Sustainable Development Policy of BHP Billiton - Case Study Example

BHP Sustainable Development policy Student’s Name Institution Affiliation Introduction In the world we are living in it is important for those who are in existence to take care of the available resources. Taking care of resources involves ensuring that the future generations are protected by using resources carefully something that will enable them also to survive. To ensure all these it is important some sustainable programs and practices be incorporated in the organizations’ programs something that will assist them be able to achieve these dream. Strategy towards achieving the goals of sustainability must be put in place. To ensure that the sustainability goals are protected then there are important areas that must be considered. Some of the sustainability programs that must be amongst the goal of organization include; climate change management programs like on how to deal with pollution, community based projects that are going to ensure peaceful coexistence between the companies and the surrounding and finally, conservation of the natural environment projects. BHP Billiton being one of the organizations in the world has undertaken recommendable programs that have dealt with the above goals in order to ensure sustainability of both its business and the ensuring that environmental factors are taken into consideration. In this report we are going to see some of these factors and how the company is undertaking it in a bid to ensure that success in it operation is achieved in an all-round manner (Armstrong, 2012, pg. 6). BHP’s approach to sustainable development and their sustainable development strategy Any institution has got a reason to have an underlying strategy that it will use both in the long run in a bid to ensure that it attains the much needed success in its operation. For a company to excel, it is important that it has developmental goals that are sustainable. This will ensure that it easily achieves both its long term and short term goals. For BHP, it has set out goals that it needs to achieve in its daily needs to ensure that it succeeds in all sections of its operation. Some of the factors that it has taken into consideration are as follows; environmental protection, health and safety of employees and community development. All these factors are important as they cover most important factors of the organization. Below is some of the importance driven out of each and every factor; Environmental protection By dealing with environmental protection programs, it will ensure that the actions undertaken by BHP will be one that will not harm the environment. It will ensure that all the natural resources use will be those that will not harm the environment in anyway. This programs will educate the public on how to undertake environment conservation. Environmental conservation is an important factor as it will be beneficial both the company and the surrounding. By using raw materials in a rational and good manner, it will ensure that the company will have sustainable resources that will not easily be depleted. Conservation of raw materials ensures that the company will have quality sources of raw material which will translate to quality production in the long run. When the environment is well conserved, it means that even the consumers of the products of the company will have a good environment that will enable them to undertake economic activities hence increase their purchasing power. This is a measure that will see the company have a sustainable production program and many will feel that the company minds them a lot hence purchase their products. Health and safety of employees Employees are the most important asset that an organization will ever have. Always the employees are the ones who will determine to what extent and at what level that the company will go. Employees are the ones who implement various plans that are required to run within the organization. When employees are satisfied and taken care of, then any company will perform well and achieve its goals and even go beyond the expectations. BHP has been able to come up with a health and safety program for employees. These means that when the employees will be performing different functions within the organization, they will be satisfied and perform there functions with a lot of energy and freedom. When this program is established within any organization, it means that the required standards of health are observed within the organization to ensure that employees do not get diseases that can keep them away from the organization for sick leaves. On the other hand, it is important to note that this policy always ensures that employees are well compensated in case they get accidents while performing duties on official duties. All these are things that will boost the employee morale and in the long run ensure that their performance level is elevated within the organization. Community development These are programs that are undertaken by a company in a bid to ensure that they give back to the society. It is a form of social corporate responsibility which is a sign of appreciating those who are around the area of operation of the business. The aim of carrying out of community development activities is to ensure that those who are the customers, neighbors and stakeholders of the organization that do not benefit directly also feel the importance of the business. This will show the customers that they are being recognized and to some extent they are stakeholders in the organization. When the community development activities are undertaken it will help BHP be build its reputation amongst customers and ensure that royalty is developed amongst customers. Through the community development the company is going to create awareness in most of it interests which will assist the company in achieving its goals with easy. Therefore BHP has taken a good step in undertaking this activity as it acts as a way of giving back to the community and showing that they are together in undertaking the activities that are required to assist the community at large. The lives of the people from the community will be elevated and they will be encourage to do more business with the company in order to sustain its operations (Crowther, 2000, pg. 10). Climate change and biodiversity loss control activities as undertaken by BHP Billiton Climate change is a major concern in today world. The world is experiencing a changing rate of climate activities making it difficult for companies to continue the traditional sources of energy, as they