Happy Earth Day! - A note for my business reader...

Good morning I am writing a note for my business reader. I am aware that often in the past environmental regulation and some of the environmental groups that created, lobbied for, and addressed these issues had little or no concern for the products we consume daily or the jobs they create and the families these jobs sustain. Some don’t understand business, and even environmentally minded businesses find it a struggle to do the right thing in the spotlight of an ever critical public.

The problem is that we have some real problems and some great opportunities. We must work together and we need to end the blame game. I would love to think that environmentalists will realize the potential of cooperation, I am afraid they won’t.  A few bullet points on this issue:

• I would like to think that environmentalists would rush to support power utilities bringing renewable power on line, closing older plants, and creating cogen facilities to keep the power on when wind and sun are not enough. Alas environmentalists will suggest that “new utilities” be created to supply the now cost effective renewable side while the system is the responsibility of the “old utilities”.
  
  
• I would like to think, now that China no longer wants our unsorted recyclables, environmentalists would work with business to create a cleaner recycling system that is cost effective and usable. Instead they will continue to request that we mandate a recycling program that takes everything and ends up placing the result in the very landfills it was meant to avoid.
  
  
• I would love to see a rapid transition to electric vehicles with new technology, manufacturing, and a sustainable marketplace leading the way.  I fear, in fact I know, that China, Japan, and Korea are waiting for the investment curve and technology to bring the numbers to a point where they can saturate the market with next generation affordable product that US manufacturers can not compete with. They did this with computers, phones, electronics, and lest we forget cars.
  
  
• We have the ability to build smaller affordable very energy efficient homes.  Yet zoning restrictions, profit margins and an insane set of affordable housing regulations and funding make creating a home people can actually afford that is better for the environment unrealistic.
  
  
• We have a real opportunity to improve our watersheds by working together to identify opportunities and using development to finance the solutions. Instead we continue to penalize business and mandate the solutions then turn a blind eye when lawyers and companies profit from the lack of cooperation that should have solved the problem in the first place.

So here is a challenge to the business leaders among us. Reach out and shake the hand of environmentalist, let them know you are really here to help, share ideas with them and continue to demonstrate that you are really part of the solution not the cause of the problem. Continue to clean your waste streams, build greener buildings, design and manufacture cleaner products, and address any issues that are a cause of concern.

As a business leader remind environmentalists that this Earth Day is a great day to work together – as are the other 364 days of the years.  Also let me thank you for all your efforts because I see that you do understand that this is a pretty fragile planet.
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Ken Notes: Feel free to reprint or share this!