Climate Change, Green Jobs - What are the Connections for Adult Learners and ABE/GED/ESOL Programs?

1. Climate Change, Green Jobs - What are the Connections for Adult Learners and ABE/GED/ESOL Programs? Alex Risley Schroeder, Finding Earth Works, 2008

2. “Occasionally something different happens, a collective awakening to new possibilities that changes everything over time – how people see the world, what they value, how society defines progress and organizes itself, and how institutions operate. The Renaissance was such a shift, as was the Industrial Revolution. So, too, is what is starting to happen around the world today.” Peter Senge, The Necessary Revolution Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

3. Three points today: • Something is happening that is more than green jobs – it’s a big opportunity • Green jobs can happen and ABE students need to be ready – there’s a ‘green edge’ • ABE programs have a key role to play – its an invitation, we’ll be part of making it happen Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

4. The New Dream – The Third Wave of Environmentalism Ella Baker Center for Human Rights and Green For All Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

5. So what’s going on with the climate? Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

6. What is our energy situation today? Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

7. How’s our economy doing? Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

8. What are ‘green’ jobs? Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

9. Apollo Alliance’s definition: Green-collar jobs are well paid, career track jobs that contribute directly to preserving or enhancing environmental quality. • range from low-skill, entry-level positions to high-skill, higher-paid jobs • include opportunities for advancement in both skills and wages. Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

10. Green-Collar Jobs…  • Rebuild a strong middle class • Provide pathways out of poverty • Require some new skills (and some new thinking about old skills) • Tend to be local jobs • Strengthen urban and rural communities • Protect our health and the health of the planet definition from Green For All Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

11. CA definition of green jobs Green 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 Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

12. Industry sectors • Energy • Construction • Transportation • Material waste / Recycling /Deconstruction • Toxicity • Food / Agriculture • Water • Local production Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

13. Job Projections

14. 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 Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

15. U.S. Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Industries in 2030Source: Management Information Services, Inc. and American Solar EnergySociety, 2008. Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

16. 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 Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

17. “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 “In current dollars, the nation devoted the equivalent of $20 billion to job training in 1979, compared with only $6 billion last year.” Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

18. Impact of the Stimulus Package • Funding for job training in clean energy and energy efficiency industries • Incentives to support the growth of clean energy industries • Investments in clean energy industries Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

19. What kinds of jobs?

20. There will be some new jobs others will be refocused

21. Pollin, Green Recovery Identified jobs in • Building retrofit • Mass Transit/Freight Rail • Smart Grid • Wind and Solar Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

22. These include: insulation air sealing lighting window replacement, boiler and HVAC system replacement energy audit/analyst Retrofitting Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

23. Solar power Wind power Hydropower Biomass Geothermal power Installers Maintainers Designers Manufacturing – machining, sheet metal, lab tech Power plant operators Research and development Renewable energy Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

24. R. Pinderhughes green jobs case studyIdentified 22 jobs with low bars to entry in the Bay Area, CA Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

25. Building a competitive and equitable green economy means investing in the backbone of America’s labor force: workers with more than high school, but less than a four-year degree. Green Collar Jobs in America’s Cities

26. …the new energy economy will be built and sustained by middle-skill workers in traditional occupations. Green Collar Jobs in America’s Cities

27. Sure specific skills are needed, but • Readiness to work • Basic skills in math, writing, communication, and analysis • Facility with computers • Concern about the environment and the community • Ability to communicate technically and plainly with customers • Ability to be flexible and adapt to change Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

28. And, • 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 isn’t yet known  • Key is being ready Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

29. Given this, what is the big opportunity for abe/esol/ged learners? To understand the ‘real’ real world Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

30. How we have seen the world The ‘real’ real worldquote: E.O. Wilson graphic: Senge, The Necessary Revolution economy environment environment society society economy Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

31. Work & career prep Civics & community preparedness Social justice Economic justice GREEN ECONOMY Individual preparation Science and math Environmental justice It fits across the curriculum Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

32. Science and Math • What is the carbon cycle? Why do we care about it, especially right now? • What is climate change? Peak oil? • World geography – what is happening now as a result of climate change? • Energy usage calculations, gas mileage, energy cost comparisons Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

33. Individual Preparedness • Practical preparedness • Determining appropriate energy, resource conservation strategies • Being an informed consumer of products and information • Emotional preparedness • Dealing with uncertainty, fear, grief • Helping others Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

34. Work Readiness / Career Prep • Being work ready • Knowledge of how the economy is changing • Understanding local green industries • Understanding training and advancement possibilities • Being able to articulate the importance of ‘green’ work Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

35. Civics and Community Preparedness • Understanding community solutions, like local energy production • Building collaborative responses • Advocacy and activism with elected officials Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

36. What are some jobs? Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

37. 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 Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

38. Small group questions • Is this job attainable for your students? • What are the curricular gaps you could fill? • Can you think of a local employer in this field? • Can you think of a local training entity that you might partner with to better prepare students? Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

39. What kinds of knowledge and skills are needed? Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

40. Examples of training • Greenfield Community College • Cape Cod Community College • Other CCs • Other training programs/vendors Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

41. Standards & Certifications Energy Efficiency • BPI – Building Performance Institute • HERS Rater Solar Energy • NABCEP Others… Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

42. Activities and resources Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

43. What can learners do… • Gain a ‘green edge’ • Be ready for (coming) jobs • Be ready for training and certification • Help address environmental challenges Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

44. What can programs do… • Integrate the ‘real’ real world into curricula • Teach systems thinking • Articulate and build partnerships for training and employment • Help address environmental challenges Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

45. What can help grow this economy? • National and state policy and regulation • Municipal policy and regulation; municipal purchasing • Industry investment • Market demand • Citizen education and activism and advocacy Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

46. MA picture • Green Jobs bill – Pathways out of Poverty • NE Clean Energy Council • Mass Technology Collaborative • Clean Tech Agenda • Community energy committees • Massachusetts Workforce Alliance • Mass Green Jobs Coalition • Mass Climate Action Network Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

47. Questions programs need to ask • How do we bring an understanding of the real ‘real’ world into curricula? • How can we build connections to training for learners? • What other ways can we support students to get a ‘green edge’? Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org

48. Finding Earth Works • Staff training on the green economy • Workshops for students • Facilitation for program/employer partnerships • Online resources – www.findingearthworks.org Finding Earth Works, findingearthworks.org