One of the world’s largest IT management software companies, CA is focused on the carbon challenge and how big business is turning a potential regulatory burden into a moneymaking opportunity.

As global leaders prepare for December's Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, CNBC is speaking to heads of business from around the world to reflect on the summit, discuss plans for reducing emissions and investment opportunities.

Can you cash in on climate change? Barely a day passes it seems without a new green fund launch, or another ETF bundling together a collection of stocks in companies that have green credentials.

Nine chief executives and chairmen from around the world have signed up for an exclusive CNBC initiative, "The Carbon Council", aimed at identifying opportunities in clean technology and the larger business of sustainability. 

While investment capital seeks to exploit stimulus package programs for renewable energy projects, investors may want to consider the greenest form of energy out there—the megawatt no one uses.  White credits measuring  energy conservation  are now available,.

"Water’s getting a lot of attention," says one analyst of the investment boom. "There’s an expectation that critical water needs are not being met, and that it’s only going to get worse in future.”

Those looking to turn a profit in the green space are most apt to do so by investing in stocks that are poised to benefit from  government funding, have strong regulatory support and dominate an essential niche in the green market.

Despite recent advances, the U.S. lags far behind other major countries when it comes to clean energy investment and experts say it may never compete on equal terms, let alone lead.

The outlook for the solar industry might not be glowing, but its a lot brighter than it was a year ago when financing and demand dried up, abruptly ending what some might consider a golden age.

You’ll need to do some work to make an organic-apples-to-apples comparison between them, but they'll help you get to a company's sustainable bottom line.

Investing in green tech a great way to get in on the ground floor of a burgeoning sector with global exposure, but you may be taking a gamble on still unproven technologies.

Green investing has grown well beyond niche status, as the number of mutual funds and ETFs has increased enormously in recent years. Here's a list of the major ones.

Green exchange traded funds, ETFs, and mutual funds  provide the average investor an easy entrée into the nascent and sometimes volatile world of carbon conscious investing.

These are exciting times in the world of green. Washington is abuzz with the subject and Wall Street and Main Street are certainly taking note. So does this special report: "Invest in Green."  It is by no means an imperative. Green investing is an option and an increasingly more popular one.  Think of this as a starter's guide.