In the Green Technology Revolution, How Can We Best Reach the Summit?

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The discussion unfolding around this movement has yet to be taken up by many minority communities.  Education and job training are essential to changing this. “There’s an important discussion about the digital divide — that is, the extent to which people of color, (1) are more concentrated in occupations with low skill sets, low wages, and lack of career pathways and, (2) have less access to green technology itself,” said Ellis-Lamkins.

“This divide is one of the reasons that Green For All focuses on equity in the green economy.  An inclusive green economy — in which all people have access to the benefits of a green economy, including increased health, high-quality jobs, career pathways, and safe working conditions — will lift all boats,” she said.

Under-served communities can secure funding for such sustainability initiatives by forming alliances with social justice, labor, business and environmental movements, affirmed Ellis-Lamkins.

Through such coalitions, GFA secured funding for the Green Jobs Act, which supports green-collar training programs.  It also won the inclusion of two key equity provisions in the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which will allocate $860 million in continued funding for the Green Jobs Act.

GFA is also part of a joint effort to pass HOME STAR legislation, which would quickly create thousands of quality jobs in construction and manufacturing by putting people to work improving residential energy efficiency.

For any of this to happen, said Ellis-Lamkins, communities of color must demand more products and services that require employing green-collar workers in their areas.

Sustaining and increasing the momentum required to keep minorities’ concerns in front of decision makers requires that community members get and stay in the know.  “Until [African-Americans] get involved, until a critical mass in the African-American community understands the relevance of this complex global initiative, a shift in perspective will not occur,” said Johnson.

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Did You Know:

Communities of color can benefit from green technology initiatives by getting involved with social justice, labor, business and environmental groups that:

•provide benefits and protections for the people most vulnerable to climate change

•create jobs by investing in clean-energy industries

•provide access to jobs and careers for unemployed, underemployed, and dislocated workers by investing in workforce development and multiple educational pathways

•reduce pollution

•protect low-income consumers from rising energy prices and costs of living

•bring down the cost of clean energy through research and development.

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