Assessment 3: Individual Padlet Business Ethics Issue: Corporate Greenwashing & SDG 13 Student Name: Wang Fangyu Course: BSK1001 Ethics and Sustainability Date: 10.3 by 方玉王

1.Introduction🌍

laowang5418 — 2025-10-03 02:28:00 UTC

Climate change is a defining ethical and economic challenge of our time. This Padlet examines the pervasive issue of corporate greenwashing—where companies make misleading environmental claims to appear sustainable while continuing harmful practices. Through the lens of a critical journal article and key ethical theories, we explore how greenwashing undermines SDG 13: Climate Action, exacerbates global inequalities, and demands a renewed commitment to authentic corporate responsibility.

2.Journal📄

laowang5418 — 2025-10-03 02:33:04 UTC

Chauhan, N., & Raina, S. K. (2025). Green growth or green wash? Economic reality checks for climate action. Amrita Journal of Medicine, 21(3), 120–124.

This article critically analyzes how carbon offset mechanisms are often used by developed nations and corporations to outsource emissions reductions to the Global South. The authors argue that this practice functions as a form of “green washing,” perpetuating global inequalities and delaying meaningful climate action. The paper highlights power imbalances, ethical shortcomings, and the moral responsibility of historically high-emitting nations to lead in genuine decarbonization efforts.

3. Theory🔍

laowang5418 — 2025-10-03 02:57:30 UTC

🔍 Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism evaluates actions based on their consequences for the majority. Carbon offsetting may seem cost-effective, but it often disproportionately harms vulnerable communities in developing countries through land grabs and restricted resource access (Chauhan & Raina, 2025). This results in a net decrease in global well-being, failing the utilitarian test.

🔍 Kantian Deontology

Kantian ethics emphasizes duty and treating others as ends in themselves. Greenwashing violates the categorical imperative by using misleading claims and treating communities as means to corporate ends. Companies have a duty to be transparent and honest in their climate commitments—not merely to appear ethical.

🔍 Virtue Ethics

Virtue ethics focuses on moral character. Corporations engaged in greenwashing lack virtues such as integrity, honesty, and environmental responsibility. A virtuous company would align its actions with its claims, fostering trust and long-term sustainability.

4.SDG🎯

laowang5418 — 2025-10-03 02:59:00 UTC

SDG 13 calls for “urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.” Greenwashing directly undermines this goal by:

Delaying real emission reductions
Misleading consumers and policymakers
Redirecting funds from genuine climate solutions to ineffective offset projects

As noted by Chauhan and Raina (2025), without accountability, climate actions risk becoming “empty gestures,” failing those most affected by climate change.

5.Further reading🔗

laowang5418 — 2025-10-03 02:59:40 UTC

6.Conclusion

laowang5418 — 2025-10-03 06:00:01 UTC

Greenwashing is not just an ethical failure—it is a systemic barrier to global climate progress. For Australia and the world, this issue underscores the need for corporate transparency and accountability, policies that prioritize real emissions cuts over offsets and global cooperation grounded in justice and equity.

Only through authentic ethical leadership can we achieve SDG 13 and a sustainable future.

7.References

laowang5418 — 2025-10-03 06:05:46 UTC

Chauhan, N., & Raina, S. K. (2025). Green growth or green wash? Economic reality checks for climate action. Amrita Journal of Medicine, 21(3), 120–124.

United Nations. (n.d.). The 17 goals: Sustainable Development. https://sdgs.un.org/goals

United Nations Development Programme. (n.d.). Sustainable Development Goals. https://www.undp.org/sustainable-development-goals

Assessment 3: Individual Padlet Business Ethics Issue: Corporate Greenwashing & SDG 13 Student Name: Wang Fangyu Course: BSK1001 Ethics and Sustainability Date: 10.3 by 方玉 王