finding earth works

Finding Earth Works - March 2009 findingearthworks.org

The pace of green job creation is likely to accelerate in the years ahead. A global transition to a low-carbon and sustainable economy can create large numbers of green jobs across many sectors of the economy, and indeed can become an engine of development.

Green Jobs report, UN Environmental Program, September 2008


Curious About ‘Green’ Jobs?

A broad overview of the so-called green economy and

ideas for figuring out if there’s a place for you.

ACCESS OPPORTUNITY:

Boston’s Career Information and

Resource Fair - April 2009


Today we’ll cover

• Why green jobs?

• What is a green job?

• What industries are getting greener?

• What are some next steps?


So what’s going on with the climate?


What is our energy situation today?


How’s our economy doing?


“Speed of job loss hints at a vast

remaking of the US economy” NYT, March 7, 2009


“We have to seriously look at fundamentally rebuilding the economy. You’ve got to use

this moment to retrain for jobs.” Andrew Stettner, National Employment Law Project

• Stimulus bill includes $4.5 billion for job training


What are ‘green’ jobs?


Apollo Alliance’s definition:

Green-collar jobs are well paid, career

track jobs that contribute directly to

preserving or enhancing environmental

quality.


CA definition of green jobsGreen or clean is any activity or service that

performs at least one of the following:

• Generating renewable energy

• Recycling existing materials

• Energy efficient product manufacturing, construction, installation, and maintenance

• Education, compliance and awareness

• Natural and sustainable product manufacturing

•


Industry sectors• Energy

• Construction

• Transportation

• Material waste / Recycling /Deconstruction

• Toxicity

• Food / Agriculture

• Water

• Local Production


Job Projections


American Solar Energy Society 2009 report

• In renewable energy, moderate investment will yield over 3 million jobs

• Significant investment will yield nearly 8 million jobs

• In energy efficiency, moderate investment will yield nearly 18 million jobs

• Significant investment will yield over 32 million jobs (over 17% of all jobs)


MA Clean Energy Sector:

• 14,400 jobs in clean energy cluster

• Now 10th largest industry in the state

• Surveyed executives expect 30% job growth in renewable energy firms and 25% for energy efficiency firms over the next year.

Mass Clean Energy Industry Census Report, August 2007, Mass Technology Collaborative


Industry greening potential and future job potential

Following sectors have both excellent ‘greening potential’ and excellent long-term green job creation potential:

– Renewable energy – Mass transit / rail– Green buildings– Energy retrofit– Lighting retrofit– Recycling– Small scale agriculture / organic production– Sustainable forest management

Green Jobs report, UNEP, Sept 2008


What kinds of jobs?


There will be some new jobs others will be refocused


Energy efficiency

• Energy Assessment / Auditing• Insulation• Air Sealing• Weatherization• Lighting Replacement• Boiler and HVAC System

Efficiency/Replacement• Residential / Commercial /

Industrial


Renewable energy

• Solar power• Wind power• Hydropower• Biomass • Geothermal power

• Installers• Maintainers• Designers • Manufacturing –

machining, sheet metal, lab tech

• Power plant operators• Research and

development


Think broadly about your skills and green industries…

• Financing

• Sales/marketing

• Human resources

• Administrative/management

• Fiscal management

• Information technology


Some specific skills are needed AND

• Readiness to work• Basic skills in math, writing,

communication, and analysis• Facility with computers• Ability to communicate technically and

plainly with customers• Ability to be flexible and adapt to change• Concern about the environment and the

community


• There is a premium on understanding the situation, systems thinking, making connections.

• Because this is a watershed time in our global economy/structure, a lot is not yet known

• Key is being ready


Finding your place in the green economy…

• Be work ready

• Know about green industry sectors

• Understand training requirements and career possibilities

• Practice articulating the importance of ‘green’ work


Make a plan

• What industry and what jobs are you interested in knowing more about?

• What questions do you have? • How can you get more information?• Who in your community is already doing

this job/working in this industry?• How can you communicate your ‘green-

ness’ on your resume?• What will give you experience?


Other resources

• One Stop Career Centers• New England Clean Energy Council• US Green Building Council• Solar Energy Business Association of New

England• Building Performance Institute• Green Roundtable (Boston)• Mass Climate Action Network (MCAN)


“The future will be green, or not at all.

This truth lies at the heart of human-

kind’s most pressing challenge:

to learn to live in harmony with the

Earth on a genuinely sustainable

basis.”Jonathon Porritt, Chairman of the UK Sustainability Commission


Finding Earth Works

• Staff training on the green economy

• Workshops for students, clients

• Facilitation for program/employer partnerships

• Online resources – www.findingearthworks.org

http://www.findingearthworks.org/

finding earth works - march 2009 findingearthworks.org the pace of green job creation is likely to...

Documents

jobs slide

green jobs report

greencollar jobs

job training slide

large numbers of green

jobs significant investment

energy situation