Money For Breakfast Preview: Green companies vs. the economy

I'll be on with Alexis tomorrow morning for Money for Breakfast to talk green companies and PR and brand and whether any of that matters in this economy.  And cap and trade.  And more.

Here are my answers from the pre-interview:

1.    WHAT HAS THE ECONOMIC CRISIS DONE TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT?

We used to have people come on Happy Hour touting their $800 "environmentally-conscious" purses.  People now just wanna make sure they can make their mortgage payment.

2.    HOW IMPORTANT ARE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES RIGHT NOW WITH UNEMPLOYMENT     HOVERING AROUND 8.5%?

Environmental issues are always important -- the negative externalities of unchecked industrial growth hurt everybody, whatever the unemployment rate.  We already have laws to protect us from pollution...rather than create new crony tax credits and markets to build on them (cap and trade, that is), how about we just get serious about punishing polluters?!

3.    HERE’S A RECENT QUOTE FROM DAVID OWEN IN THE NEW YORKER:

Our best intentions regarding conservation and carbon reduction     inevitably     run up against the realities of foreclosure and bankruptcy     and unemployment. How do we persuade people to drive less—an     environmental necessity—while also encouraging them to revive our     staggering economy by buying new cars?

WHAT’S YOUR RECATION?

My reaction is same as above -- just enforce the laws we have against CO2 pollution already and the environment will see immediate improvement.

4.    A RECENT GALLUP POLL SUGGESTS THAT A GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE THINK     THAT GLOBAL WARMING HAS BECOME EXAGGERATED…WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Of course it has been exaggerated -- Republican/Democrat regime members have been using the propaganda about "global warming" for their convenience for years. I'd say:

Pollution = real problem.

Global warming = possible ramification of pollution

5.    GOING GREEN HAS BECOME TRENDY IN CORPORATE AMERICA…HOW MUCH DO     COMPANIES REALLY CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT?  OR ARE THEY JUST TRYING     TO CAPITALIZE ON A TREND?  ((CLOROX BUYING BURTS BEES))

They don't care about helping the environment except for the fact that doing so helps their brand which helps their bottom line.  I couldn't care less if companies "really care" or not actually though -- because as long as the media and consumers push environmentalism and non-pollution as a noble cause, companies will do so too.

The upshot: don't create false new markets for trading energy pollution crimes; just punish any polluters and consumers will take care of the rest...