Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

Societal responsibility is an ethical framework which suggests that an entity, be it individual, corporate or governmental, has an obligation to act for the benefit of society at large. Societal responsibility is arguable a duty every individual has to perform so as to maintain a balance between the economy and our ecosystem. A trade-off may exist between economic development, in the material sense, and the welfare of the society though this is increasingly being challenged because of pollution and climate change issues. To what degree should societal responsibility include sustainable development? Should it pertain mainly to corporations and governments, or to everyone whose action may impact the environment and society? Should this responsibility be passive, by avoiding socially harmful acts and or active, by performing activities that directly help advance societal goals? The speakers were finalists in the recent 2016 U of L Student Speaker Challenge and they will give their perspective on societal respo