{"id":11320,"date":"2016-11-04T13:08:32","date_gmt":"2016-11-04T17:08:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/in-need-of-a-band-aid-johnson-and-johnsons-climate-change-strategy\/"},"modified":"2016-11-04T13:08:32","modified_gmt":"2016-11-04T17:08:32","slug":"in-need-of-a-band-aid-johnson-and-johnsons-climate-change-strategy","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/in-need-of-a-band-aid-johnson-and-johnsons-climate-change-strategy\/","title":{"rendered":"In need of a Band-Aid: Johnson and Johnson\u2019s climate change strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b><i>&#8220;Climate change acts as a \u2018force multiplier\u2019, exacerbating many of the world\u2019s global health challenges.\u201d <sup>2,3<\/sup><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>Climate change and human health: Serious business<br \/>\n<\/b>In its latest Citizenship and Sustainability report, Johnson and Johnson (J&amp;J) proudly states that as \u201cthe world\u2019s largest, broadly based healthcare company,\u201d it is \u201ccommitted to fulfill [its] unique opportunity to help billions of people live longer, healthier, happier lives today, and for generations to come.\u201d<sup>4<\/sup><b> <\/b>An analysis of J&amp;J\u2019s climate change strategy, however, reveals that the organization is doing little to address the direct impact of climate change on human health.<b> <\/b>J&amp;J has focused exclusively on strategies that <i>mitigate<\/i> future climate change.<b> <\/b>It has ignored that some degree of climate change is inevitable, and will have a direct, detrimental impact on health, necessitating <i>adaptation<\/i> strategies.<sup>5<\/sup><b> <\/b>In taking a one-sided approach to climate change, J&amp;J has exposed itself to competitive threats and forfeited a unique opportunity to meet significant current and future medical needs.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Screen-Region-2016-11-04-at-12.24.38.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-11304 \" src=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Screen-Region-2016-11-04-at-12.24.38.png\" alt=\"screen-region-2016-11-04-at-12-24-38\" width=\"769\" height=\"507\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Screen-Region-2016-11-04-at-12.24.38.png 922w, https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Screen-Region-2016-11-04-at-12.24.38-300x198.png 300w, https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Screen-Region-2016-11-04-at-12.24.38-768x506.png 768w, https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Screen-Region-2016-11-04-at-12.24.38-600x396.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 769px) 100vw, 769px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>Exhibit 1:<\/b> Climate change can have an indirect and direct effect on health. The former can be addressed with climate change mitigation strategies and tactics, while the latter needs to be addressed by adaptation strategies and tactics.\u00a0 Adapted from<sup>2<\/sup><\/p>\n<p><b>J&amp;J\u2019s mitigation-focused climate change strategy: High-risk, low return<br \/>\n<\/b>In 2015, J&amp;J revealed that it failed to meet 30% of the goals outlined in its 2010 \u201cHealthy Future\u201d climate change commitment.<sup>1,4<\/sup> Shaun Mickus (Executive Director of Corporate Citizenship), seemed to dismiss these results, noting \u201c\u2026that\u2019s OK because a lot of these goals were very much stretch goals.\u201d<sup>1<\/sup><b> <\/b>This performance, along with J&amp;J\u2019s conspicuous absence from the UN\u2019s database of actions on climate change adaptation, is evidence of an ineffective climate change strategy.<sup>6<\/sup><b> <\/b>In contrast, J&amp;J\u2019s competitors have adopted broad and proactive strategies, focused on mitigation and adaptation.<b> <\/b>Bayer is working to develop treatments for diseases carried by insect vectors thought to increase with rising temperatures.<sup>7<\/sup><b> <\/b>Other multinational competitors, including Unilever, Novartis and Pfizer have initiated similar strategies.<sup>7,6<\/sup><b> <\/b>Thus far, J&amp;J has responded by setting additional internal waste reduction goals \u2013 an insufficient step forward.<sup>8<\/sup><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Obama Speaks With CEOs to Push Cleaner and Renewable Energy Resources | Mashable News\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rEn05PGCmWQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Exhibit 2: President Obama outlines the American Business Act on Climate Change \u2013 a necessary but insufficient first step focused on climate change mitigation (but not adaptation).<\/p>\n<p><b>Adaptation-focused climate change strategies: An opportunity for J&amp;J to demonstrate its commitment to human health, and strength in innovation<br \/>\n<\/b>The prestigious medical journal <i>The Lancet<\/i> recently concluded that \u201cclimate change could be the greatest health opportunity of the 21<sup>st<\/sup> Century.\u201d<sup>2<\/sup><b> <\/b>Climate change will lead to a greater prevalence water and vector-borne illnesses, and cardiovascular and respiratory conditions.<sup>9<\/sup><b> <\/b>This will increase demand for healthcare services, vaccines and drugs. As a healthcare leader with expertise in drug development, drug delivery technologies, as well as chemical and materials manufacturing, J&amp;J is uniquely positioned to develop a comprehensive plan to address the direct impact of climate change on human health.