Research & News
Faculty Research and News
Decarbonization for hire: How the climate consulting industry builds greener local economies
Decarbonization for hire: How the climate consulting industry builds greener local economiesPrivate environmental engineering and consulting firms both provide services necessary to fight climate change and help create greener local economies, which I explore in depth...
Alarmed but unmoved: How people respond to information about local environmental risk
Alarmed but unmoved: How people respond to information about local environmental riskInformation about local environmental risk, such as a neighborhood’s air quality data, generally is more accessible than it once was. And businesses have increasingly been required to...
Commentary: There’s a solution to reducing carbon that makes economic sense
All around the world, grave signs of climate change are evident. Our warming planet is fueling natural disasters from Hurricane Ida to wildfires in Siberia, drought in the western U.S., and flooding in southeast Michigan. The cost of destructive weather is rising...
Q&A: Helping Corporations Act Responsibly in Politics and Beyond
A Q&A with Erb Institute Director Tom Lyon by Bob Needham Q&A: Helping Corporations Act Responsibly in Politics and BeyondCorporations like to make statements about their responsibility to society, but follow-through is sometimes lacking. The Erb Institute — a...
“Look for actions” from companies, not just green pledges, experts say
Erb Director Tom Lyon - Podcast on Marketplace “Look for actions” from companies, not just green pledges, experts sayOctober 2021Kai Ryssdal of Marketplace invited commentary from Tom Lyon Director of the Erb Institute regarding green pledges. Not a week goes by, it...
Beyond ESG – Corporate Political Responsibility With University of Michigan Professor and Author Thomas Lyon, With Host Richard Levick of LEVICK
Richard Levick Podcast on In House Warrior Beyond ESG - Corporate Political Responsibility With University of Michigan Professor and Author Thomas LyonOctober 2021Beyond ESG -- Corporate Political Responsibility: Thomas Lyon, the Dow Chair of Sustainable Science,...
Inside the Battle for the Hearts and Minds of Tomorrow’s Business Leaders
By Katie Reilly, TIME.com Inside the Battle for the Hearts and Minds of Tomorrow's Business LeadersOctober 2021Tima Bansal begins every new course with a cautionary statistic for her business school students. A 2008 study found that MBA candidates enter business...
Ready or not, the era of corporate political responsibility is upon us
Tom Lyon Op-Ed: The Hill Ready or not, the era of corporate political responsibility is upon usThe politics of racial justice have become red hot, and major corporations are finding it hard not to get burned. On March 25, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law SB202,...
COVID-19 and the global apparel value chain: A call for responsibility and resilience
COVID-19 and the global apparel value chain: A call for responsibility and resilienceCOVID-19 may offer an opportunity to address long-standing issues in the global apparel value chains. The challenges are well-documented: Global brands continue to hold an inordinate...
Sowing doubt and undermining science
Sowing doubt and undermining sciencePeople want to rely on scientific evidence in countless different contexts. As one professor put it, “Science has ‘epistemic authority,’ meaning it is the best method humans have available to understand what is true about the...
From setting to achieving sustainability goals
Why do companies have an easier time setting sustainability goals than achieving them? Modern corporations create astonishing wealth and innovation, but they have so far struggled to transform themselves to operate within the sustainable boundaries of natural resource...
The Detroit water crisis and unexpected coalitions
The Detroit water crisis and unexpected coalitionsSince 2014, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department has shut off the water to 141,000 households whose bills were past due. Last year, more than 23,000 households reportedly had their water shut off. When the...