Yesterday, investors (collectively worth thirteen trillion dollars) urged that the United States and the international policy makers come up with a global climate treaty. We've been hearing about it for some time now and it looks like people are sick and tired of just talking about it. Its time to take action. There are already investors out there looking for ways to reduce carbon emissions. British economist, Lord Nicholas Stern makes the point that "unmitigated climate change poses a threat to the global economy," but "building a low carbon economy creates opportunities for investment in new technologies that promise to transform our society in the same way as the introduction of electricity or railways did in the past." What people have to realize is that any change or fluctuation in the economy has a direct effect on the environment, AND that a change in the environment also has an effect on the economy.
Investors are realizing this and they see this as a great opportunity to jump on the "green band-wagon" and make some money on the way there. I say: Why not?! This might stimulate the economy a bit and shake things up technologically. I think that we should make some real strides towards this instead of just talking about it and dropping it and picking it up again.
If it was a decent investment, it would not need a treaty or any government intervention. Investors would just pony up their money.