Five Strategies for Developing a Local Green Jobs Plan

Increased federal funding aimed at fostering a cleaner and more resilient economy, combined with mounting global pressure to address climate change, underscores the need for a workforce prepared to tackle climate-related challenges. Should decisive action on climate be taken by 2030, American cities have the potential to generate nearly 20 million sustainable jobs, with a significant portion originating within urban areas. However, despite the anticipated demand for millions of additional workers, there remains a pervasive lack of clarity and inadequate nationwide efforts to define roles, responsibilities, and effective training pathways for these individuals.

According to the NLC, local governments are uniquely positioned to take a leadership role in the transition, having already made great strides through climate action planning, but many are missing a key piece to the puzzle: a green jobs plan. Given record public and private investments, new technological advancements, and global pressure to act, it is understandably overwhelming to determine where to begin, which is why taking the time to invest in local planning and capacity-building is so critical for both short-term gain and long-term resilience.