Economic Development, Climate Change and the Limitations of Corporate Social Responsibility

S. Toms (2013), ‘Economic development, climate change and the limitations of corporate social responsibility’, in Kathryn Haynes, Alan Murray, Jesse Dillard (eds), Corporate Social Responsibility, A Research Handbook, Abingdon: Routledge.

21 Pages Posted: 2 Feb 2014

See all articles by Steve Toms

Steve Toms

University of Leeds - Faculty of Business; University of Leeds - Division of Accounting and Finance

Date Written: January 31, 2014

Abstract

The chapter argues that the reform of the corporation to promote greater social responsibility is an unlikely solution to the crisis of climate change. The managers of business organisations are relatively powerless in the face of the powerful market forces which drive increasing consumption of the world’s resources. In particular the strong association between the development of oil resources, the worlds markets and productive capacity are noted as the key determinants of climate change. Responses to the challenges of climate change are best formulated through predictive analysis of its key determinants, along the lines of the 2007 Stern Report and the debate it has subsequently engendered. In view of the correlation between oil consumption, world and sustainable population, peak oil poses as strong a challenge to economic growth as does significant climate change.

Keywords: Corporate social responsibility, peak oil, population, critical accounting

JEL Classification: D64, E44, M14, M40, L71

Suggested Citation

Toms, Steve, Economic Development, Climate Change and the Limitations of Corporate Social Responsibility (January 31, 2014). S. Toms (2013), ‘Economic development, climate change and the limitations of corporate social responsibility’, in Kathryn Haynes, Alan Murray, Jesse Dillard (eds), Corporate Social Responsibility, A Research Handbook, Abingdon: Routledge., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2388693 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2388693

Steve Toms (Contact Author)

University of Leeds - Faculty of Business ( email )

Leeds LS2 9JT
United Kingdom

University of Leeds - Division of Accounting and Finance ( email )

Leeds LS2 9JT
United Kingdom

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