Summary
- U.S. Climate Alliance launched the Governors’ Climate-Ready Workforce Initiative
- Initiative aims to create career pathways in clean energy and climate fields
- Expected to create millions of well-paying union jobs in climate-ready fields
- States and territories aim to train one million new registered apprentices by 2035
- Alliance members collaborate to support workers in completing Registered Apprenticeship programs and advance sector-specific strategies
Article
The Governors’ Climate-Ready Workforce Initiative was recently launched by the U.S. Climate Alliance, a coalition of 24 governors aiming to increase career pathways in clean energy and climate fields and train one million new registered apprentices by 2035. This initiative is in response to federal investments and state climate actions that have resulted in the expansion of high-quality jobs in clean energy, clean technology, climate resilience, and natural climate solutions. The Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of the Biden-Harris administration are expected to create even more well-paying union jobs in these fields.
By 2035, the Alliance states and territories plan to support one million new workers as they complete Registered Apprenticeship programs. These programs are registered with the U.S. Department of Labor or federally approved State Apprenticeship Agencies and offer a proven career track for workers to gain experience while earning in crucial industries responding to climate change. The Initiative aims to boost job quality, expand opportunities for underrepresented communities, and promote the use of stackable credentials in climate-ready fields to enhance workers’ economic mobility.
The Alliance will work towards strengthening and expanding pathways into climate-ready professions critical for a clean, equitable, and resilient net-zero future. The Initiative’s goals include ensuring that employment pathways lead to good-paying, high-quality jobs, expanding opportunities for underrepresented communities, and promoting the use of stackable and portable credentials in climate-ready fields. States and territories will collaborate in new multi-state cohorts focused on in-demand, climate-ready fields, such as clean energy, fuels, and technologies; clean buildings and industry; and resilient communities and lands.
The Alliance has collaborated with the Biden-Harris Administration on federal-state initiatives to create high-paying jobs and a diverse workforce in climate and clean energy. A White House meeting in May included Alliance governors to discuss these initiatives. The Governors’ Climate-Ready Workforce Initiative aims to advance sector-specific strategies through new multi-state cohorts focusing on clean energy, fuels, technologies, clean buildings and industry, and resilient communities and lands. These cohorts will provide a platform for states and territories to collaborate, share best practices, engage experts and stakeholders, and develop workforce solutions that can be scaled nationwide.
In addition to the initiatives and collaborations mentioned, the U.S. Climate Alliance offers opportunities for individuals and businesses in the clean energy and climate sectors. CleanTechnica provides daily news updates and other resources related to clean energy and climate action. Through affiliate links and advertising opportunities, CleanTechnica supports and promotes initiatives and advancements in the clean energy industry. Readers can also suggest guests for the CleanTech Talk podcast and engage with CleanTechnica through various channels to further contribute to the global transition towards a clean, sustainable future.
For more information on the Governors’ Climate-Ready Workforce Initiative, readers can visit the provided link for additional details. The initiative highlights the importance of collaboration between federal and state governments, as well as private sectors and individuals, in creating a workforce prepared for the challenges of climate change and the transition to clean energy. As more opportunities and investments emerge in climate-ready fields, the initiative aims to ensure that workers are trained and equipped to contribute effectively to building a clean, equitable, and resilient future.
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