Providence pledges to be America’s first ‘climate jobs city’

Providence, Rhode Island has adopted a resolution to establish itself as “America’s first climate jobs city.”

The council said that it is committed to “enacting bold climate policy goals” and “aggressive programmes” to ensure resilience and a just transition.

Priscilla De La Cruz, Providence’s Director of Sustainability, told Cities Today that the resolution is the result of a collaboration between Mayor Smiley’s Administration, Providence City Council, and Climate Jobs Rhode Island, a coalition of labour and environmental groups.

The city has committed to investing in carbon-neutral and climate-friendly infrastructure, decarbonising and retrofitting buildings to eliminate emissions by 2050, and “facilitating the switch to a 100 percent clean energy supply by 2033.”

It will also bring environmental awareness education programmes into schools, create workforce development schemes, and increase equitable neighbourhood access to green infrastructure.

Building the workforce

A recent report from the Brookings Institution think tank highlighted the need for cities to focus more on green jobs planning. It found that many are failing to adequately address workforce requirements in their climate action plans.

De La Cruz said: “Providence has a vested interest and a strategic advantage in becoming a leader in both the green and blue economy. Providence’s economic development department, American Jobs Center workforce solutions, and our state and nonprofit partners are identifying workforce needs and monitoring funding opportunities to create new programmes to address them.

“In the years ahead, it is critical that we invest in electrification, offshore wind, and green infrastructure. Our task will be to adequately support, train, and compensate our workforce so they can be active participants in a new, green economy.”

She said the city and Council will develop policies and ordinances to deliver on Providence’s climate jobs pledge.

Upgrading buildings

De La Cruz also highlighted achievements in Providence so far, such as the launch of a community electricity programme that integrates more renewable energy sources, and green infrastructure investments to improve stormwater management and mitigate flooding.

Renovations were recently completed to fully electrify three school buildings and the projects used union labour and apprenticeship programmes.

“Major renovations to city buildings are also required to use union labour and apprentice programmes because of their scale,” she said. “These investments not only improve public buildings, but they help create the workforce needed for the private sector.”