In the recent Canadian election (October 2008), the Green Party tallied almost a million votes, almost 7% of the overall popular vote. This was a 50% increase over their previous showing in the 2006 federal election, despite the fact that the leaders of the Conservative Party and the National Democratic Party (NDP) initially blocked the participation of the Green Party’s leader in the leadership debates.
The recent win of Barack Obama and the Democrats in the United States also reflects the emerging power of “green” on political policies and platforms. The President Elect ran on a platform that included a climate change plan with identified caps on industrial greenhouse gas emissions. There also seems to be a desire to incorporate “green” into his economic planning over the long term. On a global scale, that means the two of the most powerful countries in G8 have solidly incorporated green agendas into their political and policy platforms.
The global economic bust will create many winners, which the majority of people are not hearing from the media which touts doom and gloom. One of those winners should be the alternative energy sector and a re-shifting of the economy to emphasize “green collar” jobs, the professed “jobs of tomorrow”. With more businesses facing bankruptcy and employees facing the prospect of joining the unemployment line, everyone will be looking for the next growth sectors and viable, sustainable employment. It’s only a matter of time (and a short time it will be) before we see an explosion of “green” investment opportunities and re-training programs in the developed world.
TSmitsmith@mygreeneducation.com 
Subscribe in a reader
