The year 2012 is a pivotal moment in history according to Mayan and other ancient civilizations,  and some say it will be the year when the world ends. Of course, I do not agree myself yet I do appreciate the more likely interpretation of Mayan prophecy, that we will see a major transformation in the world. My view is that 2012 will be the year when millions of people around the globe begin to  accept that a new vision and philosophy of life is needed, and that our conventional lifestyle and thinking are no longer working.

The crash of 2008 was a major turning point.  Over three years later the economy has not bounced back and, on top of this, our environmental crisis is worsening . The simple fact is that the assumptions that we had for most of the post war years are no longer valid. The world has changed at an alarming rate and in the West we have never felt more insecure at work and at home. We are struggling to deal with seismic economic, social, political and technological changes and surely our assumptions about economic growth, job security, asset values, healthcare, social security and ignoring the plight of our Earth need to be not just reconsidered but replaced as soon as possible.

We are entering a new era, and Bright Green Talent is dedicated to helping you gain the knowledge, the tools and the skills to survive and prosper in this new, emerging era. We believe that what we need is a completely new definition of prosperity or what we call The Good Life. We want to create a new definition of the Good Life that is relevant for this new era, that will enable us to be happy and healthy, enjoy rewarding work and help other people and our planet too. So, the new Bright Green Talent Mission is simply  “leading a Good Life” and this means living and working in a way that  is good for you, your community and our planet.  Our Website will provide the resources, tools and skills to help you lead  the Good Life at home and at work.

The Bright Green Vision of a Good Life 

We want to redefine what a good life means. For the last 50 years or so the good life has been associated with money and what it can buy. Most people in the world want a good life that consists of big homes, expensive cars, luxury goods, fame and power.  The tragedy is that only a few people can attain this and the disparity between rich and poor has only got larger as a result. Secondly, this is a completely flawed vision of the good life that is not supported by the facts.

The green economy is picking up momentum. The year 2012 holds great promise for people looking for green jobs. People across all segments of the United States are beginning to see the importance of environmental sustainability. Government, private industry, entrepreneurs and regular citizens have begun to take up the challenge to take action to save the planet by embracing the newer, greener technologies. Opportunities abound for people with training and ideas who want to find green jobs or create green businesses. They can find positions in government, the corporate world and urban and rural communities which will allow them to use their time, energy and ideas to have a positive impact on the movement to bolster environmental sustainability while earning a great salary.

As 2012 opens many green jobs will become available in the energy sector. President Obama and Vice-President Biden have proposed spending $150 billion on the New Energy for America plan over the next 10 years. These new positions are slated to begin in spring and summer of 2012. They can add tremendous impetus to the green economy. People who have training and preparation can utilize them to help America create and manage the new technologies designed to break the country’s dependence on fossil fuels.

Wind, solar and water power industries are poised for a dramatic influx of new people and ideas necessary to bring the benefits of these renewable clean power sources into the homes and businesses of millions of Americans. Already major corporations have begun to make changes in the way they do business to align themselves with the green wave which is washing over the country. Innovative new farming techniques, the growth of recycling, the production of biodegradable packaging and the design and construction of new more energy efficient homes and offices all portend well for people seeking green jobs in 2012.

People seeking green jobs need not create their own companies. Many major corporations are greening their supply lines and are looking for people with training, ideas and experience to assist them. There is a growing demand for green transportation options. Colleges and universities across the country are gearing up to offer more majors in fields related to environmental sustainability. Federal, state and local governments are looking for people with expertise to design, implement and manage systems and technologies to better utilize their air, water and solar resources. It is truly an exciting time for people interested in environmental sustainability.

From local stores to multinational corporations business leaders see the value and long term impact of ensuring their companies take steps to better manage their resources. In a broad spectrum of industries 2012 is shaping up to be the year of the green jobs.

The year 2011 was a very important one for the green economy. Gains were made on several fronts. Many established companies sought to make facets of their supply chain greener. That meant more opportunities for people, businesses and organizations focused on environmental sustainability. The average person sees people involved in building green businesses as part of a fringe movement. The commitment to green business and environmental sustainability made by governments, organizations and individuals and the positive media coverage it received in 2011 has helped to begin changing that perception and stimulate the growth of green businesses.

