Green Horizons

We live in a world where overwhelming climate conditions and limited resources may be in our foreseeable future. Whether it be floods, droughts, heat waves, hurricanes or expensive oil, it is impossible to ignore the mounting evidence of global warming and looming resource scarcities. Today, global warming is a hot-button issue—thanks to Al Gore's documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth" and the ensuing media coverage. It now appears an increasing number of political and business skeptics are becoming advocates of the new Green Movement. As is often the case, change brings opportunity. And, the global quest to combat the forces of various environmental issues may lead to opportunities to invest in companies that advocate change.

Participating in the New Green Movement
There is no shortage of ways for investors to participate in the new Green Movement. Some of which include:

• Alternative Energy – Given high oil prices, alternative energy companies could benefit from increased demand and government subsidiaries.
• Technology – A host of technological advances are steadily being introduced that could positively impact our environment.
• Business - Companies in various sectors, including utilities, industrial firms and retailers are implementing green policies.

Identifying "True" Green Investment Opportunities
With hype often comes disguise - investments or company policies that are just dressed green. At Van Kampen Unit Trusts, our goal is to focus on what we refer to as “smart green.” To accomplish this, we consulted with experts in the global alternative energy and water industries to identify green opportunities for long-term investors. Van Kampen Unit Trusts currently offers two pure play green investments:

Risk Considerations

There is no assurance a unit trust will achieve its investment objective. An investment in a unit trust is subject to market risk, which is the possibility that the market values of securities owned by a unit trust will decline and that the value of trust units may therefore be less than what you paid for them. Certain trusts are unmanaged and their portfolios are not intended to change during the trusts’ lives except in limited circumstances. Certain trusts are passively managed and seek to track their target index during the trust’s life. Accordingly, you can lose money investing in a unit trust.

Short term strategy trusts should be considered as a part of a long-term investment strategy and you should consider your ability to pursue them by investing in successive trusts, if available, should you wish to do so. You will realize tax consequences associated with investing in a subsequent series.

Common stocks do not assure dividend payments. Dividends are paid only when declared by an issuer’s board of directors and the amount of any dividend may vary over time.

Certain trusts invest in stocks of foreign companies. Investing in foreign securities involves certain risks not typically associated with investing solely in the United States. Investments in foreign securities may magnify volatility due to changes in foreign exchange rates, the political and economic uncertainties in foreign countries, and the potential lack of liquidity, government supervision and regulation.

The actual unit trust portfolios may be concentrated in certain market sectors/industries. To the portfolios extent the actual unit trust does so, it is more susceptible to economic, political, regulatory and other occurrences influencing those sectors/industries.

Certain trusts invest in stock of small- and mid-cap companies. Stocks of small and medium-sized companies carry special risks, such as limited product lines, markets and financial resources, and greater volatility than securities of larger, more established companies.
Certain unit trusts may hold a relatively small number of stocks, which means that you may encounter greater market risk than in a more diversified investment.