Innovation Through Corporate Social Responsibility?

Abstract

When reflecting on economy, society and environment and being aware of the numerous challenges we face one could get despaired. Climate change, erosion, water scarcity or decreasing biodiversity, among others, are not just posing risks to our natural ambience but also to society – i.e. societal stability and cohesion. As if this were not sufficiently challenging we experience an ongoing uncertain financial and economic situation. Experiencing the impacts of the financial and economic crisis in 2008 and 2009 some thought to see positive aspects in the negative headlines: all these adverse developments seemed to show the necessity for fundamental change in the financial and economic system. So we assume that relevant actors in economy and politics as well as citizens are aware of the need for change and ready for it. But what do we see some years after the emergence of the first wave of crisis? One could call it modest progress: No big steps were taken at Rio + 20 in June 2012 and approaches in dealing with the financial crisis are only still in discussion.