For decades, environmentalists have warned of the coming climate crisis, but the alarms were largely ignored. Now we are starting to see signs of the destructive potential of global warming.

Sadly, the solutions offered by "green" activists - curbing pollution, using less energy, rejecting technology and returning to a simpler way of life - are unappealing to most. Asking the world's wealthiest and advanced societies to turn their backs on abundance is fruitless.

Humans pollute because our industrial systems leave no options. Homes, high-rises, factories, freeways and power plants were developed before there were any ideas about pollution and global warming. The consequences of our progress were not grasped.

Consider the automobile - an ecological disaster, contributing to polluted atmospheres, oil-slicked oceans, and Mid East wars. As the enormity of these problems begin to really sink in, markets will emerge for sensible alternatives. Today a Toyota Prius burns far less gasoline. Tomorrow there'll be vehicles that consume no fossil fuels and emit no greenhouse gases. Progress is indeed being made towards a better, more sustainable future.

Some of the Indian software majors are planning for long-term growth in this arena. They see "clean-tech" software and systems as the next big opportunity. This is the programming and monitoring for thousands of global companies which will be launching the drive to become carbon neutral, more energy efficient. They see this need as inevitable; a safe bet rather than a strategic risk. Becoming more energy efficient is a profit opportunity beyond just satisfying regulators, or image improvement.

The idea is to use energy-related software to reduce material costs, simplify logistics, drive down electricity charges and shorten supply chains. As large companies start to do this, it will require a lot of data management - which is what Bangalore-based Infosys and others are focused on. They think the opportunity is huge, and they intend to provide the leadership that will satisfy the demand.

Will this new clean-tech demand be satisfied from forward-thinking developers in the US or Europe? Or, will the technology leadership come from places like India?

Hey, if you're looking for a good stable-growth career - green consultants, green designers, green builders are all going to be in huge demand.

Global Competitiveness Generates New Directions:
http://www.automationworld.com/view-3822

Tom Friedman - The dawn of E2K in India:
http://tinyurl.com/yud4x9

The Next Green Revolution:
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.05/green.html