It’s the Economy, Stupid . . . Well, and the Planet.

As the debate over health care reform continues to fuel a steady stream of talking points and sound bites, it may be just a teaser for the next big blockbuster. While health care reform is an important topic for many Americans, no matter what side of the aisle one chooses to support, another big issue that has far reaching effects on the economy is climate change. Aside from the Waxman-Markey Act, current legislation attempting to greatly reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, the debate over what measures to take to best get a hold of this issue is sure to be contentious, at the very least.

While some still argue over whether climate change is an issue worth taking up at all, regardless of that argument, the United States faces a unique opportunity to improve its economy. By emphasizing investment in new “green” technologies, as well as science and engineering education, the country may be able to fuel a new industry while combating possible causes of climate change. In the push to encourage businesses to pursue such technologies, there is a chance to create not only jobs in research and development, but also in the manufacturing sector. Further, with an emphasis to train more scientists and engineers, creating a steady supply of technical workers, it is possible to continue be the world leader of innovative technologies.

While some still argue over whether climate change is an issue worth taking up, the United States faces a unique opportunity to improve its economy.

As far as industry change goes, some may argue that transitioning to an economy that puts more focus on science and technology, particularly that of the “green” variety, may be too cost prohibitive to make it worthwhile. However, it may be possible to pull off such a change without exorbitant costs. Such encouragement could come in the form of strategic research grants to universities and companies that will pursue the research of said technology. Tax incentives may spur more companies to seek out new opportunities to put an emerging product on the market. While such grants and incentives may already exist in some form, it may be time to either put a greater emphasis on such programs, or reshape them to produce efficient results.

On the education side, the stark reality is that not as many students are pursuing a science or engineering education in the United States. Such declining numbers present a difficult puzzle: how do you square the need for new technology with the circle of a smaller technical workforce? Some deciding on an education path may consider certain science and engineering industries unattractive due to an unsure job market in the realities of a global economy. However, should the nation decide to put incentives in place to encourage young people to pursue such an education, the byproduct may be similar to the Apollo mission, where we win, with bragging rights.

So while the health care debate continues to ramp up, or at least hold with a steady fervor, the time is probably ripe for the next big challenge. After all, if the United States does not lead the way, someone else will. As Thomas Friedman points out, China is already making a big push towards shoring up a stronger economy based on “green” technology. So whether one believes in climate issues or not, taking hold of such issues efficiently poses a significant opportunity. Such action may change the nation’s economy in a very positive way, potentially for the long-term, and it may even help this whole Earth thing.