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Solar installation trainees, Richmond, California. Photo courtesy of Ella Baker Center, 2007.
Contact: Carol Zabin
Phone: (510) 642-9176
Email:
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Green jobs and the green economy are hot topics of discussion in California. As Californians seek products and services that will minimize their impact on the environment, green businesses are arising to meet consumers’ demand for everything from solar panels to environmentally certified building materials. Demand is also being created by state and local legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, like California’s Global Warming Solutions Act, AB 32.
There are high hopes that thousands of green jobs will be created – jobs that contribute in some way to reducing environmental impact by consumers and businesses. Some of these jobs will be new jobs – like solar panel installers – and some will be modifications of existing jobs – like construction workers who will apply the newest green building technologies to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. A term that is also being used to refer to these jobs is “green collar jobs.” Green collar jobs are manual labor jobs in the green economy, comparable to traditional blue collar jobs.
In addition to the excitement about these prospective jobs, there are many questions that are being asked by employers, economic development planners, policy makers, workforce development professionals, labor unions and other stakeholders:
How will these changes transform economic sectors, and what do businesses, labor unions and others need to do to be prepared for this transformation? Will the new green jobs be high quality jobs in terms of pay and benefits, and what interventions could raise labor standards in the new green economy? What kind of training programs can make high-quality jobs in the green economy accessible to low-income communities that suffer from high unemployment and a dearth of family-wage jobs?
The Labor Center hopes to be able to provide answers to some of these questions through a new education and research program on green jobs in California.
The goals of our work will be to:
- Make a significant contribution to the research literature on the green economy and climate change legislation, particularly in terms of how these relate to the labor market.
- Provide research, technical assistance, and training to stakeholders, including labor, engaged in developing policy related to climate change and employment.
- Showcase best practices that have been developed for green jobs’ training programs, green certification programs and green economic development programs.
- Bring together labor unions, community groups, academics, policy makers, businesses and others who have a stake in issues of climate change and employment in order to foster collaboration and identify research and training gaps in the field.
The Impact of Climate Change Policies on Carbon-Intensive Manufacturing Industries in Oregon
November 2009, by Carol Zabin, Andrea Buffa, and Lynn Scholl
» Read the paper 
This policy brief focuses on the potential impact of climate change policies like cap-and-trade programs on carbon-intensive manufacturing in Oregon. In particular, it addresses the risk of "leakage" in Oregon's carbon-intensive manufacturing. Leakage refers to the movement of production (and greenhouse gas emissions and jobs) from a region with stringent emissions standards to one with lower standards, and is of particular concern to labor unions and other worker advocates.
Making Climate Change Policy Work in Difficult Economic Times:
A Conference Focusing on the Job and Equity Impacts of Carbon Pricing Policies
Tuesday, May 5, 2009; 8:30 AM - 6 PM Conference; 6:30 PM Reception
UC Berkeley International House; 2299 Piedmont Avenue; Berkeley, CA
» Conference Agenda
» Webcast
Carbon pricing policies like cap-and-trade programs are being proposed or implemented to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in California, the Western states of the US and Canada, and nationally. This conference explored the design options within carbon pricing policies that shape impacts on jobs, employment, and equity. Presenters included leading policy makers, economists, labor leaders, environmental justice advocates, and others.
Sponsored by the UC Berkeley Labor Center, California Labor Federation's Workforce and Economic Development Program, Apollo Alliance, Energy Foundation, Don Vial Center on Employment in the Green Economy, and others.
Addressing the Employment Impacts of AB 32, California's Global Warming Solutions Act
February 2009, by Carol Zabin and Andrea Buffa
» Read the paper
This policy brief analyzes the job impacts of AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, and highlights the policy design options that can best promote both lower greenhouse gas emissions and good jobs.
California's Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006: A Background Paper for Labor Unions
August 2008
» Read the paper
This background paper analyzes AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, a landmark law which aims to dramatically reduce California's greenhouse gas emissions. The paper focuses on AB 32's potential impact on California jobs and workers, and highlights ways that California labor unions can influence the implementation process to promote both lower emissions and good jobs.
California Labor Federation Workforce and Economic Development Conference: Green Jobs Workshop Track
June 11 through 13, 2008
» View the WED conference program
The Labor Center assisted with the development of a green jobs workshop track which was offered at the June 11-13, 2008 Workforce and Economic Development Conference in Los Angeles. Workshop topics included what and where are the jobs; green manufacturing possibilities; job quality and the green economy; and best practices in environmental/labor collaborations.
Technical Assistance to East Bay Labor and Community Groups
In 2007, the Labor Center assisted in efforts that brought together housing, faith-based, labor, environmental and neighborhood organizations in a coalition to push for community benefits in the reuse plan of the Concord Naval Weapons Station. As part of forming the coalition, the Labor Center and the Contra Costa Central Labor Council convened elected and labor leaders from Concord and Richmond to learn about green building, LEED standards, sustainable development and green job training opportunities. The Labor Center participates in the Research Committee of the East Bay Green Corridor Initiative spearheaded by UC Berkeley and the Mayors of Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland and Richmond. We also serve on the Steering Committee of the Oakland Apollo Alliance.
Labor and California Climate Change Legislation: Can Cooling the Climate Also Create Jobs?
February 8, 2008 panel discussion
» Read an article about this event
California’s Global Warming Solutions Act, AB 32, will reduce California’s greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020. How might this legislation impact California’s economy and workers? How might certain industries, like transportation, construction, energy and manufacturing, be impacted? And what can be done to ensure that this legislation creates high-quality jobs in California rather than sending jobs to states with less stringent environmental regulations? Come learn how you can have a positive effect on the implementation of AB 32.
Peter Cooper, California Labor Federation Workforce & Economic Development Program Senior Manager
Carla Din, Apollo Alliance Western Regional Field Director
Jay Hansen, State Building and Construction Trades Council Legislative Director
Andrew Hoerner, Redefining Progress Sustainable Economics Program Director
Sponsored by the Apollo Alliance, California Labor Federation Workforce & Economic Development Program, Redefining Progress, and the UC Berkeley Labor Center.
Green Collar Jobs in the San Francisco Bay Area: Can the green economy reduce global warming AND fight poverty?
November 29, 2007 panel discussion
The green economy is exploding. Solar panels, wind turbines, green buildings, and plug-in hybrid cars are just a few examples of the new products and technologies that are being introduced. Find out how this green wave is impacting the Bay Area job market and what policies can ensure that green collar jobs don’t just benefit an “eco-elite,” but also provide living wages for poor people and people of color.
Featured speakers:
Raquel Rivera Pinderhughes, Professor of Urban Studies, San Francisco State University
Ian Kim, Green-Collar Jobs Campaign Policy Director at the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights
This event is sponsored by the Institute for the Study of Social Change and the UC Berkeley Labor Center. It is hosted by the College of Natural Resources Dean’s Office.
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