At the recent COP21 climate change discussions in Paris, the European airport industry committed to raising the number of carbon-neutral airports in Europe to 50 by the year 2030.

The building industry is rapidly developing new technology to manage emissions and improve energy efficiency and water management, while also lowering operating expenses.

Corporations pay lip service to enforcing human rights and fair working conditions in offshore factories. But the deaths and injuries continue.

Inevitable, irreversible and irresistible. That's how some environmental experts view the coming of "the low-carbon economy."

Blood diamonds. Conflict minerals. And now, conflict palm oil.

The typical procurement organization invests heavily in supplier compliance but rarely reaps the value rewards. Compliance can often feel like a revolving door, with procurement teams evaluating the same risks and under-performing suppliers over and over again and never identifying the root causes or making real progress toward sustainability. Eventually, after a multi-year investment into a responsible sourcing program, procurement finds itself past the point of diminishing returns.

General Electric Transportation's emissions-reducing rail systems have accumulated 100 million auto-control miles, helping the rail industry save 56 million gallons of fuel and $197m in fuel costs, as well as reducing greenhouse gases by 628 kilotons.

PepsiCo's environmental sustainability programs saved the company more than $375m since its goals were established in 2010, according to Pepsi's 2014 sustainability report.

A number of major companies - from PepsiCo to Walmart to U.P.S. - have recognized that corporations have a responsibility to address the causes of climate change before it is too late. We do not have to wait for an international treaty or new regulations to act.