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The events at the Climate Change conference in Copenhagen, I believe, are settling an opinion: there is no wishing away the world’s environmental problems.

Seventeen years ago, a rather small delegation gathered in Rio de Janeiro to discuss the world’s developing eco-problems. Whatever your particular opinion is on the climate, the huge gathering in Copenhagen, coupled with the huge attendance of delegates and the media from the developing world shows that climate change is a global problem that will be on the world’s agenda for a long time to come.

So how will this effect franchising? As we’ve said before, carbon taxes are coming down the line and who knows what else. The choice for franchisors and franchisees is simple: do nothing, complain or get stuck with the bill in the end or act now while the writing is on the wall and innovate.

I am thankful that the Small Business Trends blog recently reviewed a new book called “Greening Your Small Business” by Jennifer Kaplan. Now we’re all going to need some holiday reading to help us get through the downtime during the next week or two, and as blog post author Ivana Taylor outlines, this book will provide to plenty to think about as the New Year dawns.

The book instills the spirit that you don’t have to be a “green eco nazi” to implement the kind of practical, environmentally-friendly changes to your business. Kaplan provides some a range of simple measures that you can take - like using cold water whenever you can - as well insight as to how to draft your own green business plan.

Greening your franchise is much easier than it seems, and if you’re going to have to do it eventually, you might as well educate yourself now. Jennifer Kaplan’s book is as a good of a place to start as any.