US President Barack Obama’s journey to transform the US economy began with his choice of transport to attend his inauguration in Washington DC: his train journey included a stop at a windmill part manufacturer where he spoke of his plans for a “green economy”, a pledge reflecting his election campaign promises and reiterated in his inauguration speech.
At the core of Obama’s plans for a “green economy” is the idea that the challenges of the ailing economy and climate change can be tackled to mutual advantage, job creation going hand-in-hand with investment in green energy. Obama’s stimulus plan includes $150 billion investment over the next decade in green energy and $20 billion in clean energy tax credits, creating 5 million new “green collar” jobs, with 500,000 expected to be in the clean energy sector.
Obama has promised to face up to the “inconvenient truth” of what scientists have to say, echoing his fellow Democrat and Nobel laureate Al Gore. To assist him in meeting his environmental goals, Obama has made a number of high-level appointments from the scientific community, including Nobel price-winning physicist Steven Chu as his energy secretary, John Holdren, professor of environmental policy at Harvard as his science advisor, and ecologist Jane Lubchenco as head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
At the international level, the effects of Obama’s signal of intent to reduce US greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 has sent ripples through the international climate change community desperate for positive signs before the start of the UNFCCC meeting in Copenhagen next year. Obama argues that this has to start with reducing the US dependence on foreign oil for energy which underlies the “two major energy challenges” of the US (the other being climate change).
These ripples have already reached our shores. Since the government’s report on “Building a low carbon economy: unlocking innovation and skills”, David Cameron has announced a Green Paper on the “Low Carbon Economy” (LCE) including a revolution in the energy sector which the Conservatives believe “could create hundreds of thousands of new green collar jobs in the UK by 2020”. Meanwhile the Liberal Democrats have launched a “Britain on a Green Road out of the Recession” plan which outlines plans for insulation and energy efficiency initiatives creating jobs.
Green jobs offer phenomenal opportunities for market recovery. So are we to become a nation of foresters, wind turbine fabricators, solar power installers, and conservation biologists? Government has indeed got a significant role to play in leading the way, investing in these sectors to create additional skills and jobs. However it must also consider individuals keen to improve their green credentials, as seen for example by increased recycling or buying of energy-saving light bulbs. These individuals are waiting for the call from Government to transform their “Yes, we want” to a “Yes, we can” statement.
As a specialist environmental communications consultancy, here at Sauce we are deeply aware that all-round behaviour change can only be achieved if government engages with the public and shows leadership in tackling these pressing issues.
Just like the “wind and the sun and the soil”, the Obama momentum that has gripped individuals around the world should be harnessed by governments, to give everyone the confidence that, not only do we want change, but yes, we can achieve that change.
By Tessa Lennartz
Tags: green economy, Obama effect
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