Here’s a thoughtful overview of the clean energy job market, from Rod Griffin of the Environmental Defense Fund’s quarterly magazine, EDF Solutions.
Good news: There is money to be made here, not to mention saving the planet… as Griffin points out:
“More than three million Americans work in clean energy, more than twice the number of Americans employed in fossil fuel generation…”
“These are well-paying, local opportunities that boost the economy. The solar and wind energy industries alone employ nearly half a million people. Solar jobs have grown at a rate of about 20% annually in recent years, and the solar industry is creating jobs at a rate 17 times faster than the rest of the U.S. economy.”
“The country’s fastest-growing job is wind turbine technician. The number of such jobs is expected to double over the next decade.”
This is great news in terms of staying focussed on the highest-payoff climate change solutions: According to Project Drawdown’s recent analysis, wind turbines are the #2 most-effective global warming solution, with industrial-scale solar farms at #8 and rooftop solar at #10.
Environmental Defense Fund is an organization Global Warming for Busy People supports and follows… (and when their magazine comes in the mail it gets read cover to cover). They bring a wealth of talented, committed people together, and perform advocacy and education on many levels: Legal team working in the courts; government oversight and influencing at all levels; partnering with business, government and scientists on policy implementation; and retail communication to folks like us.
If you’d like to use your voice by working through EDF, donations can be made here.
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Not sure where to start saving the planet (civilization, really)? Our Thesis is: “Start by deeply knowing your three personal Superpowers: ”
1) To save the planet, CHANGE YOURSELF FIRST;
2) To save the planet, INVEST YOUR WORKING LIFE;
3) To save the planet, USE YOUR VOICE and take advocacy seriously! Never miss a vote and never, ever stop influencing your government and all businesses locally, at the state level, and at the national level.
It falls upon you to lead the way with substantive global warming solutions.
And in all cases and at all times, cast aside the learned-helplessness that infects so much of modern life… the time is now for climate change solutions. No one else is going to do your part for you… never give up.
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Global Warming, You and I 