On September 14, I joined with many of our nation’s government leaders at a retreat in Tarrytown, New York funded by the Rockefellers Brothers Fund for the purpose of developing a “Blueprint for Local Climate Action” for the nation’s next President and administration.

As a founding member of Climate Communities, the City of Dubuque is proud to be a part of the growing national movement leading our nation to energy independence, a prosperous new economy based on clean energy and green jobs, and preservation of our planet for our children and grandchildren!

During the two-day session, I facilitated a discussion about growing green jobs and stimulating green businesses. In Dubuque we view sustainability as more than environmental responsibility. We understand that local sustainable development is essential for our community to be economically competitive, and that people are looking for jobs and careers that are located where they can experience a “sense of place” – a community that is viable, livable, and most importantly, equitable!

So, how does Dubuque define “green collar jobs?” Simply stated, green collar jobs reduce environmental impacts; and provide a livable wage and future opportunities. They don’t just restore the natural environment or transform the built environment…they transform the human environment. Green collar jobs restore people, restore families, restore neighborhoods, and restore communities.

In Dubuque we have identified four key themes critical to an economy based upon green collar job development:

Preservation, Restoration, and Embodied Energy

Smart Energy and Energy Conservation

Waste to Wealth

Green Design

Historic preservation in a is at the heart of a green collar job base. Green collar jobs are created through such things as deconstruction of existing structures which allows for the salvage and reuse of materials, and diverts material from our landfill.

Restoration involves the use of skilled trades that provide livable wages. Nearly 60-70% of the cost of restoration is LABOR. Note: In Dubuque, twelve recent restoration projects represented an investment of nearly $24 million!

We must increase the availability of smart energy systems and promote energy conservation in our built environment. Green collar jobs are created through such things as weatherization of existing structures; retrofitting of new technologies into existing homes and businesses; renewable energy projects. In Dubuque, we work on the weatherization of homes for citizens who can least afford increasing energy costs to stay warm or cool.

We also need to remember that waste is not waste, until it is wasted. We need to partner for resource recovery, NOT landfill management. Green collar jobs are created in construction, product repair and reuse, clean energy management and education. The City of Dubuque is in discussion about the creation of an energy park at our landfill that will feature renewable energy and methane recovery.

For the health and food security of the citizens of our community and our nation’s economy, we need to have best management practices for the urban landscape and increase the quantity of local gardens and local food production.

All of the retreat participants embraced the obligation and opportunity to join together to offer direction to the most significant issue our societies will face – climate change. And we included in our solution a green economy where green collar jobs are in every facet of our business communities…from construction to manufacturing, from agriculture to technology. Green jobs are renewable systems that strengthen the capacity of cities, serving as a catalyst for a truly sustainable nation.

The “Blueprint for Local Climate Action” will be presented to the next President, his transitional team , and the 111th Congress. The clear message is this…Climate change is the challenge of our generation. What we do or do not do right now will impact America and the world for generations to come. And, important to America’s leadership in the world’s economy is the creation of new, green collar jobs and business opportunities that will allow our communities to prosper!