Issues & Challenges on Contemporary Management Free Solution

Question: Describe about carbon footprints of the aviation sector in UK and benefits for businesses in reducing carbon footprints. Answer: Introduction: Carbon footprints have been a topic for discussion for the climate change monitoring agencies all across the globe. The increasing use of vehicles has added to the carbon emission of the countries worldwide. After the advent of air transport, it has become of the most preferred mode of transport by people. In UK alone it is seen that there is an increase in the use of airlines as the most used mode of transport by the people of the country. Benefits provided by air transport have made the people to use it owing to added functionality and being the fastest means to travel. This alone has added to the pollutants emission as they are the major contributors in the carbon emission in UK. The CO2 emission in UK is accounted to around 6.3% in 2005 (Aef.org.uk. 2016). As the number of air transports have increased since 2005 it has added to the CO2 emission in the country. Thus the companies dealing in the aviation business has to focus its attention on developing and manufacturing flights that emit lesser carbon dioxide. It is necessary for the companies to reduce the carbon footprints as it has been a major environmental issue in the world. Carbon Footprints in UK Stettler et al. (2013, p.10398) opined that carbon footprints can be defined as the amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted in undertaking various activities. As carbon dioxide is one of the major constituents of the green house gases it is used to determine the amount of gases emitted in undertaking an activity. It is seen that vehicles constitute most of the carbon emission in a country Harvey, Williams and Probert (2013, p.168). The increase in demand for vehicles grows across the countries that have in turn increased the carbon footprints in the countries. Air transport has been one of the most popular means of transport for people these days. Air transport has helped in the growth of business all across the world but in turn has affected the environment largely. Aviation industry is seen to contribute the larger amount of carbon footprints in UK in recent times (livestrong.com 2015). Various activities related to the aviation sector have added to the carbon emission in the countries. Flight alone is one of the major sources of green house gases that have degraded the environment in UK. In the years 2011 to 2012 it was seen that there was a rise in the carbon footprints by 2% in UK (Aef.org.uk. 2016). The supermarket sector is among the most motivated sector that has cut down its carbon emissions widely. Tesco is among the leaders in the retail sector that is looking to cut down its carbon emission by 2020 Lee, Seo and Sharma (2013, p.21) In UK companies like Tesco and Asda has taken up the initiative to cut down the carbon emission. They have motivated their suppliers to take up carbon reduction techniques to cut down the emissions jointly in the country. Taking up greener solutions have not just helped in reducing the carbon footprints in the country but has also helped the companies to have competitive advantage in the market (Aef.org.uk. 2016). Carbon footprints of the aviation sector in UK Nakamura, Kajikawa and Suzuki (2013) argued that aviation industry has recently attracted attention of many environment protection agencies as being of the major contributors of the carbon footprint of the country. Aviation industry has recently seen a rise in the demand that has further added to climate problems worldwide. UK is one of the major countries facing challenges from the aviation sector due to the carbon emission of the sector in the country Agarwal, (2012, p.114). In UK, aviation is the major sector that is seen to produce the highest amount of carbon into the air. Aviation industry is among the industry that uses a large amount of fuel for its functioning that emits huge amount of carbon into the environment. As the recent trends predict the emission on from aviation sector can go up to 25 % in 2050 (Aviationbenefits.org. 2016). UK is seen as one of the leaders in terms of carbon emission and thus poses a threat to the environment as a whole globally. Among the aviation sector the airline companies in UK are seen to be least energy efficient and major contributor of the carbon footprints in the country. Carbon is identified as one of the factor that has caused the global warming all across the globe. Thus it is needed for the companies in the aviation sector to cut down the emission. British Airways is pointed out as one of the companies that are least fuel efficient in the aviation sector in UK. They are seen to use older flights that are less energy efficient and add to the carbon emission to the atmosphere (Aviationbenefits.org. 2016). British airways and CO2 emission British Airways is among the largest airlines companies in the aviation sector in UK. In the recent reports it is identified as one of the major CO2 emitters in the country. As the aviation sector is among the major contributors it is the duty of the companies associated with the aviation sector to cut down its emission. It is seen that British Airways are still relying on the older aircrafts that were less fuel efficient and contributed largely to the carbon emission. The newer models are more fuel efficient and cause lesser pollution to the environment. As the demand of flights goes on increasing it is needed for the companies to cut down their CO2 emission that in turn can help them have a better competitive edge in the sector Baumeister and Onkila (2014, p.87). The companies can implement the cleaner strategies to cut down their cost as well as build reputation in the market. It is needed for the companies to adapt strategies that can reduce the carbon emission and help in becomi ng a greener company. It helps businesses to set examples and grow as market leaders by paving ways for competitors to follow the greener solution. In todays business environment where the buyers have become aware and are opting to choose