutants into the environment. Van Vliet et al. (2012) also commented if people quit smoking, then it will definitely help in improving their lung’s health as well as add low level of air pollution.  Moreover, people can adopt a habit of washing clothes after the laundry bag is entirely full. It will reduce less usage of water and will also lead to less utilization of synthetic shops for washing. Plastic bottles and plastic bags should be entirely banned across the world. It is due to the fact that it causes clogging of water as well as prevents oxygen to reach the surface of water bodies leading to death of several equal specifies. It, therefore, misbalances the ecological balance of the world that may lead to serious problems in the Earth. So, Tyberghein et al. (2012) mentioned that ethical steps need to be adopted for conservation of energy. Strict rules and regulations are to be established in several organizations across the world to prevent plastic manufacturing and usage of the same for any purpose. Organizations should be bound to sign up such petitions of environmental conservation as well as promotion of the same. Even more, the organizations should adhere to international rules, standards and regulates pertaining to environmental conservations (Whalley, 2016).

Chasek, Downie & Brown (2013) stated that the different Environmental Laws and Rules are constituted by the several global environment conservation organizations to make the other industries to adhere to its rules and regulations. The Environmental Protection Act and Rules are laid down to control and treatment of hazardous elements into the environment. These laws also have set standards that to permit emission and discharge of several poisonous environmental pollutants. Moreover, about these laws and ethical standards, organizations are also not liable to throw out any solid wastes into the environment without treating it (Finger & Princen, 2013).

Laws and Principles of Environment Conservation

In this entire essay, one of the socio-political issues like environmental conservation is thoroughly discussed. It explains several harmful impacts of non-conservation of the environment. It is seen that depletion of renewable energy may adversely affect the industrialization and modernization of the societies. Moreover, it is clearly depicted that environmental conservation leads to conservation of soil, water, forests and land. As we are benefited from Mother Earth through these natural resources, it is our duty and responsibility to preserve and conserve it rather than misusing it. Moreover, in this context, several ethical methods of conservation of environment are also discussed. Misuse of electricity, non-usage of plastic materials, encouraging organic growth, embracing alternative methods of energy sources, quitting smoking and making the organization digital are some steps towards preserving environmental resources. Along with this, the CSR activities adopted by the organizations also helps in conducting certain campaigns to encourage and people in adopting several ethical and moralistic ways of conversation of the environment. The context also discusses several laws adopted by global environment conserving organizations to make industries and organizations adhere to its rules and principles. 

References

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