July 2024 Community Colleges and the Emerging Green Economy: A Call to Action To limit the impacts of climate change, the United States set targets in 2021 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to half of 2005 levels by 2030 and to achieve net-zero emissions no later than 2050. [...] What is the role of the nation’s community and technical colleges in preparing for this workforce transition? To begin to answer this question, the Community College Research Center (CCRC) hosted a symposium on April 6, 2024, that brought together community colleges, workforce development organizations, funders, policymakers, and others to discuss the opportunities and challenges of starting, expa. [...] We thank Crimsonbridge Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, and The Heartland Fund for supporting the symposium, and we thank Cameron Sublett and Rachel Rush-Marlowe for helping to plan and lead the symposium activities and for collaborating on this new area of research. [...] Colleges can prepare by spotlighting and succinctly describing green jobs training programs on their websites, documenting the number and characteristics of students that they currently serve and have the potential to serve, and reaching out to local employers who may offer internships or other training opportunities to students and hire their graduates. [...] The involvement of community colleges in the transition to a green economy has the potential to create a more effective and equitable student- and trainee-focused approach to workforce development, where the needs of communities and workers drive the economic transition.
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Table of Contents
- 9 million high-quality jobs 1
- Community colleges are uniquely positioned to address challenges posed by climate change and to prepare students for jobs in the green economy. 2
- Green jobs are already here. 2
- Green jobs appeal to people across the political spectrum. 3
- Green jobs have the potential to advance racial and economic equity. 3
- Faytc.edu 4
- Aspen Institute Higher Ed Climate Task Force 5
- The Aspen Institute launched this task force to identify how colleges can leverage their strengths as educators researchers community partners and conveners to take action on climate change. 5
- National Science Foundation NSF Advanced Technological Education ATE 5
- Department of Energy Workforce Training Recognition 5
- Department of Energy DOE STEM 5
- Department of Labor Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants 5
- Education Development Center Preparing for a Green Blue Workforce 5
- National Council for Workforce Education NCWE Recruitment Support Curriculum Modules 5
- NCWE leads the National Green Jobs Advisory Council which among other activities develops materials to build a skilled and inclusive green infrastructure workforce. 5
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory NREL University Partnerships Program 5
- Below are some funding opportunities and information resources to help community colleges develop or expand training for green jobs. 5
