Can Environmental Sustainability Create Economic Growth?
There was a big push in April for Congress to battle climate change by passing legislation that would cut carbon emissions by 80% over the next four decades. Opponents of environmental protections often deny that global warming is real. In their more realistic moments, however, they typically complain that strong environmental laws will hurt the economy and weaken job growth. Are they right? No, according to a new report co-authored by the Apollo Alliance and Urban Habitat. With serious investment in the so-called “green economy” high-skilled, well-paid jobs can be created. For example, the report shows that investments in environmentally sustainable areas such as green building, energy efficient retrofits, and renewable energy can promote economic diversity and job growth. New jobs could be created in union dense fields like construction, metal working, the public sector, general labor, chemical work, electrical work, pipe fitting, heavy equipment operation, as well as in management,
