Will 2010 be the breakout year for green business?
My goodness, I certainly hope so!
Many of us thought that 2009 was going to be the year for green business, because President Obama won his landslide election partly on a pro-green business platform.
But like many things in politics, the Law of Unintended Consequences became an irrepressible force: the official unemployment rate hit 10 percent (while the unofficial out-of-work estimate spiked to 17 percent); thousands of businesses closed and millions of mortgages foreclosed; and the health care debate nearly deadlocked the 111th Congress.
With so many Americans paying singular attention to all the bad news that has been reported, in 2009, the share that identified global warming as a serious threat dropped by nearly half. What is more, President Obama’s approval rating slipped below 50 percent. Understandably so, Americans are jittery and impatient.
Some navel-gazers have already dubbed 2010 “2009.2″ But I am not aligned with such pessimists. I believe 2010 will be the year we pull out of the trough.
Here are some indicators (causal or anecdotal) that may signal a return to economic stability, and most-importantly, the growth of the green business sector:
- American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funding for green business has reached very few targeted projects. But I believe ARRA funds will, during the first six months of 2010, flow more-readily to green businesses;
- More traditional companies and organizations will embrace sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Their budgets for energy efficiency will continue to rise. And the number of professional training and career-development opportunities offered by such companies and organizations will increase, significantly;
- The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office has indicated that patent applications for green and clean technology will now be fast-tracked. As a result, more companies will invest many millions of dollars in the development of green and clean intellectual property;
- Seeking a way to mitigate double-digit unemployment, many states may offer new business development funding for green tech and clean tech enterprises and start-ups. We may even see a bidding war between states vying for renewable energy and conservation technology businesses;
- Expect a spike in hiring for green industry-focused sales and business development executive talent. GOOD NEWS: that is an indicator I am already seeing. Similarly, in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and the 2003 recession, executive recruitment specialists saw spikes in activity that ultimately led to more wide-scale and sustained executive hiring.
For me, 2010 is a glass that is definitely more than half-full. And for all of you eager to embark on an executive career in green business, the future looks very bright.
Here’s wishing you all a Safe and Happy New Year!
2010: BRING IT ON!