<b> <\/b>A climate change initiative that includes adaptation strategies and tactics would help the company address this opportunity, and truly \u201chelp billions of people live longer, healthier, happier lives today, and for generations to come.\u201d<sup>4<\/sup><\/p>\n<p><b>Charting a path forward: Getting J&amp;J\u2019s climate change strategy on track<\/b><b><i><br \/>\nStage 1: Adopt a broader climate change policy and partner with early-movers<br \/>\n<\/i><\/b>In the near term, J&amp;J should recognize current thinking in climate change research and adopt a climate change policy that places equal weight on <i>mitigation<\/i> and <i>adaptation<\/i>. As a goal, J&amp;J should partner with other healthcare organizations (e.g. universities or non-profits) that have made inroads in developing a comprehensive climate change strategy, including prioritizing relevant unmet medical needs that need to be addressed through current and future innovations.<\/p>\n<p><b><i>Stage 2: Prioritize and invest in products that facilitate climate change adaptation<br \/>\n<\/i><\/b>In collaboration with partner(s) developed as part of stage 1, J&amp;J should optimize its R&amp;D pipeline to anticipate and address current and future medical needs triggered by climate change.\u00a0As a goal, J&amp;J should establish a pipeline of relevant products that anticipate future unmet medical needs, so that they can provide maximal benefit when commercialized.<br \/>\n<b><br \/>\nIn hot water: Playing devil\u2019s advocate<br \/>\n<\/b>Critics of the above argument and proposed action plan may argue corporations have no legal, social or fiduciary responsibility to tackle the impact of climate change on health. As noted above, however, J&amp;J\u2019s competitors disagree. Climate change will ultimately need to be addressed by corporations, governments and non-profit organizations.<sup>7<\/sup> The corporations that are most proactive in addressing climate change are likely to secure economic benefits from relationships developed between such stakeholders. These corporations are also likely to be rewarded by customers, regulators and shareholders. As a healthcare leader and a good corporate citizen, J&amp;J cannot afford to allow its competitors to gain an advantage in addressing one of the most pressing challenges facing humanity.<\/p>\n<p>(Word Count: 799)<br \/>\n<strong><br \/>\nSources<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1. Timperley, J. How to reduce a hospital footprint\u202f: Johnson &amp; Johnson lays out new 2020 sustainability goals. 29\u201332 (2016). Available at: http:\/\/www.businessgreen.com\/bg\/interview\/2466369\/how-to-reduce-a-h&#8230;al-footprint-johnson-johnson-lays-out-new-2020-sustainability-goals. (Accessed: 29th October 2016)<\/p>\n<p>2. Watts, N. <i>et al.<\/i> Health and climate change: Policy responses to protect public health. <i>Lancet<\/i> <b>386,<\/b> 1861\u20131914 (2015).<\/p>\n<p>3. Climate change impacts on health. Available at: http:\/\/www.climateandhealthalliance.org\/climate-health\/climate-change-impacts-on-health. (Accessed: 2nd November 2016)<\/p>\n<p>4. Johnson and Johnson. <i>People. Places. Practices: 2015 Citizenship &amp; Sustainability Report<\/i>. (2015).<\/p>\n<p>5. Change, C. &amp; Framing, H. <i>Climate Change and Health: Framing the Issue<\/i>. <i>Notes<\/i><\/p>\n<p>6. Climate Change &#8211; Adaptation Private Sector Initiative &#8211; database of business cases. Available at: http:\/\/unfccc.int\/adaptation\/workstreams\/nairobi_work_programme\/items\/6547.php.<br \/>\n(Accessed: 2nd November 2016)<\/p>\n<p>7. United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). <i>Business and Climate Change Adaptation: Toward Resilient Companies and Communities<\/i>. (2012).<\/p>\n<p>8. FACT SHEET\u202f: White House Announces Commitments to the American Business Act on Climate Pledge. (2016). Available at: https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/the-press-office\/2015\/10\/19\/fact-sheet-white-house-announces-commitments-american-business-act%0ASHARE. (Accessed: 30th October 2016)<\/p>\n<p>9. Grossman, D. (Green L. G., Erikson, J. (SustainAbility) &amp; Patel, N. (UNEP). <i>GEO-5 for Business: Impacts of a Changing Environment on the Corporate Sector<\/i>. (2013).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Johnson and Johnson, the world\u2019s largest healthcare company, needs to update its climate change strategy and focus on the direct impact climate change is having on human health<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2115,"featured_media":11321,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[1711,1218,1161,1389,208,41,37,607,1710,1712,1714,1671,1713],"class_list":["post-11320","hck-submission","type-hck-submission","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adaptation","category-climate-change","category-competition","category-disease","category-health","category-healthcare","category-innovation","category-jj","category-johnson-johnson","category-mitigation","category-opportunity","category-strategy","category-threat"],"connected_submission_link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/assignment\/climate-change-challenge-2016\/","yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - 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