Evaluating CSR and Sustainability: A Critical Analysis of Investments

This report critically analyzes the arguments presented in a case study concerning the evolving perspectives of investors toward corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability efforts. It examines the role of businesses in addressing climate change, comparing their influence to that of governments, and assesses the impact of sustainable initiatives on company performance. The analysis employs both inductive and deductive reasoning to evaluate the validity of these arguments, supported by the CRAAP test to verify source reliability. The report concludes that businesses investing in sustainability can improve their human capital, financial standing, and consumer loyalty, highlighting the increasing importance of CSR in the modern business environment. The case study suggests that by adopting sustainable practices, businesses can effectively contribute to climate change mitigation and enhance their overall value.

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Thinking Skills

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Arguments presented in this article........................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Critical analysis topics such as logical reasoning and critical review can be used to dissect
an argument and understand if the statements or claims made in an argument are valid. Critical
review focuses on examining an argument while logical reasoning looks at logically synthesizing
concepts to gain better understanding of their claims. This report is based on the case study
which describes the changing perspective of investors towards corporate social responsibility
and supporting sustainability efforts. The case study utilizes various argument tactics to describe
the positive change investment analyst's perception that CSR initiatives and performance is
valuable to value reason of the company. Causes of climate changes are greenhouse gases, heat
trapping greenhouses gases, variation in solar activity, changes in earth reflectivity, cutting down
forest, burning fossil fuels and various others (Jia and et. al., 2019). In this report critical
analysis of various arguments provided in the case study is conducted to determine the premises,
conclusion or observation of the argument and reasoning behind the argument In addition to
this , validity Of sources of information in the case study is identified using CRAAP test.
Arguments presented in this article
The case study argues that role of businesses is benign more far reaching and important
than that of government. This is a conclusion based on previously given facts in the case study
related to climate change. Climate change brings changes in average weather patterns which
defines the earth’s local, global and regional climates. The climate changes is increasingly
rapidly due to human activities such as increasing heat-trapping greenhouse levels in earth’s
atmosphere and enhancing earth’s average surface temperatures (Change, 2019). It is important
to switch energy system from fossil fuels to renewable like solar will help in reducing the
emission that drives climate change (UN Environment Programme, 2021. Emissions Gap Report
2019). The case study states the increasing role of business in contributing to climate change by
comparing the climate change impact of largest corporation with actual countries. This
showcases the power of change held by corporations in impacting climate change and the
influence large corporations can have in supporting fight against climate change. The case study
supports the conclusion of increasing role of businesses in comparison to government by
describing that out of 100 largest economies in the world, only 31 were countries while 69 were
corporations. This supports comparison between businesses and companies while also

connecting the comparison to climate change. The reasoning used in this argument of the case
study is inductive reasoning. The explanation for identifying inductive reasoning in this
argument is that inductive reasoning involves reaching a general conclusion from a specific
observation. The specific observation made in this case involves finding relevant resources
related with economical power held by large corporations in comparison to other governments.
This specific observation is enough to understand the amount of responsibilities gained by
corporate gained by businesses in moderate world that they are able to influence global economic
conditions similar to governments. This observation that the economic power of businesses in the
modern age extends beyond countries is stated in the case study with factual data. This general
data and specific observation help reach the conclusion that businesses in the current age wield
similar amount of responsibility as governments.
Another argument made in the case study is that large businesses who wield high power
in the global economic environment can have substantial impact on climate change fight by
implementing sustainable initiatives and policies. As a example the company has states that
Unilever can provide significant support to climate change fight by making sustainable living
commonplace. The role businesses in reducing climate change is a prominent statement of the
case study. It is necessary for businesses to cut down the energy usage in household by turning
up lights and unplug devices that they are not using (McCright and et. al., 2016). They must also
focus on replacing the energy efficient light bulbs for saving the electricity. When the electricity
is saved it helps in reducing the climate change. There are various manufacturing plants which
emits large number of greenhouse gases. It is the responsibility of manufacturing plants to invest
in recycling so that they can contribute in reducing the climate change. Investing in recycling is
cost effective and also eco-friendly process which helps in eliminating the wastage and
greenhouse gases (VandenBygaart, 2016). Therefore, it is important for the government to
educate their people related to climate change so that they can take initiative to reduce the
climate change and negative impacts from the environment. This situation is being realized by
consumers as most consumers feel that governments are not tackling the climate change
effectively (Funk and Hefferon, 2019). They can also take help of social media platforms in
order to create awareness among the people related to climate changes, its causes and impacts on
environment (Clayton and Karazsia, 2020). With the help of education, government can protect
the planet by developing awareness among them about the dangers of climate change and how to

