The United States, Europe, and non-governmental international organizations are seeking to encourage the creation of green jobs and the use of non-hydropower renewable energy. This paper discusses the challenge in defining green jobs and reviews definitions across different countries, states, and NGOs. The paper describes some of the costs the United States has faced in creating jobs through programs funded by the Departments of Labor and Energy. The paper concludes by comparing the experiences of China and the United States in the use of renewable energy.
This article appeared in the Energy Economics Supplemental Issue: Green Perspectives.
In a clean energy economy, green businesses play a central role by utilizing renewable energy technologies and employing green labor forces to provide clean energy services and goods. This paper aims at analyzing factors driving the growth and survival of green businesses in the U.S. states, with hypotheses proposed on the impacts from clean energy policies and tax incentives, labor market conditions, and economic and political environments. A fixed effect regression analysis is applied with a panel data set of 48 continental states from 1998 to 2007 in the United States. The statistical analysis with a longitudinal data set reveals that the adoption of renewable energy policies, the permission of renewable energy credits imports, the stringency of minimum wage legislations, and presence of clean energy business associations are the major driving forces of the green business development in the U.S. states.
Although the popularity of energy management and “Green” projects is improving, there are many good projects that are postponed or cancelled owing to common barriers. This article discusses these barriers and problems, as well as effective, proven strategies to overcome them. These timeless, as well as cutting-edge strategies involve marketing, educational resources, and financing approaches to make projects irresistible.
Hopes for a grand deal were mercilessly shattered at Copenhagen in December 2009 and in other recent UNFCCC meetings, with the result that “green growth” is promoted as an alternative path. Indeed, green growth is clearly the goal, but it is no magic bullet. The world economy will require clear and rather tough policy instruments for growth to be green—and it is naïve to think otherwise. Growth, green or not, will boost demand for energy and coal is normally the cheapest source. The magnitude of the challenge is greater if we also consider the problems related to nuclear (fission) energy and, in some instances, to bioenergy (such as its competition for land that may be essential for the poor). This paper discusses some necessary ingredients for a long-term global climate strategy. As we wait for the final (and maybe elusive) worldwide treaty, we must find a policy that makes sense and is not only compatible with, but facilitates the development of such a treaty.
Rapidly growing emerging economies, such as Brazil, China, India and Indonesia have joined the ranks of major industrialized countries as significant emitters of greenhouse (GHG). Their rapid economic growth has, however, brought about considerable environmental degradation, health costs, material damage, and a decrease in agriculture productivity. The notion of “green growth” has been proposed as a way out. This paper examines the case of Indonesia and evaluates its search for green growth through an approach that combines a so-called Energy Mix Policy and a REDD+ program.