• People

New Pew Poll Shows Rising Global Concern Over Climate and Environment

• climate change
• conservation
• environment
• greenhouse gas emissions
• jobs
• pollution

In its annual survey of attitudes about climate change and environmental issues in countries around the world, the Pew Research Center concluded that across the board, half or more of the people surveyed consider climate change to be a very serious problem.

Why This Matters:  While some (Fox News, e.g.) might want you to think that protecting the environment and fighting climate change are in opposition to job creation and economic growth.

• Energy

Could a Growing Green Economy Turn Texas Blue?

• #PoliticalClimate
• jobs
• Political Climate
• renewable energy
• Solar
• Texas
• wind

As Hurricane Laura pounds Texas with winds over a hundred miles an hour, looking ahead to the future of wind power in the state is more than a little ironic. From a climate perspective, the rapid expansion of low-carbon energy resources in Texas couldn’t come soon enough. 

Why This Matters: Texas has dominated the U.S. crude oil and natural gas industry since the early 20th century and remains the leading producer of these fossil fuel resources.

• Politics

On Jobs: Biden vs. Trump

• Biden
• economy
• green economy
• green jobs
• jobs
• Trump

The climate plan that Joe Biden released this week is ultimately a jobs plan–one that envisions our nation on a sustainable trajectory with abundant jobs provided by the build-out of a clean energy economy. Biden received the endorsement of multiple unions for his plan and seized the opportunity to present a vision of America that […]

• Energy

Renewable Energy Sector Has Lost 600,000 Jobs Due To COVID-19

• clean energy
• COVID-19
• jobs
• renewable energy
• solar energy
• unemployment
• wind energy

Using the latest Labor Department data, E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs), the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), and other analysts reported on Wednesday that 594,347 workers in clean energy occupations, representing 17.8% of the industry’s workforce, filed for unemployment benefits in April and March. 

Why This Matters:  The oil and gas industry really is the squeaky wheel getting the grease.  The number of jobs lost in that sector is likely only a fraction of those lost in the renewable energy sector.

• Ocean

Ocean Acidification Will Cause Big Economic Losses in the U.S.

• coral reefs
• fisheries
• jobs
• king crab
• ocean acidification

A new report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released last week as part of a Congressionally-mandated review of ocean acidification, states that increasing acidity in the U.S. ocean waters could cause “billions of dollars in damage to the U.S. economy,” with detrimental impacts on Alaskan fisheries and tourism due to degraded coral reefs in Florida and the Caribbean.

Why This Matters:  Climate impacts are costing our economy already due to severe weather events such as wildfires and hurricanes.  Even though increasing ocean acidification may not be visible to the eye, its costs are just as devastating.

• Politics

Countdown to #ClimateForum2020 – One Key Topic Will Be Job Creation

• #ClimateForum2020
• climate change
• jobs

As we look ahead to the Climate Forum we are co-hosting next week with New York Magazine, Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public Service, and MSNBC, we want to highlight key issues and topics we think will be discussed with each of the candidates. One of the major issues surrounding taking on the climate crisis […]