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The Green New Deal - Expanding the Job List
March 29, 2019

While the Green New Deal seeks to greatly reduce US greenhouse gas emissions, it also seeks to provide millions of quality jobs. The new jobs are more likely to materialize if the GND acknowledges a wider range of relevant actions and policies than outlined in their original text for H. Res. 109. Here is a brief roundup of the GND’s first pass on policies and jobs, followed by my longer list of policies and behavior changes that would help reduce emissions in the USA while creating new jobs. Some existing jobs would of course disappear while new ones are gained. One thing to keep in mind is that a lower carbon lifestyle requires less money to sustain (fewer trips, smaller homes, less stuff, etc.) and this could have some bearing on the definition of “good, high-wage” jobs. My expanded list has some overlap with the GND in some areas.
Green New Deal:
Policy Jobs
Renewable Power (expanding, Manufacturing, installation, marketing
upgrading, deploying)
“Smart power” grids (energy efficient) Engineering, manufacturing, construction, management
Upgrading all existing buildings Manufacturing, construction and marketing
New building construction Construction, etc.
Supporting family farms Agriculture, farmers markets and retail, goods transport
Sustainable farming and land Agriculture, extension services, ecologists
practices (soil carbon enhancement)
Zero emissions vehicles infrastructure Manufacturing and deployment
and manufacturing
Public transportation expansion Manufact. construct. drivers, engineers, stationmasters
High-speed rail Manufact. construct. drivers, eng., stationmasters
Land preservation and afforestation Ecologists, foresters, tree planters, fire managers
Restoring ecosystems Biologists, ecologists, foresters, tree planters
The Five-Ton Project Cultural Transformation:
Policy Jobs
Increase the cost of flying Domestic tourism and the domestic leisure sector
Reduce Subsidies on large houses Large house conversion, demolition, small house construction
Increase incentives for multi-units Property managers, building engineers and custodial, rental agents, landscapers
Improve function of existing buildings Building and operations managers (improve occupancy flow to reduce new commercial constr)
Increase the cost of cattle production Habitat restoration: Biologists, ecologists, foresters, fire managers
Improve meat alternatives Food research, culinary arts - vegetarian
Reduce the prevalence of planned Repairs and auxiliary devices
obsolescence in electronics
Reduce the scale of the fashion ind. Seamstress, re-design, re-sale
Improve bike infrastructure Bike repairs; local transportation planning
Reduce parking subsidies Public transportation, small-scale retail
Carbon footprint education New teaching and carbon coaching
Nuclear Energy Nuclear engineering, construction and maintenance