Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Unsubscribe | Printable Version | Send this to a friend

In this issue:
• Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
• Greetings from our D.C. Office
• Cap and Trade Simplified
• Canada Should Take the Lead at COP15
• Member News
• Purdue Can Help Indiana Companies...
• CSA Group Launches Business-Ready Environmental Solutions
• CleanEdison - Solar Need to Know
• Boston Architectural College
• About Green Collar Association

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

Statistics Canada cites the current Canadian job loss rate as surpassing the economic downturns of the 1980s and 1990s. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the US economy shed 263,000 jobs in September. 64,000 of these jobs were in construction and 51,000 were in manufacturing. A total of 7.2 million jobs have been lost in the US since the start of the recession.

Despite these ominous figures, the green collar economy is seeing robust growth. A recent study by Pew Charitable Trusts claims that the growth potential for green collar jobs is "explosive" and the green collar job growth rate is about two and a half times faster than job growth in the economy as a whole.

Visit greencollar.org and see over 2,000 specialized courses to help you in your job quest.

>> Read more

Greetings from our D.C. Office

Greetings from the nation’s capital.

Following the bailout of Wall Street by the Federal government, many have come to view Washington, DC as both the money and power headquarters of the country.

From my perch on Capitol Hill, I will provide you a front row view and color commentary on the latest legislative and policy developments that will set the groundwork for a green economy.  To ensure that the issues that support green collar jobs are heard, we work with diverse interests, from grass roots groups to industry associations located in DC, to ensure that our concerns and issues are heard and green collar jobs remain a top priority on the national agenda.

>> Read more

Cap and Trade Simplified

Cap and Trade Simplified

By: Dr. Michael Dayan, GCA Co-founder

Cap and trade systems for limiting greenhouse gas emissions are either in effect or under consideration by governments worldwide. In Copenhagen this December the world’s leaders will meet for the COP15 climate change conference. The idea of cap and trade is gaining greater attention and it makes sense to ask what it is all about. In this short piece I’d like to briefly explain the idea of a cap and trade market as well as that of carbon offsets.

Workings

As I understand it, the cap and trade system is a regulatory mechanism whereby governing bodies determine levels for the heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions linked to global warming. Certain industries are limited in how much carbon they can release: a "cap". If they release less carbon then their maximum, they can "trade" the difference for cash from a company that releases more than they are allowed. Governments issue companies "carbon production rights" via an open marketplace. Permission to produce more carbon is contingent on the purchase of these rights from companies that produce less carbon. These are set with caps that are reduced over time as new technologies and methodologies for doing green collar work lead to greater efficiencies. Proposed US and EU legislation seeks to cut these emissions by 83% by 2050.

>> Read more

Canada Should Take the Lead at COP15

By: Graham Mackenzie, GCA Research Scholar

Earlier this year Canada and the rest of the G8 gathered in Italy where they agreed to set a limit for a maximum rise in global temperature.  A consensus was reached whereby delegates agreed that rising global temperature should never exceed 2 degrees celsius. Commenting on the Italian G8 summit and the decidedly anticlimactic climate policy that came out of those meetings earlier this year, Canadian journalist and commentator, Gwynne Dyer, pointed out that "This is how the human race does business."  Dyer, with his characteristic blend of irony, insight, and common sense, remarks that the G8 committed to "much less than is necessary, but the very best that a realist could have hoped for."  He then speculates that the consequence of said political realism will probably be significant, human tragedies ranging somewhere in the tens to hundreds of millions.  

>> Read more

Member News

Members are invited to submit news releases to greencollar.org. In addition to posting these to our site, we add them to our newsletter. Please enjoy the following news releases from some of our members.  To submit your news, please e-mail us: gcnews@greencollar.org

Purdue Can Help Indiana Companies...

Indiana companies can turn to Purdue for assistance with producing products and delivering services in an environmentally friendly way through the Green Enterprise Development Program. This program, designed by Purdue’s Technical Assistance Program, is helping companies across Indiana connect environmental sustainability to saving money. Through this new program, companies can learn where and how to make this connection.

>> Read more

CSA Group Launches Business-Ready Environmental Solutions

CSA Group, today officially announces the launch of its new Environmental Solutions website, a comprehensive online portfolio of environmental management tools and solutions for organizations throughout North America. The new website is a user-friendly resource that provides clients and businesses of all sizes with the tools to help make the development of their environmental management programs cost-effective and efficient.

>> Read more

CleanEdison - Solar Need to Know

Want to take advantage of the dropping prices for solar panels?

Three Questions to Answer first.

How do Photovoltaic (PV) Panels Work, and Will They Work for Me?

Photovoltaic panels contain cells with a semi-conductor material that, when hit with sunlight, releases electrons to create electric current (more technical description here). While optimal conditions include intense, direct sunlight, solar panels are sensitive enough to be used pretty much anywhere.

>> Read more

Boston Architectural College

Dean Jeff Stein Keynotes Tel Aviv-Yafo Symposium

Architecture and ecology must begin now to be thought of as a single, whole entity.

Dean Jeff Stein was the keynote speaker at the Tel Aviv-Yafo Centennial Conference on Urban Sustainability on April 1, 2009. Introduced Wednesday morning by Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai, Jeff spoke to a crowd of 800 people, including the mayors of 15 European cities, gathered to talk about the future of cities at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center. The keynote address, on energy in cities, was responded to by panelists including Doron Tamir, Director of the Israeli Standards Institute and Yogev Gavri, CEO of Solar Paz.

>> Read more

About Green Collar Association

Green Collar Association is an industry association dedicated to uniting the needs of business with those of our environment. Our mandate is to promote the creation of green collar jobs through education and training.

>> Read more

Featured Organizations

View all jobs from Southern California Edison

View Boston Architectural College Courses

View CSA International Courses

View CleanEdison Courses

Member Login

OR

If you're not a member:

Featured Programs

Green Infrastructure Guidelines Certification Program

Green Building Commercial Certification Program

Residential Green Remodeling - Design, Construction, and Certification Program

Residential Green Building Design and Construction Certification Program

Featured Courses

 Green Chemistry

Pollution Solutions

Energy Management

Dumpster Dive

Sustainability in Practice

Green Generalist (Green 101)

Please Give Generoursly

More Jobs

Instructor - Environmental Science

Adjunct Position - Environmental Science

Adjuct Faculty Positions

Professor - Environmental Technology

Please Show Your Support

Learn more

Stay Connected With Greencollar.org

Member Logo

Green Collar Association members proudly display our member logo in corporate communications!

Download the GCA member logo.

Subscribe | Unsubscribe | Printable Version | Send this to a friend

www.greencollar.org

Green Collar Association
Waterfall Building
Suite 516,
1540 W. 2nd
Vancouver,
British Columbia
Canada
V6J1H2

This email was created and delivered using Industry Mailout