{"id":12151,"date":"2016-11-04T16:04:25","date_gmt":"2016-11-04T20:04:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/the-happiest-warmest-place-on-earth-disney-waves-its-wand-at-climate-change\/"},"modified":"2016-11-04T17:53:34","modified_gmt":"2016-11-04T21:53:34","slug":"the-happiest-warmest-place-on-earth-disney-waves-its-wand-at-climate-change","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/the-happiest-warmest-place-on-earth-disney-waves-its-wand-at-climate-change\/","title":{"rendered":"The Happiest (& Warmest) Place on Earth: Disney Waves Its Wand at Climate Change"},"content":{"rendered":"

When two brothers named Walt and Roy dreamt up the concept for a simple cartoon studio in the 1920s, no one could predict the scale of the Disney empire they would ultimately create. Arguably the world\u2019s premiere producer and provider of entertainment, the Walt Disney Company (Disney) serves as a beacon of ingenuity, creativity and innovation among global corporations [1].<\/p>\n

Since its inception, Disney has both protected that legacy and expanded the\u00a0brand: in 1955, channeling the brothers\u2019 initial vision, Disney launched the world\u2019s first modern-day theme park, in\u00a0which rides were integrated with stories as a \u201cplayground for the children and the families of America\u201d [2]. Today, the Disney Parks attract 138 million visitors annually [3], and all but one of the top 10 most popular theme parks in the world are run by Disney [4]. Disney itself has been recognized as one of the World\u2019s Most Admired Companies [5] and earned Fast Company\u2019s Innovation by Design award (in 2013, for its automated theme park system, MagicBands) [6]. So, it\u2019s no wonder that people look to Disney not only as an entertainment provider, but also as a role model for behavior when it comes to social, economic and environmental issues.<\/p>\n

A Whole New World<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Disney Theme Parks embody the true hallmarks of the Disney brand. First-time visitors marvel with wide-eyes and delight, in awe of the Parks\u2019 ability to bring beloved tales, from \u201cPeter Pan\u201d to \u201cToy Story\u201d to life. But a 138-million-person footprint inevitably causes strain on its\u00a0environmental system. In 2012, waste generated by the parks and resorts totaled 314,000 tons; approximately eight billion gallons of water are consumed annually\u00a0[7] \u2013 that\u2019s roughly 1.6 billion bathtubs full of water.<\/p>\n

At a local level, the state of Florida, home of Disney World, has enacted numerous policies for Florida businesses, in light of rising sea levels and shoreline erosion [8]. Moreover, Disneyland and California Adventure in Anaheim, Calif. are confronting increased regulation related to the California drought, which has been exacerbated by climate change.<\/p>\n

Love the World, Love the \u201cLand\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2012, Jay Rasulo, then CFO of Disney, said: \u201cActing responsibly is core to our brand.\u201d He offered these thoughts as Disney reported its progress against various Environmental Stewardship goals set in motion three years prior. It was in 2009 when Disney first established an official environmental stance and committed to three primary goals:<\/p>\n

\"disney-chart\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Since it enacted this eco-forward philosophy, Disney has implemented a number of steps to reduce its footprint [7]:<\/p>\n