Is it just me or does everyone agree it’s not easy being green?

The federal government released a few details of its carbon trading scheme this week, ‘The Green Paper’.

Probably as expected, business says it’s too tough, green groups think it’s too soft.

I’m not sure yet. I know it’s a pretty small stick, designed to keep big business on side – but surely it’s better than nothing?

In truth though, I’m all for short term pain for long term gain. I believe unless we make a global effort to reduce greenhouse gas we’re risking our kids' future, and I’m pretty sure someone’s got to lead the way in this part of the world.

Australia has been spoilt for a long time. Because we’re such a big country, with a small population and no polluting neighbours to worry about, we’ve never had to face the consequences of our consumption.

As a result, we’re now one of the biggest per capita carbon munchers in the world, just behind a host of Arab nations and the United States.

This week, we had three beautiful German boys staying with us on their way to Sydney for World Youth Day.

Josef (Joe), Sebastian (Basti) and Ludwig (Ludi) are all from Perna, a town near Dresden, in what used to be called East Germany.

I think they were pretty surprised by the blatant waste in Australia.

Germany is the mother of all green movements. In the early 90s the German government identified climate change and forecast a global oil crisis.

To loud condemnation and predictions of gloom they immediately jacked up the price of fuel and forced people to find alternatives.

To offset the rise in energy costs, they then offered top dollar to any business or household willing to sell renewable energy back to the grid.

That law has encouraged the use and development of green technology and jobs, making Germany the world leader in solar and wind power.

In 1998 the German government set a target of 12% green power by the year 2010. Earlier this year, they passed 15%.

The German minister for the environment said his dream is to eventually become completely energy independent, “We can either pay Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, or we can pay our own energy companies here. I’d opt for the latter.”

Australia is behind the eight ball. Our visitors couldn’t believe the sea of bald roofs across the Sunshine Coast, of all places. They say even in East Germany, were sunny days can be a little few and far between, every second household has embraced solar power.

Just like the reaction in Australia, Germany’s green government was initially met with howls of derision. Big business forecast industry would flee and the economy would flounder.

Fifteen years later, the opposite is true. Sales of solar, wind and water technology are the export success story.

A third of all the solar cells and almost half of all the wind turbines worldwide are today produced in Germany. The Renewable Energy Federation registered exports worth six billion Euros in 2006 – an increase of 30% compared with the previous year.

By the year 2020, the renewable energy sector is expected to employ more people than mechanical engineering or the automotive industry, and earn more money than these two traditional key industries put together.

A couple of weeks ago I heard electrical retailer Gerry Harvey complain that Australia is good for nothing more than retirement villages and tourism. Well, maybe this is our chance to change.

Australia’s electricity producers have known for 15 years that they would eventually be called to account for their carbon use. If they’re not ready for the future, then they have no-one to blame but themselves.

Even if you don’t believe in climate change – or you believe it’s true but don’t think Australia has some kind of moral duty to lead the way, think about this.

Germany has the strongest economy in Europe and green technology is fast becoming it’s biggest employer and export earner.

It might not be easy being green, but it makes great economic sense.