Want do you see as our most pressing environmental problems, and what role can and should business play in addressing them?

Most pressing environmental problems are climate change, pollution, increasing population, deforestation and disposal of wastes. Organizations are required to ensure the safety of the environment by developing strategies and decisions in favour of our environment. Activities and strategies which can draw a negative impact on the environment are against the sustainable development goals of a company. Our relationship with the environment depends upon the cost, benefit, culture and worldviews. We develop our decisions about organizational operations in the light of world views and our personal perceptions shaped by our culture and tradition. Thus, while developing strategies for business operations execution management consider their cultural perceptions and world perceptions about environmental impact. Organizations working in the United States are restricted under the law and regulation acts to make their production and business operations entirely environment-friendly. In the United States, around 1000 operating coal ash landfills and ponds and many hundreds of retired coal ash disposal sites.

Organization in United State produce products for the consumption of consumers. Organizations aim to fulfil the requirements of the consumer market. Therefore, sometimes they produce products to fulfil consumer requirement but fails to justify that product for the ecosystem. Thus, companies add a negative impact on the environment and cause to promote environmental problems such as pollution, deforestation and climate change. For instance, excessive production of plastic products such as straws and food packaging results in the increase of pollution. Companies can control these environmental problems by making their production and business operations sustainable and environmentally friendly. For instance, in US companies can use alternative products such as biodegradable products to reduce plastic pollution. Similarly, companies working US market can reduce climate change problems by reducing carbon emission. However, the company's objective should be related to sustainable development rather than profit maximization. Thus, US companies should bring changes in their production system and overall objectives to solve environmental problems (Boncori & Paché, 2016; Meier, 2013). 

2. Can companies be truly green, committed to sustainability, and economically viable?

Companies develop strategies and ensure practice to be considered as green, economically viable and committed to sustainability. Sustainability is projected as the prime objective of many leading companies. However, analysis shows that many companies are still unable to meet the goals of sustainability and green production system. Particularly, in United States organizations show that their processes and business operations are green and environmentally friendly. Behind this, the key objective is to build a positive image and reputation in the market to attract consumers for the sales of offered services and products. However, an organization cannot be considered as truly green, sustainable and economically viable if it is encouraging pollution and negative impact on the environment.

According to the concept of cost and benefit, cost should be paid by companies or entities who are causing to promote or generate environmental issues. Furthermore, companies and entities who are taking benefits from this situation are also responsible to pay the cost. Considering this, organizations which are involved in the processes and operations that have a negative impact on the environment cannot be considered as truly green and sustainable. For instance, in US Unilever company claims for sustainability however, each year the company contributes to pollution by adding 200,000 plastic bottles. Similarly, PepsiCo, Coca Cola, and P&G are also using excessive water resources and causes to increase carbon emission. Even these companies have records of sustainable practices but these companies cannot be considered as truly green (Bbc.com, 2019; Roos, 2010).             

3. Do only human interests matter morally, or is the natural world intrinsically valuable? In your view, is our current treatment

Human interests’ matter. However, human interest should not be given value on the environment. In accordance with the radical approach, environmental ethics does not support the human centred assumption that environment is good as it good for us. Moral obligations encourage the human being to think about animals and plants also as these are also part of this nature. Thus, the natural world is intrinsically valuable. In my views, animals should be also treated fairly (Harari, 2015). In Egypt, current meat industries and factory farming are improving with time. Government is setting limitations for the consumption of meat. Government actions against factory farming are changing human treatment with animals.

In past, factory farming concept was quite common in the societies of European countries and Egypt. However, current information shows that factory farming is considered as morally wrong in Egypt. In this method, animals cannot live a normal life as many wild animals live in their natural environment. Animals such as goat, sheep, cows, and camels growing and feeding in the sheds never visit outdoor in their entire life which is quite unethical treatment with animals. According to environmental ethics, human being should not extend their rights on animals by controlling the life of animals (Tolan & Buchen, 2011). Conclusively, in my views, Egypt, still further reforms are required to control such issues and ensure ethical treatment for animals.