Why aren't people looking into batteries? How is Solar and Wind going to change the world into a greener place without the ability to harness and store the power until we need it? The research money needs to be pumped into making smaller batteries with the ability to store more power! Forget Biofuel! All the sun in the world would not make the nights light up and the cars go if we can't store that energy!
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What countries have melded business opportunity and environmentalism most successfully?
The Scandinavian countries, in particular, have made investment in environmental business an important part of their economic base. For example, the largest solar power company is in Norway, which is number three on our list. A number of Swedish companies have made a good environment a part of their business model, IKEA being one example and Volvo another.
What can the United States, which has a relatively poor record on environmental issues, do from a governmental perspective?
The U.S. has slipped down a number of notches on this index; we're sitting at 39th place now. We have not put incentives in front of our business community to pay attention to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, to figure out energy efficiency strategies, to invest in alternative energies, or pursue opportunities like carbon capture and sequestration. But the U.S. business community, even without the government playing a helpful role, has begun to step up to these issues, because they perceive that there is a strong possibility of climate change controls coming with the next administration.
Who's been particularly good?
Take GE, for example. Under the famous Jack Welch, who was CEO until 2001, GE was kind of an environmental bad actor. They polluted the Hudson and Housatonic rivers, and Jack Welch fought the EPA for years about those cleanups. Jeff Immelt settled those cases and really turned GE in a dramatic way toward being an environmental solutions provider. They've got a huge investment in efficient locomotives, efficient jet engines, wind power, solar power, clean water—really, across the board. That's a dramatic redirection in the company.
In his book "Supercapitalism" former labor secretary Robert Reich argues that businesses will always put profits first and that corporate social responsibility efforts are a smokescreen.
I don't disagree. I think that those that think you're going to rely on corporate social responsibility to get done the important work of environmental protection are fooling themselves. But if government regulates in ways that are modern and smart and harness market forces, you can get a lot further for lower cost.
© 2008
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