ABSTRACT
The stories of Union Carbide, BP, Massey Energy, and W. R. Grace help illuminating the difference between "normal" accidents—ones that are inevitable because of complex and tightly coupled systems—and the disasters that occurred because of the neglectful, or even villainous, conduct of key personnel in these organizations. This chapter focuses on ways in which organizations can become more environmentally focused and move beyond high reliability to become greener, more sustainable organizations. The disasters prompted new laws and regulations and changes in regulatory agencies that in the future will help monitor other organizations that may be similarly inclined to act with little regard for health, safety, and environmental risks. The chapter reflects on how one can indeed change the world. Curbing the impact of climate change is one area where "the rest of us" can, and should, become involved.
