Title: Modelling the complex factors driving CO₂ emission reduction efforts

Authors: Ade Adeyemi; Victoria J. Wise

Addresses: Deakin Graduate School of Business, Faculty of Business and Law, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Melbourne VIC 2125, Australia. ' Deakin Graduate School of Business, Faculty of Business and Law, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Melbourne VIC 2125, Australia

Abstract: Chapman (2007) observes that transport accounts for 26% of global CO₂ emissions and it is one of the few industrial sectors where emissions are still growing and are expected to add to environmental degradation. Although generic motivating factors identified in the literature have contributed somewhat to knowledge, there is a need to develop a clearer understanding of the motivations driving corporate environmental practices especially CO₂ emission mitigation practices. The motivating factors identified from the literature include: energy and implementation cost; operational efficiency; global climate protection; social responsibility; customer, competitor, regulatory and stakeholder pressure; corporate strategic direction; reputation enhancement; and the opportunity for new sources of capital. This paper considers Weinhofer and Hoffmann's (2010) conceptual model that explains motivations for climate change mitigation action; and a further conceptual model which explains the influences, motivations and catalysts on a firm's level of commitment towards corporate social and environmental responsibility.

Keywords: CO2; carbon dioxide; carbon emissions; emission reduction; corporate environmental practice; motivating factors; motivation; conceptual modelling; climate change mitigation.

DOI: 10.1504/IER.2012.046101

Interdisciplinary Environmental Review, 2012 Vol.13 No.1, pp.89 - 103

Published online: 16 Aug 2014 *

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