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BE WORRIED, VERY WORRIED !! - USA - Climate has business thinking green
Sirocco of change
Santa Monica,Cal,USA -MarketWatch, by Thomas Kostigen -Apr 7, 2006: -- Last week, Time magazine exclaimed on its cover: BE WORRIED. BE VERY WORRIED. "Climate change isn't some vague future problem -- it's already damaging the planet at an alarming pace. Here's how it affects you, your kids and their kids as well"... The clarion call to action was part of a special report on global warming, with features on earth at the tipping point, the threat to your health, how China and India can help save the world or destroy it and climate crusaders... That may all sound alarming. But these are understatements, not overstatements. Climate change is a fact. Even many skeptics have come around to admitting the earth is in danger from excess carbon emissions... Last fall, The Business Council, which represents Fortune 500 executives, endorsed Ceres -- principles and programs for environmental stewardship and sustainability reporting. Wal-Mart is even "going green". Time quoted Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott as saying "One little change in product packaging could save 1,500 trees ... If everybody saves 1,500 trees or 50 barrels of oil, at the end of the day you have made a huge difference"... If that isn't testament to global warming hitting Middle America where it shops, I don't know what is. Consumers -- yes, you -- will now be impelled to get more involved in the environmental movement... Sure seven out of 10 of consumers would choose the greener product over its less-green counterpart if it were offered to them. And about three Americans in four call themselves "environmentalists". But until now, the green movement has been fringe. Vague notions of global warming and climate change have been associated with kooks. Not anymore. That's because the capital markets are getting involved... Ideas turn into policies that turn into programs and products. Green products are coming, from tennis shoes to toys (just check out Plenty magazine). There will be, I have no doubt, entire stores dedicated to selling them... There are those who may never believe climate change is real (just check out csrwatch.com). Nor will they ever become believers in socially responsible investing. In fact, many believe companies doing good are actually bad... Every one is entitled to an opinion. After all, there are people still plodding around on some island rocks in Hawaii trying to disprove the fact that astronauts actually landed on the moon... What can't be ignored is the effect climate change is having on the economy. It will spawn a lot more products than the moon program's Tang. And it will hopefully redirect the reckless consumption of the earth's resources... Green, in other words, is good -- even if you don't believe in global warming...
posted by Unknown @ 1:38 PM
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