act against it. In order to reduce the climate change affects, it is important to use renewable
energy that helps in creating positive impact on community. It is being analysed from the article
that, climate change also create an impact on the animals whether directly or indirectly. The
species are approaching to avail hospitable climates. The animal like polar bear lives in Polar
Regions faces challenges to survive due to ice melts. Climate change also facts the people due to
shifting in weather pattern. In earth, there are various areas which are facing sunny day flooding
due to rising sea levels. The argument made by the case study which focuses on looking at role
of business in making significant change to climate change action is a premises to reach a
specific conclusion. The premises is established on the previous argument and factual data
related to the growing economic influence of corporations in comparison to governments. The
reasoning behind this argument is deductive reasoning. The explanation for identifying deductive
reasoning in this argument is that the premises of businesses holding high amount of power in
the current business environment is used to reach the specific conclusion the businesses like
Unilever can use their power to make sustainable living common .
The final argument proposed by the case study is that the performance of the company is
elevated if they invest in sustainability gain better human capital, finance and consumer loyalty.
The final argument of the case study is based on previous arguments as well as data related to
success of business firms who contributed to corporate social responsibility. There are many
issues which can be solved with the help from multinational organizations. For example in
Alaska, the coastal communities are moved due to increase in sea level. The climate change also
affects the farms and food by disrupting the weather pattern (Hallegatte and Rozenberg, 2017).
The intense rain has caused devastating spring flooding which prevents or delays planting
activities. When the planting activities get delayed it becomes difficult for framers to sustain
their livelihoods and grow crops. But farmers play an important role in reducing the effect of
climate change. The lands of agriculture are the largest natural reservoirs of carbon. They
generally use soil health practices such as reduces tillage, crop rotation and cover crops. These
factors helps in improving soil’s water holding capacity which helps in absorbing water from soil
during the time of heavy rainfall and drought (Stott, 2016). When there is healthier soil it helps
in improving crop yields, reduce erosion and boost framer’s profitability.. Therefore, it is
necessary to increase the renewable energy in order to avoid the worst climate change impacts
(Pittock, 2017). Moreover, in order to reduce the climate change, it is necessary to focus on

achieving net zero carbon emissions. It can be accomplished by reducing the carbon emissions
from all sectors such as industry, electricity and transportation. This argument is based on
general rule that sustainability increases assess of the company to human capital finance and
consumer loyalty. Information and academic studies about relation between sustainability and
better resources of the company are provided in the case study along with pressure of consumers
towards improving sustainability as justification for relation between sustainability and
consumer loyalty. This general rule is then used to reach specific conclusion that businesses who
invest on CSR activities and sustainability have better performance.
CRAAP test
Source Currency Relevant Authority Accuracy Purpose
Funk,
C. and
Hefferon, M.,
2019. U.S.
Public Views
on Climate
and Energy.
[online] Pew
Research
Center
Scienc
e
&
Societ
y.
Availa
ble
at:
8<https://www
.pewresearch.o
The
information
was published
in the year
2019 and has
high currency
because it is
based on the
quantitative
data collected
from first hand
sources.
This source is
relevant to the
discussion of
the case study
as it highlights
consumer
viewpoints on
climate change
which can be
used for
critical
analysis of
businesses.
This is
compatible
source for this
report as it
provides
quantitative
data which is
The
author of this
source Is the
Pew research
center which
is regarded as
a primary
research
institute
conducting
high quality
ethical
research.
Relevant
contact
information to
the institution
including
mobile
contacts is
The
information is
based on
survey of US
residents and
is backed by
quantitative
evidence such
as graphs. The
survey was
conducted in
the year 2018
with relevant
easy to
understand
given.
The
purpose of this
research paper
is to determine
the perceptive
of US citizens
on
environmental
policies of the
government in
relation to
their political
leanings. The
intent is made
clear in the
research raper
and is based
on factual
data.