For the green economy 2011 was an important year. A large number of green jobs were created and thousands of new green businesses emerged internationally as entrepreneurs began to respond to the call for newer greener businesses to provide products and services to people and corporations worldwide. Green office space has made progress. Energy efficiency has also made strides. The density of packaging has declined and recycling has increased. This has provided opportunities for a number of entrepreneurs who specialize in organic packaging and a variety of other innovative green technologies.

Some challenges still remain. Organic farming, while it continues to grow, still represents less than 2% of the total farmland in the US. More electronic waste products are being recycled than ever before, however production dwarfs recycling so there is a net gain in the amount waste electronic parts. The production of energy related greenhouse gasses is also problematic. It has actually risen over the past 12 months. The broad mass of consumers, while they have taken some steps towards supporting the green economy, remains the biggest obstacle. They must be encouraged to fully embrace the concept of going green.

The green economy made progress in 2011, but many opportunities remain. Creative entrepreneurs can transform challenges in organic farming, electronic waste and energy related greenhouse gasses into the success stories of 2012. “Clean technology is the next wave of innovation Silicon Valley needs to capture.” Chuck Reed, the mayor of San Jose said in August as he cut the ribbon on a major solar power project. Projects like those are opening all over the country. Innovation in solar, wind and water energy, the greening of many mainstream corporations, recycling and other socially conscious efforts of ordinary consumers and the new businesses created by entrepreneurs committed to the green economy made 2011 a good year for the green economy. But there is a long way to go. The Brookings Institution reported in July 2011 there were 2.7 million green jobs representing 2% of the US economy. It is a good start, but there is much more work to be done.

The big question is how we move forward in 2012. What can we learn from the last 12 months and how can we maintain and increase progress. Clearly business, government and non profits need to cooperate more and integrate their efforts to achieve greater impact. Green business is here to stay and in 2011, despite the recession, progress was made against all the odds. This is because there are millions of people who believe in sustainability.

The year 2011 saw green jobs continue to grow in a number of key areas. Even as the economy overall had a rocky year, the green economy saw steady growth. Green jobs opened up in a number of sectors. Even President Obama set aside money in the budget to encourage entrepreneurs to go green. It shows that on all levels of society people recognize the importance of working to create jobs related to saving the planet. For those considering perusing educational and business opportunities in environmental sustainability the future is bright. They are in the vanguard of a movement determined to play a significant role in keeping the planet healthy.

The past year has shown that green business is the future. Not only are careers and businesses based in the green economy good for the planet, they can generate significant incomes as well. When President Obama stated his opposition to Proposition 23, the legislation that would have allowed companies doing business in California continue releasing carbon dioxide at their current rate, he gave a great boost to the green movement and signaled his support for the need to create more green jobs. It was a huge victory for the green economy.

People on all levels of society have begun to recognize that the green economy and the green collar jobs it creates are good for everyone. These jobs challenge the young to change their vision of what is possible and what is necessary. It has led to innovation in all segments of society. Green jobs are good paying jobs which encourage people young and old to think globally but act locally. Such thinking will transform local communities, create jobs, reinvigorate the economy and increase prosperity and the quality of life for large numbers of people. The strides made in 2011 confirm this is true, and that this could be a great model for the future of our economy and our society at every level.

In 2011 the USPS decided to make steps towards going green with Go Green stamps and recycled envelopes. The 15 stamps have messages on how to help the environment. The recycled envelopes are made from post-consumer fiber which keeps waste out of landfills. The USPS also offers Go Green stationary which folds into a mailer and eliminates the need for an envelope. The 21 members of the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum made the commitment for its members to go green in 2011. Nike also increased its recycling and sustainability efforts. These actions show the move towards environmental sustainability made significant progress in 2011.

Progress was not made across all sectors  in the creation new green jobs, yet it was made on many fronts. Colleges worldwide began to create majors focusing on energy management and green technologies which can support environmental sustainability. Governments and entrepreneurs invested millions in green businesses. It all signals 2011 was a reasonable year for green jobs. We now look forward to growth in 2012, and hope that the green jobs agenda is promoted with full vigor. Bright Green Talent will play our role, and we encourage every form of organization to find a way of hiring staff who can develop alternative energy, eco efficient solutions and innovative green products. We need them more than ever.