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Environmental Sustainability in the CAFTA-DR Region: Impact of the Treaty’s Environmental Provisions on Country and Multinational Firm Level Sustainability

Beyond the UN Global Compact: Institutions and Regulations

ISBN: 978-1-78560-558-1, eISBN: 978-1-78560-557-4

Publication date: 13 April 2015

Abstract

Purpose

The chapter examines and describes the impact of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) environmental provisions and the UN Global Compact initiatives on environmental sustainability of member countries at a national level and at a firm level.

Methodology/approach

Composite indexes (Human Development Index, Ecological Footprint Index, and Biocapacity) are used to determine CAFTA-DR country level sustainability. Firm level sustainability is based on a qualitative survey of companies using the Global Reporting Initiative framework and UN Global Compact participation.

Findings

Based on the methodology used CAFTA-DR member countries cannot be considered environmentally sustainable. Despite the lack of integration between initiatives proposed by different institutions, firm level sustainability trends are positive and encouraging.

Research limitations

Free access to Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity scores is limited. The research focused on surveying CAFTA-DR and UN Global Compact sustainability initiatives. However, there are many other entities and institutions not included in this research that also encourage sustainability.

Practical implications

The need of a concerted effort to align different organizations and institutions regarding sustainability initiatives in the CAFTA-DR region is apparent.

Originality/value

CAFTA-DR includes environmental provisions that are complementary to the UN Global Compact environmental principle. The synergies between these initiatives should be actively explored.

Keywords

Citation

Frutos-Bencze, D. (2015), "Environmental Sustainability in the CAFTA-DR Region: Impact of the Treaty’s Environmental Provisions on Country and Multinational Firm Level Sustainability", Beyond the UN Global Compact: Institutions and Regulations (Advances in Sustainability and Environmental Justice, Vol. 17), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 147-168. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2051-503020150000017015

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015 Emerald Group Publishing Limited