NEW YORK—Members of various interest groups came together to discuss how to promote green collar jobs in New York City. On Tuesday the first in a series of Green Collar Jobs roundtables took place at the New York City District Council of Carpenters building. The series aims to eventually create a citywide plan to help Mayor Michael Bloomberg and mayoral candidates boost the green collar workforce.
The roundtable engaged about 150 individuals from government, business, labor, education and environmental justice groups in cross-sector discussions. The attendants split into groups to discuss the impact in their respective fields.
With a declining economy, rising unemployment and the threat of global climate change, green collar jobs are a growing trend. Such jobs directly contribute to preserving the natural environment and can provide positions of all skill levels.
Jack Dafoe of Urban Agenda, one of the host organizations of the discussion, identified improving energy efficiency in existing buildings as "the most promising area of growth" in green collar jobs.
"We know that building energy costs are going through the roof," Dafoe said. "New York State has the second most expensive energy of any state after Hawaii." To reduce energy costs, Dafoe said buildings would need workers to perform retrofits, and building managers with expertise in green buildings.
Elizabeth Yeampierre, the president of the city's Environmental Justice Alliance, believes that New York has several reasons to invest in green collar jobs. Not only does its aging infrastructure need renovation, but also "the city is expected to see a 44 percent increase in energy consumption in the next 25 years, "Yeampierre said. In addition, a NASA report predicts that the New York area could be vulnerable to hurricanes, which have become more frequent due to climate change.
Executive director of Urban Agenda Joanne Derwin felt the discussions were a success. "We were able to gather preliminary information from a cross-section of stakeholders," Derwin said.
The organizers have planned a follow-up meeting for September 18. Their goal is to develop a citywide plan for the mayor by spring of next year.
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