the more environment friendly options over others. This has made it necessary for the companies to adapt environment friendly techniques that can help them build favorable image amidst its competitors as stated by (Steven and Merklein 2013, p.114).British Airways has planned to build a plant that can be used to convert the wastes generated by the people of London to jet fuels. This can further help the company in reducing its carbon emission that can help the company to have competitive advantage in the aviation sector (Britishairways.com 2016). Effects of the carbon footprints According to Wu, Qian and Li (2014, p.25) aviation industry is seen as one of the alarming reason for the carbon emission that is affecting the environment of the world as a whole. The aviation sector is responsible for the majority of the greenhouse gases emitted to the environment. Aviation sector is seen to contribute around 2 % to the overall carbon emission. The effects of carbon emission can be harmful for the environment and thus pose a threat to the humans due to increasing number of sources responsible for the emission Malina et al. (2012, p.38). Carbon emission can be of great threat to the environment due to its nature of affecting the climate change and other environmental factors. Greenhouse gases are the major cause for the rising temperature and climatic change that is affecting the world as a whole. Aviation sector does not only releases carbon dioxides but other gases too that if emitted on higher altitude can cause many environmental problems. The rise in temperature in the world has been a major effect of the greenhouse gases that has affected the environment overall. The increase in the temperature has many adverse affect on the environment. This has been an issue that is focused by the aviation industries so as to minimize the carbon emission in the environment. It is also seen that the carbon footprints is responsible for the depletion of resources for the businesses Hari, Yaakob and Binitha (2015, p.1235). Using the sources that emit lesser pollutants can help in gaining competitive advantage over the other companies in the market (Nair and Paulose 2014, p.180). Benefits for businesses in reducing carbon footprints Appeal to investors: investors are willing to invest their money in businesses that are more concerned about reducing their carbon footprints. This would help the firms to establish themselves as business leaders who are responsible towards their environment. It is seen that customers today are choosing businesses that are more environment friendly over the ones neglecting the issue Coles, Fenclova and Dinan (2014, p.157). Companies like British Airways are developing ways to reduce their dependency on non renewable fuels. This would help the aviation businesses to have better control over their waste generation and thus reduce their carbon footprints in the environment. Build reputation: as the aviation business is getting competitive in the market it is necessary for the companies to build its reputation in the market to have a growth in business as opined by Tribe (2015, p.71). As the businesses are willing to invest more on reducing the waste generation aviation business are also required to induce the latest technologies to reduce its carbon footprints. Ethical consideration is necessary for the businesses to succeed in the business. It is thus necessary for companies like British Airways to implement the newer strategies that can help them reduce the carbon footprints of the company (Gssling, Scott and Hall 2015, p.207) Reduce cost: the newer fuels are seen more energy efficient and thus help the companies in reducing the cost of their fuel consumption. Thus aviation giants are looking to switch its dependency on the non renewable fuels to greener and renewable energy sources. It can help the businesses to have competitive advantage over the competitors by reducing the cost of services Cheung, Kragt and Burton (2015, p.105). It is needed for the companies to have options available for them to reduce their cost and provide for better services at lower prices. Many companies are seen to have cut down the cost of their services and tickets to appeal to larger market of audience. Reach wider markets: developing countries like India and China are growing markets for the aviation sector. The companies are looking forward to invest more in developing their strategies to reach wider market and grow their business. Many countries have introduced the carbon emission measuring standards. This makes the companies to adapt techniques that can comply with the terms of that particular country. Thus for companies looking to extend its market must make sure they have their emissions within the standard level permitted in the country (theguardian.com 2012). Conclusion: The aviation business is one of the sectors that are most responsible for environment depletion and carbon emission. Carbon emission has been one of the major causes for environment problems all across the globe. Every country is seen affected by the emissions from the aviation activities that are releasing carbon and other green house gases in the environment. It is seen that the gases that are emitted by flights at higher altitudes are the major reason for the climate change in the world. It is of urgent importance for the various companies in the aviation sector to implement newer techniques to have competitive advantage. It is advisable for the aviation companies to try to implement newer and improved technologies in their operations to reduce the carbon emission from the activities. Especially in UK where the big companies are seen to still depend on older flights that emit a lot more emission. The companies are required to pay more attention to conserve the environment they work in. It is of utmost importance as the consumers today are aware of environment problems and are seen to choose the companies that are more concerned towards protecting the environment. Reference list Aef.org.uk. 2016. Aviation Environment Federation Climate Change and Aviation. 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