February 28, 2008 issue
Going Green Helps the Economy
Story by Nancy Gray
Worried about a recession? Worried about unemployment rates that are at their highest in years? It’s time to get behind climate stabilization and renewable energy. “Green” collar jobs are one of the big benefits of the push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy efficiency.
The Presidential Climate Action Plan (PCAP), developed by national experts in climate change policy (www.climateactionproject.com), provides our next president, whomever he or she may be, a “blueprint for bold leadership” in building a new, low-carbon economy to neutralize the effects of global warming.
According to PCAP, “Reducing greenhouse gas emissions requires a crash program to improve energy efficiency. That will cut costs and improve America’s competitiveness; spur the use of clean energy technologies that already are available and cost-competitive; and lead to the development of next-generation technologies for virtually every sector of the economy. When we embrace the need to create a new energy economy, the entrepreneurial opportunities will be unprecedented.”
The energy efficiency and renewable energy industries created 8.5 million jobs in 2006 and could create more than 40 million jobs by 2030, according to PCAP. Opportunities are envisioned in clean technology, biofuels, creating and manufacturing energy efficient cars, designing and building climate-neutral buildings, and in many other areas. If the authors of PCAP are right, by 2020 renewable energy alone could provide 20 percent of our power vs. 6 percent today and create 350,000 new jobs.
In addition to jobs, these industries produce significant revenues. PCAP notes that these industries have created more than $100 billion in profits and $150 billion in new federal, state and local government tax revenues to date. Gross revenues for energy-efficiency companies alone were $933 billion in 2006, more than the combined sales of the three largest U.S. corporations: Wal-Mart, ExxonMobil and General Motors.
What can you do to help guarantee these economic benefits? First, learn more about the possible solutions for global warming. In January, Focus the Nation organized a national teach-in on global warming solutions for America. Their website—www.focusthenation.org/index.php—has forums exploring possible solutions to global warming that are a great place to start. Teachers, students and citizens are invited to have discussions about the solutions and to vote for their top five.
Second, VOTE! Let your voice be heard. Choose the presidential candidate in 2008 whose platform shows bold leadership on climate change and a recognition of the economic benefits of uniting our country in the fight against global warming. Email, call and write letters to your local representatives to let them know that this issue is important to you. Tell them the solutions that you believe will work.
Do it today—the time for action is now.
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