ABSTRACT
The external survey can be comprised of one to three elements. The external scan is the central, core element and can be supplemented as deemed necessary by an independent technology scan and a national resource damage assessment scan. The external scan encompasses confidential face-to-face and, in some cases, telephone interviews with a range of stakeholders from outside the company. Typical participants in the external scan include: the political community, the regulatory community, and public advocacy groups. Sustainable development and related greenhouse gas emission reduction initiatives have less to do with environmental public relations and more to do with a drive to increase long-term operational and resource efficiencies with concomitant positive impacts on the corporation’s bottom line. Strategic management of environmentally related sustainable development performance is particularly difficult to assess and manage on a global basis. Differences in regulatory climates and approaches severely impact the development and implementation of uniform management standards that can be applied worldwide.
