There’s so much talk about global warming. Al Gore comes out with a catchy movie and 60 minutes is all over it. I’m so interested in global warming that I decided to take a class about it in college.

A lot of my friends are scared. They think we’ll be in deep shit within the next few decades if nothing is done. I have to agree. So what does global warming mean for the average citizen? People living in areas of unpredictable weather and/or by the coast will buy insurance. Soon enough, there may be more energy restrictions in buildings and vehicles. Thus, people will be forced to move towards buying solar/wind power and electric vehicles. Businesses will take action on all of these green matters for public relation purposes. All of this is already happening, and it may actually be quite good for businesses!

mercedes hybrid

Even Mercedes is coming out with a new hybrid!

I know, I sound cruel. As bad as global warming is, it might be the best thing that can happen for the green entrepreneur! Toyota is making riches on its hybrid vehicles. (I even bought one last year!) Companies who bring alternative power sources to buildings are also beginning to make money. Corporations, such as Whole Foods, are telling the world about how they use solar power. Google is investing money into green startups. All of a sudden, people are supporting companies for taking action. How do we know if these companies really care about saving the environment? To be blunt, I don’t think anybody really cares that much. As long as the companies have a positive brand image and are “saving the environment,” I’m more likely to support them. This goes with anything else – if you see two items in a store, but one says they donate profits to charity, you’re more likely to choose the product that seems to care about others. Beautiful marketing tactic.

This is especially interesting and possibly devastating for the insurance sector. I see one of two things that may happen to these guys: If global warming becomes even a bigger issue with little happening from a disaster standpoint, insurance companies will bank big time. On the other hand, our weather can get totally out of hand and screw up the insurance industry. Let’s just keep our eyes on this.

It sickens me that our good friend George Bush would insist that mandatory emissions curbs like those contained in the Kyoto treaty would cost the U.S. economy too much. “I walked away from Kyoto because it would have damaged the American economy, it would have destroyed the American economy, it was a lousy deal for the American economy,” he said in a July interview with British TV network ITV.”

For companies such as IBM, GE, and Toyota, I see them banking out with new innovation. Sure, the gas endorsing companies will have problems. And doesn’t Bush have family ties to the fuel industry? Naughty naughty.

Here’s what I’m getting at: I hate global warming. I like entrepreneurship. I like money. I definitely think there’s a way to lessen our global climate change WHILE banking out big time. (of course, depends on the industry you’re innovating in) So no matter what happens from an environmental or political standpoint, there will always be room for entrepreneurs to make things better. OR of course, much much worse.

Jessica Mah is a 17 year old entrepreneur, blogger, and sophomore in college. She’s currently the founder of a startup, managing editor at Startupism.com, SimonsRockers.com, and Jessicamah.com.

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