Green-Collar Workers Vital to Washington, D.C. Policy Goals
As the Nation's capitol, Washington DC is playing an important leadership role in advancing green jobs in America through the DC Green Collar Jobs Initiative, a cooperative effort among city government, for profit entities, non-profits, & academic institutions. Together, these actors are enacting policies that will create large demand for a variety of green-collar jobs and new markets for DC-area businesses.
As the Nation's capitol, Washington DC has an important leadership role to play in advancing the transformational potential of green jobs in America. And the city's elected and business leadership is already well attuned to the opportunities at hand. Mayor Fenty is creating a "Green Jobs Advisory Council," and has tapped the directors of the Department of Employment Services and the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, among other city agencies, to play integral roles in the development of his green jobs training policies. Thus far, the central policy goals of the DC Green Collar Jobs Initiative are to develop local businesses and a labor pool capable of capitalizing on opportunities created by 1) the new Green Building Law, 2) integrated storm water management green urban infrastructure policies, 3) a forthcoming comprehensive energy policy, and 4) a city-wide commitment to reducing carbon emissions to fight climate change. Together, these policies will create a large demand for a variety of green-collar jobs, and vibrant new markets for DC-area businesses.
Excerpted from Green-Collar Jobs in America’s Cities by Green for All, the Apollo Alliance, Center for American Progress, and Center on Wisconsin Strategy. Published March 2008
