Good Jobs, Green Jobs

Our nation must take bold steps to meet the 21st century challenges of climate change, which are fundamental to our nation's economic, environmental and national security. Scientific evidence has confirmed that human use of fossil fuels is contributing to global warming, causing rising sea levels, changes in climate patterns and threats to coastal areas.

The United States has the opportunity to lead the world in addressing these challenges by creating an environmental economic development policy backed by investments in energy efficiency and new technology—and one that creates family-supporting jobs for America's workers.

AFL-CIO union movement sees a role for workers and their unions at all levels in government decision-making in sustainable development, decent jobs/green jobs and in the workplace. In addition, the AFL-CIO union movement:

• Supports an approach to carbon emissions that involves timetables and standards enabling development of new technologies that can provide clean energy at prices close to conventional sources.
• protect the environment and create good jobs but do not encourage sending manufacturing jobs offshore.
• Advocates that any carbon emission cap-and-trade program ensures advanced developing nations also participate in a carbon emission reduction regime. FIND OUT MORE
  

WHAT'S NEW

• Read the report, Climate Policy and Energy-Intensive Manufacturing: Impacts and Options.
• Read the New America Foundation report, Green Trade Balance.
  
• Read the Pew Charitable Trusts report, The Clean Energy Economy: Repowering Jobs, Businesses and Investments Across America.
  
• View coverage of the National Clean Energy Project: Building the New Economy forum (video).
• See how the recovery package creates green jobs (video).
• Read the Green Jobs Guidebook.
• AFL-CIO Executive Council March 2008 statement: Greening the Economy: A Climate Change and Jobs Strategy That Works for All.
• Greening the Economy: An Energy, Environment and Jobs Strategy That Works for All, A Report to the AFL-CIO Executive Council from the AFL-CIO Energy Task Force.
• AFL-CIO Legislative Alert: AFL-CIO Energy Task Force: Jobs and Energy for the 21st Century.
• Read congressional testimony from Bob Baugh, chairman of the AFL-CIO Energy Task Force.
  • June 19, 2008
  • Nov. 13, 1007
  • June 24, 2007
• Resources