Cities urged to step up climate workforce planning

As cities create and implement climate action plans, new research highlights the need for more focus on green workforce planning.

The Brookings Institution think tank assessed the climate action plans of 50 large US cities.

The research finds that many cities are “not in a position to harness new funding” such as from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act, and that they have “more workforce planning to do”. The report comes amid an existing shortage of infrastructure workers in some areas.

Most of the cities analysed – 47 of 50 – mention green jobs in their climate action plans, but they only tend to do so “in passing”. The report says that while some cities do not refer to green jobs at all in their plans, most only include a more general call for equity and greater opportunities.

Forty of the cities emphasise energy projects when discussing workforce needs, but considerably fewer cities call out requirements in terms of buildings, transportation, or other parts of the built environment. About half of the cities (24) emphasise workforce needs around building upgrades and retrofits, and 20 highlight these needs around transportation improvements.

When discussing workforce development, just 19 of the 50 cities include detailed information on collaboration with partners such as community colleges and community-based organisations.

According to the research, only 11 cities include information on funding for workforce development and many cities do not spell out clear costs for needed training programmes or propose specific funding and financing to support them.

Just nine cities include specific dates, benchmarks or timelines for workforce development.

Central role for cities

The authors – Joseph W. Kane, Fellow at Brookings Metro, and Adie Tomer, Senior Fellow at Brookings Metro – say that cities have an important role to play in climate workforce planning.

“Addressing the green jobs challenge requires national action — among policymakers, federal agencies, national associations, and other groups. Private sector leaders, including employers, also need to recruit and train more workers,” the authors write.

“But given the importance of local governments owning and operating infrastructure, leading economic development, and designing workforce development plans, city leaders are essential for supporting the green transition on the ground. Their ability to target new federal funding around upskilling and reskilling, community outreach, and other activities will be crucial for preparing workers for this transition.”

The report highlights some examples of more detailed green jobs plans.

The Green Cincinnati Plan sets a goal to train 4,000 people for green jobs by 2028.

Los Angeles’ Green New Deal plan includes a chapter on ‘Prosperity and Green Jobs’, with the aim to create 400,000 green jobs by 2050 by working with colleges, universities and the private sector.

Denver’s Climate Protection Fund Five-Year Plan outlines how Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency has worked closely with Denver Economic Development and Opportunity (DEDO) to create a green workforce strategy. Denver’s Green Jobs website includes information on career pathways, funding for training providers, and metrics on the impact of the green jobs programme.

Economic benefits

Other organisations have also highlighted the need for climate workforce planning.

According to climate network C40 Cities, 50 million green jobs are needed to enable its almost 100 member cities to meet climate goals in line with the Paris Agreement. It says that investing in green jobs could create 30 percent more jobs than ‘business as usual’, reduce air pollution by up to 30 percent and deliver US$280 billion in health-related economic benefits in C40 cities.

C40’s Good Green Jobs tracker details the efforts of member cities.