rg/science/201
9/11/25/u-s-
public-views-
on-climate-
and-
energy/>
easy t
understand.
given in this
paper which
makes it
suitable for
usage.
UN
Environment
Programme,
2021.
Emissions Gap
Report 2019.
[online]
https://www.u
nep.org/.
Available at:
<https://www.
unep.org/resou
rces/emissions
-gap-report-
2019>
The currency
of this source
is of high
quality as the
source was
published
recently with
functional
links and can
be easily
downloaded.
This is
relevant
source because
it provides
information
about the
current carbon
emission
situation such
as the primary
sources of
carbon
emission so
that the role of
businesses on
environmental
damage can be
understood.
This source
has high
quality
authorship
because it is
developed by
the United
Nations which
is global
trusted
organization
with may
governments
as members.
He level of the
source is
appropriate as
it is easy to
understand
and written by
experts
The accuracy
of the source
is high a wide
variety of
tools including
surveys and
government
reports are
used to
determine the
carbon
emission
situation of the
world.
The
report is based
on factual data
with the intent
to enhance
awareness
about climate
change and
carbon
emission data.

CONCLUSION
It is being concluded from the above information that climate change creates a great
influence on the environment and surrounding. It is necessary to take actions in order to reduce
the effect of climate change from environment. Through reducing climate change, world can
avail various benefits such as more opportunities for green jobs, cleaner transport, secures supply
of energy and resources and also low carbon society. These are the few benefits which can be
availed by the nature and people of community. The greener jobs help in reducing wastage,
managing pollution and focuses on renewable energy. In order to reduce the climate change it is
necessary to focus on cutting transport emissions by manufacturing the cars with less pollution.
The electric cars help in reducing the pollution and climate change. For reducing the climate
change, it is necessary to focus on developing zero energy buildings and energy system. When
the less energy is used it helps in reducing the climate change. The cleaned energy economy
competes internationally with other economy. Thus, it is important for the countries to focus on
overcoming the impact of climate change. As, it helps in improving the public health by reducing
the pollution and emission. The climate change also helps in enhancing the national and global
security by reducing the stress from armed forces. The systematic and rigorous process which is
carried out for producing the article is selecting the issue, focusing on the causes and effects,
designing the study, gathering, analyzing and interpretating the data and later writing the topic in
relevant manner. Thus, through systematic and rigorous process a well defined data is gathered
in order to present the arguments from the article.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Change, C., 2019. The Future of Our Pasts: Engaging cultural heritage in climate action Outline
of Climate Change and Cultural Heritage. International Council on Monuments and
Sites-ICOMOS.
Clayton, S. and Karazsia, B. T., 2020. Development and validation of a measure of climate
change anxiety. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 69, p.101434.
Goodman, J. and Marshall, J. P., 2018. Problems of methodology and method in climate and
energy research: Socialising climate change?. Energy research & social science, 45,
pp.1-11.
Hallegatte, S. and Rozenberg, J., 2017. Climate change through a poverty lens. Nature Climate
Change, 7(4), pp.250-256.
Jia, G and et. al., 2019. Land–climate interactions. In Special Report on Climate Change and
Land: An IPCC Special Report on climate change, desertification, land degradation,
sustainable land management, food security, and greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial
ecosystems (pp. 133-206). IPCC.
McCright, A. M and et. al., 2016. Ideology, capitalism, and climate: Explaining public views
about climate change in the United States. Energy Research & Social Science, 21,
pp.180-189.
Pittock, A. B., 2017. Climate change: turning up the heat. Routledge.
Stott, P., 2016. How climate change affects extreme weather events. Science, 352(6293),
pp.1517-1518.
VandenBygaart, A. J., 2016. The myth that no-till can mitigate global climate
change. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 216, pp.98-99.
Zhenmin, L. and Espinosa, P., 2019. Tackling climate change to accelerate sustainable
development. Nature Climate Change, 9(7), pp.494-496.
Online
Funk, C. and Hefferon, M., 2019. U.S. Public Views on Climate and Energy. [online] Pew
Research
Center
Science
&
Society.
Available
at: 8<https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2019/11/25/u-s-public-views-on-climate-
and-energy/>
UN Environment Programme, 2021. Emissions Gap Report 2019. [online]
https://www.unep.org/. Available at: <https://www.unep.org/resources/emissions-gap-report-
2019>