Consider the future for car dealers for a moment. Making a living selling products that may or may not be part of the global affect on climate change could potentially be a risky business. For one, in a few decades, who knows if cars will even be around in the form that we know and love? With the effects of global warming and CO2 emissions being a prime concern for both governments and consumers alike, how will car dealers respond to these challenging issues and will they be able to change their attitudes? With manufacturers already developing more environmentally friendly vehicles and energy companies focusing on bio-fuels to address the impending oil crisis, maybe it isn't such a leap to imagine the dealerships of the future similarly adapting themselves to climate change and other pressing issues?

Already, it seems some dealers have jumped on the bandwagon, with their sales strategy focused on promoting vehicles with low emissions and directly addressing environmentalists with 'green' themed advertisements. But will it go further than this even?

It may not be long before we see some car dealers specifically catering for a certain type of concerned customer. Can it be long before we see a truly 'green' dealership specialising in say, electric cars?

Buying from your local dealer is already changing, of course. The impact of the internet has seen websites become a central way for customers to search for their next car. Will there ever come a day when car dealers online presence will be more important than its actual showroom? If a dealership decided to become truly environmentally friendly, then certainly continuing to waste electricity with neon signs burning throughout the night and coolly lit glass showrooms might not be the way to endear themselves to their newly eco-conscious customers. If our potential future car dealers want to achieve maximum kudos with Greenpeace supporters, then they'll have to cut down their own carbon footprint. The least they can do is use those energy saving light bulbs.