We won’t have a society if we 1. __ the environment.
Big businesses often feel threatened by the growing concern for the 2. _ and would rather close their eyes to the reality of the situation. However, it is difficult to deny that the climate is changing; it 3. _ to notice the increasingly hot summers, 4. _ and floods, as well as drastic weather changes. There is no doubt that nature’s raging 5. _ have been human-induced. In addition to our individual contributions to the 6. _ levels (the main culprit in the whole climate change story), businesses around the globe undoubtedly have a lot to 7. _ for. There is a saying that the only legitimate reason for the existence of business is profit. However, nowadays there are lots of 8. _ business opportunities to be exploited in response to climate change. While some people will despair, 9. _ entrepreneurs will find ways of making profit, the most obvious example of this being a boost in the sales of air-conditioners. 10. __ management has already proved its profitability; e.g. Houston-based Waste Management Inc. is a company where waste equals profit.
There are numerous ways of going green, both profitable for businesses and beneficial to the environment. As formulated by a representative of the United Parcel Service, one of the world’s largest package delivery companies, ‘managing 11. _ consumption and 12. _ gas emissions is a business opportunity – one that can improve the 13. _ line, reduce our impact and our customers’ impact on the environment and increase the long-term 14. _ of our company’. Companies that respond to the growing customers’ environment-consciousness by developing new hybrid technologies (such as Honda and Toyota) will not only increase revenues but also gain a competitive advantage. At the same time, they will avoid environmental lawsuits 15. __ for harmful practices as depicted in movies such as Erin Brokovich.
