Green Collar Jobs: Building Pathways out of Poverty
This 2008 report describes principles, strategies and best practices for developing a local green-collar jobs initiative in clean energy industries, including energy efficiency, renewable energy, alternative transportation and low-carbon fuels. It offers guidance on how cities can link residents to family-supporting jobs in green industries by building on existing environmental, economic development and workforce development initiatives.
The report provides a strategic framework within which local policymakers and advocates can develop a green-collar jobs initiative.
It identifies and describes a four-part process to create a successful green collar jobs initiative:
- Analysis: Identify economic and environmental goals and assess local opportunites
- Create demand: Use public policies and investments to increase demand for local green-collar workers
- Target disadvantaged citizens: Target green workforce development strategies to create pathways out of poverty
- Create political support: Develop a broad-based coalition to develop the green-collar jobs initiative and create political support for future efforts
This report describes a comprehensive approach to developing a green-collar jobs initiative, with a focus on forging broad partnerships, building on existing efforts, targeting disadvantaged citizens and developing long-term political support. Most of the case studies involve larger cities like Chicago, Baltimore, New York and Los Angeles, and the report may be more relevant for places with highly-developed economies.
Energy efficiency is the process of using less energy to produce the same or increased functions. Often used mistakenly as a synonym for ENERGY CONSERVATION. The ability or potential of a physical body to do work. The most common forms of energy are heat, light, mechanical (moving parts), and electrical.
