Climate Change Adaptation, MNC Strategy and
Environmental Pragmatism:
A Cross-country Perspective
A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy (Management)
Md Khalid Hossain
Master of Diplomacy and Trade, Monash University
B.Sc. Engineering (Civil), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
School of Management
College of Business
RMIT University
March 2015
i
DEDICATED TO
My Father, Late Tasadduque Hossain
ii
DECLARATION
I certify that except where due acknowledgement has been made, the work is that of the
author alone; the work has not been submitted previously, in whole or in part, to qualify for
any other academic award; the content of the thesis/project is the result of work which has
been carried out since the official commencement date of the approved research program; any
editorial work, paid or unpaid, carried out by a third party is acknowledged; and, ethics
procedures and guidelines have been followed. In this regard, this project has received the
approval of the RMIT University Business College Human Ethics Advisory Network
(BCHEAN) (Project Number 1000355)
Md Khalid Hossain
30 March, 2015
iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First of all, I am grateful to my God for sending me to this beautiful world and allowing me
to gather knowledge.
I would specifically like to thank my primary supervisor Associate Professor Sharif As-Saber
and associate supervisor Professor Peter Fairbrother for providing me with the guidance and
input to think critically and write academically. Both of them have taken keen interest in my
research and maintained their confidence on my ability throughout my candidature. I am
always impressed by their approach on development issues from an academic point view in
the pursuit of addressing social problems.
I owe sincere gratitude to the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and
Trade for offering me the prestigious ‘Australian Leadership Award Scholarship’ to pursue
my study in Australia. I would also like to thank Ms Heather Blackwell (former Country
Director of Oxfam GB in Bangladesh) and Dr RFI (‘Bob’) Smith (former Master of
Diplomacy and Trade Program Coordinator at Monash University) for strongly recommend
me as a potential candidate for the scholarship.
I sincerely acknowledge the support of Ms Jamie Low, my scholarship officer at the
university, for extending timely assistance. I like to thank Ms Sherrin Trautmann, Research
Administration Officer for the School of Management, for her continuous support in properly
guiding me to manage my candidature. I also extend my thanks to Dr Jeffrey Keddie for his
editorial assistance.
I would like to extend my thanks to Professor Brian Corbitt, Dr David Hodges, Dr Afreen
Huq, Dr Darryn Snell and Dr Warren Staples for their invaluable inputs during my
confirmation of candidature. I would also like to thank Professor Geoffrey Stokes and
Professor Adela McMurray for acting as the panel members during my completion seminar
and providing me guidance to improve my thesis. I am grateful to Associate Professor
Carlene Boucher and Dr John Lenarcic for their helpful contributions prior to my completion
seminar. Along with the academic guidance, friendship and encouragement of my fellow PhD
candidates have made my research journey enjoyable. Special thanks to all of them.
I am also conveying my special thanks to all the participants in this study. They not only
offered me views and opinions but also provided me access to their organisations. They also
assisted me in gaining access to information sources in some instances. Without their interest,
this study could not be done in a timely manner.
I am indebted to my wonderful wife, Rubana Mahjabin, for taking all the pains to support my
study and prepare those delicious foods in making my brain work better. I am also grateful to
all my family members for providing me encouragement and support during my study.
Finally, special thanks to the most precious gifts of my life who do not understand the
meaning of thanks yet; my lovely daughter, Arwa Mahjabin, and my restless son, Arham
Hossain. You made this journey interesting, challenging and joyful.
Md Khalid Hossain
March 2015
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION ....................................................................................................................... ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........................................................................................................ iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................................... iv
LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................... ix
LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................... x
ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................................................................. xi
ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................... 1
CHAPTER 1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 2
1.1 Context of the Research ................................................................................................... 2
1.2 Research Objectives ......................................................................................................... 4
1.3 Significance of the Research ............................................................................................ 5
1.4 The Research Questions ................................................................................................... 6
1.5 Research Propositions ...................................................................................................... 6
1.6 Research Methodology ..................................................................................................... 7
1.7 Cross-country Perspective: Why Bangladesh and Australia? .......................................... 7
1.8 The Researcher and Research Area: Bias and Objectivity ............................................... 8
1.9 Climate Change and Climate Variability ......................................................................... 9
1.10 Thesis Structure ............................................................................................................ 10
CHAPTER 2 Corporate Environmental Responses: A History of Transformation ......... 13
2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 13
2.2 Environmental Idealism ................................................................................................. 18
2.3 New Environmentalism .................................................................................................. 23
2.3.1 Corporate Environmental Responses under New Environmentalism ..................... 29
2.4 Environmental Pragmatism ............................................................................................ 41
2.5 Summary ........................................................................................................................ 46
CHAPTER 3 Corporate Strategies and Climate Change Adaptation ............................... 49
3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 49
3.2 Corporate Climate Change Adaptation Strategy ............................................................ 50
3.3 Theoretical Underpinnings ............................................................................................. 65
3.3.1 Theory on Business Strategy .................................................................................... 66
3.3.2 Theoretical Framework on Climate Change Adaptation Strategy .......................... 73