Guest blog: Want jobs? Start solving climate

From guest blogger Kristen Sheeran, director of Economics for Equity and the Environment Network (E3), a nationwide network of more than 150 economists, developing new arguments for environmental protection with a social justice focus.

There is no argument that job creation should be the top priority of the Obama administration. Many economists believe that due to the global downturn, the U.S. will experience high rates of unemployment for a number of years to come. But there is no evidence that solving the climate crisis will compromise job creation.

Myths about the effects of climate policy on national employment persist, despite the fact that economists have searched long and hard for a causal link between environmental regulation and job loss and have found almost no significant impacts. The myth that emissions regulation will contribute to job loss is behind the latest challenge to AB32 in California, that would suspend the landmark climate policy until California’s unemployment rate dips below 5.5%, and Senator Murkowski’s proposed amendment that would bar the EPA from regulating carbon emissions. These proposals overlook the fact that a steady shift toward climate protection will likely boost net job growth in the U.S. They are based on fear, not evidence.

To help set the record straight about what economists today know about the linkages between climate policy and jobs, Economics for Equity and the Environment Network has put together a short two-page fact-sheet (.pdf) summarizing the literature.

The frustration over persistent high unemployment rates is understandable, and more needs to be done to create good, well-paying jobs in the U.S. But we fool ourselves if we think that climate policy will exacerbate the national unemployment problem. If what we all want is a national program to renew our economy and revive our prosperity, smart climate policy has to be an integral part.