The need for climate regulations is not a surprise for anyone today. Our consumer society and the “buy-and-throw-away” culture have had a massive negative impact on our planet and our climate. We all have to do our part, but many businesses have to do a lot more, especially those that produce different types of goods. What can businesses do, and more importantly, what are they already doing to adapt to the climate regulations? Let’s take a look at how the regulations have impacted the businesses now and how they will in the future.
Photo by Markus Spiske on UnsplashNew regulations are changing everything
Remember when “going green” was about recycling and maybe switching to LED lights? Those days are over. The European Union made the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive in 2024, which means that businesses now have to track their carbon emissions throughout their entire supply chain, not just what happens in their buildings. Everything, from where raw materials come from, how they get transported, and what happens when customers are done with the product. Everything has to be tracked and accounted for.
Heavy investments in technology
An area many might not think about is the amount of data requirement that is needed. One of the industries that has managed to strike a healthy balance between technological advancement and climate initiatives is the online casino industry. In general, this industry has always been a pioneer in technological advancement and data handling and in recent years, most of the top companies have done their fair share to make playing a greener experience. With the need to track emissions not only from themselves but also from suppliers and consumers, businesses have also been forced to invest in new software that is capable of tracking these things. For larger businesses, this has done much to the overall finances, but for small businesses, it has created a challenge that has been hard to overcome. Luckily, the new regulations have also created new software in a price range that small businesses can afford.
The positive impact on the job market
The new regulations have not only impacted the businesses but also created a need for hiring new people whose only job is to make sure the business is living up to the new regulations. A career as a “Carbon Accounting Specialist” sounds like something from a sci-fi movie, but it’s the new reality. The good thing about this is that it has created new positions that have to be filled by people who have an education that fits the position. This has also created brand new educational opportunities, making the regulations impact not only the job market but also the education system.
The future of climate regulations
The sad part of the regulations is that they are an ever-evolving thing, as the regulations keep changing. Businesses spend months or years getting compliant with one set of rules, then new requirements get added or existing standards become more demanding. Even if that creates frustrations, it is something that has to be done. As long as our societies and lifestyles harm our climate and planet, it is necessary to take measures to minimize and, in the future, remove the negative impact. If we don’t, we risk coming to a point of no return where the damage is done and we all have to live with the massive consequences.
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