New Climate & Energy Policies Could Create 2.5 Million Jobs, Hold Down Energy Costs

Reposted in full from Warmer Bulletin e-news, 30 July 2010

'New greenhouse gas emissions and energy policies at the Federal level could generate as many as 2.5 million new jobs and $134 billion in economic activity in the United States while keeping energy costs down, according to a new report from the Center for Climate Strategies, published with Johns Hopkins University.

The report is based on economic impacts of climate policies developed by 16 states and calls for adoption of 23 specific policy approaches that have the potential to reduce pollution, are cost effective, and improve energy, health, environment, and economic development."

Several states have pioneered creation of comprehensive state climate action plans in recent years," said Tom Peterson, President and CEO of the Center for Climate Strategies.

"Our analysis provides the first clear indication of what would happen to the economy if such programmes were adopted at the Federal level."

"These results may sound surprising to some, but detailed analysis shows opportunities for well chosen policies to expand the economy" according to Dr. Adam Rose of the University of Southern California, a principal author of the study.

"The Center for Climate Strategies report findings substantiate that advanced climate actions are essential to establishing a stable and strong economy, using clean energy sources, including renewables and nuclear power, as the primary drivers, long into the future," said former EPA Administrator and New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman, Co-Chair of the Clean and Safe Energy Coalition (CASEnergy).

Suggested policy adoptions would focus on creation of new clean energy sources for heat and power; improved energy efficiency and industrial processes; transportation and land use improvements; agriculture and forestry conservation; and expanded recycling and waste energy recovery under a national framework.

Assuming full and appropriately scaled implementation of all 23 actions in all US states, the resulting greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions would surpass national GHG targets proposed by President Obama and congressional legislation, and would reduce US emissions to 27 per cent below 1990 levels in 2020, equal to 4.46 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (BMtCO2e).

"This report is the first solid economic data based on what is already underway at the state level to address climate change and energy use," said Kathy Wagner, Director of Governmental Studies at the Johns Hopkins University's Washington, DC Center, which published the study.

The Center for Climate Strategies was established in 2004 and is a nonpartisan 501c(3). CCS works with 40 states and several regions across the United States, and in Mexico and China, to develop and advance comprehensive climate and energy policies and actions.

The Governmental Studies programme of Johns Hopkins University's Washington DC Center periodically publishes timely reports of pathbreaking work that can better inform ongoing policy debate.'