How is PRME reflected in your research?
My co-authors and I are currently researching how social movements affect firms’ environmental performance, in alignment with the UN's Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 on climate action. Using data from coal-fired facilities’ sulfur dioxide output, we discovered that contentious federal governmental policies can create a favorable local sociopolitical environment for social movements and encourages companies to improve their environmental practices. For example, Sierra Club had a stronger impact on coal plants’ sulfur dioxide emissions when key stakeholders questioned and challenged the national Acid Rain Program, which was strongly supported by major environmental movement organizations. The distrust around the federal regulation allowed local social movement organizations, such as the Sierra Club Local Chapters, to successfully influence facilities to curb pollution in regions with strong pro-environmental stakeholders.
About Dr. Sohn's Research
Dr. Sohn’s research explores how local sociopolitical contexts influence organizations’ environmental performance. His overarching research interests center on organizations’ strategic responses and performance in different regional contexts. In particular, he is interested in understanding the influence of federal and local sociopolitical contexts on organizations’ pro-environmental choices, from eco-friendly venture creation to strategy implementation. Dr. Sohn draws on and contributes to a variety of literatures, including work on organization theory, economic sociology, and social psychology. More generally, his research contributes to a burgeoning, multi-disciplinary literature on the sustainability of corporations in global contexts.