Understanding and Overcoming Roadblocks to Environmental Sustainability: Past Roads and Future Prospects. Issue 1 (14th May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bergquist, Ann-Kristin; Cole, Shawn A.; Ehrenfeld, John; King, Andrew A.; Schendler, Auden
• Is Part Of: Business history review. Volume 93:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 127
• Page End: 148
• Publication Date: 2019-05-14
• Subjects: environment, -- sustainability, -- externalities, -- business voluntary action, -- climate change, -- systematic interventions; Business -- Periodicals; Business -- History -- Periodicals; 330.09
• DOI: 10.1017/S000768051900031X
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-6805

Abstract

Abstract : This article examines key barriers to business sustainability discussed at a multidisciplinary conference held at the Harvard Business School in 2018. Drawing on perspectives from both the historical and business literatures, speakers debated the historical success of and future opportunities for voluntary business actions to advance sustainability. Roadblocks include misaligned incentives, missing institutions, inertia of economic systems, and the concept of sustainability itself. Overcoming these roadblocks will require systematic interventions and alternative normative concepts.