To learn more about corporate climate strategy and sustainability issues, join professional associations such as Net Impact (http://netimpact.org) and the American Solar Energy Society (http://www.ases.org). Be sure to check out such Web sites such as http://www.greentechmedia.com and http://grist.org. It's helpful to read company-specific blogs—such as those of Google and the General Kinematics Corporation—related to reducing the footprint of greenhouse gas emissions. Two must-read books are Green Giants: How Smart Companies Turn Sustainability into Billion-Dollar Businesses, by E. Freya Williams, and The Battle to Do Good: Inside McDonald's Sustainability Journey, by Bob Langert.

Every year, more companies take proactive steps to reduce their carbon footprint. And while there are still some organizations out there that are being forced to change their business practices to comply with environmental regulations, many others are strategizing first—to prevent problems and penalties, and to improve their relationships with communities, enhance their image, and boost their bottom line by creating corporate climate strategy and environmental strategy task forces.

Companies hire corporate climate strategists to create clear strategies that address climate change. Strategists do a great deal of research before setting goals that help companies improve the environment and community. They also may recommend new business practices and technologies to help companies meet these goals. Strategists study the company's culture, solicit ideas from employees, and attend conferences about sustainability.

Other job responsibilities include:

• financial and environmental analysis of business decisions;
• presenting options to company management and seeking feedback;
• independent data collection (via academic journals, technology-specific specifications, and reviews of public renewable energy projects);
• sending out requests for information to technology vendors;
• speaking with government agencies regarding laws, policies, and land-use rights;
• speaking with industry colleagues about their sustainability initiatives;
• creating action plans and business models around selected climate mitigation investments; and
• speaking at public events and industry conferences.