Leadership in environmental law most effective when the likely suspects

Leadership in environmental law most effective when the likely suspects are calling for change

Recently, Lars Joseffson, CEO of Vattenfall, a Swedish generator of electric power, one of the most powerful in Europe, stood before the U.N. General Assembly and presented a petition urging a renewed commitment to environmental law for the control of the global warming phenomena, and the world stood in awe. When you have one of the most likely suspects in the pollution of our atmosphere stand up and urge the nations of the world to take a proactive stance on climatic changes caused by carbon emissions, you've got to listen.

Joseffson, as a CEO, would have as his mandate the maximization of profits for his corporation and the minimization of costs, and yet this CEO is proposing that countries of the world, especially the business sector, take on their shoulders the stewardship of the planet, even if that would mean the reduction of profits, the increase of costs for such renovations to plants and business facilities that are environment friendly, which is to say, considerate of the sustainability of life and the quality of life for all life forms, and especially for humanity. This man is not conformable to the stereotypes of CEOs that project a selfish, greedy, profits first and only businessman. This man, this CEO, is actually coming off as...a human being.

Environmental law took a hit when the preceding administration, for the sake of U.S. business, denied the reality of global warming and consequentially wounded the once admired image of Americans throughout the world. Near-sighted CEOs, seeing that, at least under their leadership, their corporations could show greater profits by ignoring the expense of environmentally safe facilities, were eager to credit that president with an intelligence and vision that far exceed what was actually present in the man, and throughout his administration the irresponsible and greedy CEOs had their run of things, at the expense of ecosystems and the health and life of future generations. While we still have some of these CEOs with us today, the revealing power of science has shown us that the emperor has no clothes, that global warming and all its threats loom menacingly like a Nazis corps on the shelves of our coast, and that presidents will deceive.

Now, finally, the prospect of a resurgence of efforts in environmental law is receiving new energy from energy captains like Josefsson. A positive voice, he assures us the current president will do what it takes to get universal consensus on reasonable laws, that the international community is ambitious to reestablish environmental law among all nations, and that environmentally conscious consumers will soon be demanding the same consciousness from business to great affect. The United States is still recovering from the arrogance of the Bush administration and its one-sided pampering of big business: we are not leaders in this new resurgence. The Europeans, like Josefsson, are at the forefront, carrying on the cause for the whole human race instead of for political backers and money elite. Whether the U.S. will ever recover from the Bush administration remains to be seen. One thing is certain: we have models to work from, noble men like Lars G. Josefsson, CEO and fellow human being, truly, a homo sapien.