Flooding in Houston: What Would You Do?
As you read this case study about flooding in Houston, consider how all stakeholders should be involved in social responsibility decision-making to obtain buy-in. Review the critical thinking questions at the end of the case.
What Would You Do?
Flooding in Houston: Is the Status Quo Sustainable?
A symbiotic relationship exists between development and flooding in urban areas such as Houston, Texas. Imagine you are a member of the urban planning commission for the city council of Houston, which recently suffered traumatic flood damage from several major storms, including Hurricanes Harvey and Ike, and Tropical Storm Allison, all of which occurred since 2001 and caused a total of approximately $75 billion in damages. The floods also caused dozens of deaths and changed the lives of millions who lived through them. Future storms may increase in severity, because climate change is warming ocean waters.
The mayor and the city council have asked the planning commission to propose specific solutions to the flooding problem. This solution must not rely exclusively on taxpayer funds and government programs, but rather must include actions by the private sector as well.
One of the most direct solutions is a seemingly simple tradeoff: The greater Houston area must reduce the percentage of land covered by concrete while increasing the percentage of land dedicated to green space, which acts like a sponge to absorb flood
waters before they can do severe damage. The planning commission thinks the best way to accomplish this is to issue a municipal ordinance requiring corporate developers and builders to set aside as green space an amount of land at least equal to what
will be covered by concrete, (neighborhoods, office buildings, parking lots, shopping centers). However, this will increase the cost of development, because it means more land will be required for each type of project, and as a result, developers
will have higher land costs.
Critical Thinking
- As a member of the urban planning commission, you will have to convince the stakeholders that a proposal to require more green space is a workable solution. You must get everyone, including developers, investors, neighborhood homeowner associations, politicians, media, and local citizens, on board with the idea that the benefit of sustainable development is worth the price. What will you do?
- Is this a matter that should be regulated by the local, state, or federal government? Why?
- Who pays for flood damage after a hurricane? Are your answers to this question and the preceding one consistent?
Source: Rice University, https://openstax.org/books/business-ethics/pages/4-2-sustainability-business-and-the-environment
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