are the major pollution agents of the environment. There have been calls from different quarters of the world that climate change management should be a course that should be undertaken by all the people. Climate change has a great impact in the society; it can actually determine the kind of lifestyle that people can live in a given region. When climate change occurs it comes with its own recursions. It is important for measure to be put to ensure that climate change does not cause harmful effects to those who are living in that given region. Most of the people have argued that with increased industrialization, then we have seen increased release of carbon to the environment something that has led to depletion of the ozone layer. This has resulted to the environment being warm than the normal ranges (Mathews & Tan, 2015, pg. 23). Too much heat on the earth surface has its own effects. In the long run it may lead to too much rain that cause floods hence destruction. On the other hand, the rays from the sun may cause diseases like skin cancer and other scorching effects that can cause permanent harm in the long run. It is important to note that the only way to reduce carbon pollution is by ensuring that companies are using renewable sources of energy in their operations. This will reduce drastically the quantity of carbon that is release to the atmosphere. Also, conserving biodiversity is another undertaking that is important to those who live in a particular region and the company itself. It is important to note that vegetation cover is also an agent that can be used in reduction of the quantity of carbon in the atmosphere. Therefore destruction of vegetation may cause harm to the environment and in the case where it is done in a manner that is beyond control it may lead to climate change in a given area. There are areas that have been rendered deserts due to massive destruction of vegetation cover (Porter, 2016, pg.2). When BHP involves itself in climatic changes management and biodiversity conservation it means it will have to undertake activities and those measure that will ensure that the reduction of emissions of carbon to the environment. This means that the company will actively be ensuring that renewable source of energy as the major sources of energy. On the other hand, it is important to note that the company can be involved in biodiversity conservation by ensuring that vegetation is being planted making it possible that they will cover more land and make the surrounding benefit from the planted vegetation. The company can also participate in active public education of ensuring that people understand the importance of protecting the environment from any form of pollution (Mathews & Tan, 2015, pg. 23). BHP’s response to climate change and their policy dealing with climate change evaluation The policies that BHP has put in place to ensure that climate change is dealt are one of the best way to ensure that its sustainable goals are achieved. The policies laid in place then it shows a concern for the environment and ensuring that the climate change does not occur due to the activities that the organization carries out. It is important to note that there are known ways that have been stated on how the implementation of the policies is going to take place. This puts the whole issue of the policies on paper till a method of implementation is put in place. When an organization comes up with some policies it is important to come up with the procedures of implementation. However, by coming up with the policies it is a point to show the company is aware of the impacts of climate change and there is good will to deal with the whole problem. When undertaking the process of coming up with the policies, then it means that the company had seen something important in ensuring that the environment is conserved (Flavelle, 2015, pg. 4). The response to climate change starts with coming up with policies then looking for the best ways to implement the policies. The policies should always be factored in and with the fact that the company has sustainable development plan it is an indication that all the budgets required have been factored in ensuring that everything is achieved, however, the kind of business that BHP deals with will always put in doubt the whole plan. The company deals with non-renewable sources of energy. It will be difficult for the company to implement a policy that will see its business reduce drastically. Therefore the policy document that may have been written may be one that is meant to improve the public relationship of the company. Therefore the whole policy is difficult to determine whether it is being undertaken due to Public relations or concern for environment conservation (Porter, 2016, pg.2). The benefits of the policies To BHP The company will be seen as one that is concerned with those factors that affect the environment hence attracts more customers. It will increase the confidence of the customers on its products. It will also have a humble environment of carrying out its business since people will have appreciated the way the company operates. Finally, the company will see increase of its seals as they will be seen as ones that are friendly to the environment. Host communities The communities will have a clean environment, as the company will actively be involved in activities that will clean up the environment. Also, the community will be receiving clean products that will not be polluting the environment, as the company will strictly ensure that the environment is clean. The natural environment The natural environment will be seriously be conserved as the company will try to ensure that it has minimized emission of gases to the environment. This will ensure that the general environment is clean. Conclusion BHP has embarked on a good policy of having a sustainable development policy that will have a great impact in the long-term. It is important to note that all the factors that will be in the policy will improve in a great way making everything good for the environment conservation. Therefore undertaking the policy is a positive thing to the environment. References Christopher Flavelle, 2015. Talk Is Cheap. Renewable Energy Isn't, Bloomberg, pg 2-6. Eduardo Porter, 2016. How Renewable Energy Is Blowing Climate Change Efforts Off Course, The New York Times, pg. 2. Haines A, Kovats RS, Campbell-Lendrum D, Corvalan C. 2006. Climate change and human health: impacts, vulnerability, and mitigation. Lancet. 367(9528):2101-9 John A. Mathews and Hao Tan. 2015. 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