The political revolution
Famously, the U.S. is the world's largest energy consumer and polluter, burning, for example, some 25 percent of the world's oil.
Progress has been slow in the U.S. in part, because of a political argument that equates helping the environment with hurting the economy, an idea associated primarily with the Republican Party. But the 2008 presidential election season will feature an unusual shift: Republican Party candidates will champion the environment. That's right: Republicans are going green.
Call it "The Schwarzenegger Effect." While Republicans were routed in most recent elections, or squeaked by with tiny majorities, California's Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger won reelection by a landslide in the nation's most populous blue state.
Because he's an immigrant, Schwarzenegger can't run for president. But as arguably the most popular Republican in the nation, he'll play the role of king maker in the Republican Party's nomination process. Schwarzenegger is also working to move the California Republican primary to February, which would make the state, and its governor, pivotal for capturing the Republican nomination.
Every candidate will want his endorsement. Schwarzenegger said on the Sunday TV talk show, Meet the Press, in November that he will consider endorsing only an environmentally progressive Republican.
Because the environment is traditionally a Democratic platform issue, most candidates from both parties are likely to try to out-green each other with proposals for renewable energy technologies like solar power, alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles, and investment in green technologies across the board.
Thanks to these three revolutions, it's now realistic to imagine a future where millions of American use solar gadgets, drive zero-emission cars and live in solar-powered homes.
Reducing pollution, cutting energy consumption and helping reverse global warming may be easier than we thought because going green may not require sacrifice. Consumers can help the environment by choosing the most convenient gadgets. Researchers can attract investment and make money by inventing, selling and learning to cheaply manufacture green products. And the politicians -- even Republicans -- can get elected if they provide leadership on the environment.
Mike Elgan is a technology writer and former editor of Windows Magazine. He can be reached at mike.elgan@elgan.com or his blog: http://therawfeed.com.