BlueGreen Eco-nomics

Both working people and environmentalists have a stake in building the new, green economy. Transforming our economy through renewable energy, energy efficiency, mass transit and rail, a new smart grid and other solutions to global warming, has the potential to create millions of jobs, while reducing global warming emissions and moving America toward energy independence.

The Blue Green Alliance is a national, strategic partnership between labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the green economy.

The Blue Green Alliance works on issues ranging from energy and climate change to transportation to workers' rights and green chemistry. Specifically, BGA is working to:

• Pass comprehensive clean energy and climate change legislation that is based on two overriding principles - the best scientific advice on reduction targets and solutions that create and save millions of American jobs;
• Restore the rights of workers in the United States to organize and bargain collectively;
• Establish a 21st Century trade policy that promotes growth and prosperity across all sectors of global society, and embeds enforceable labor, environmental, and human rights standards in our trade agreements; and
• Create an informed 21st century policy on toxic chemicals that protects workers and communities from dangerous chemicals, enhances public health and promotes safer alternatives.

The Blue Green Alliance accomplishes this work through:

• Comprehensive Climate Change and Energy Legislation. BGA advocates for its recent global warming legislative principles, which expresses support for an economy-wide cap-and-trade system.
• Renewable Electricity and Energy Efficiency Standards' Campaigns. In partnership with dozens of other advocacy organizations and businesses, BGA promotes the passage of state and federal legislation mandating the production of renewable electricity.
• Employee Free Choice Campaign. BGA advocates for the expansion of workers' rights in the United States through passage of the Employee Free Choice Act.
• Transportation Act Reauthorization. BGA advocates for transportation investments that create green jobs in freight rail, high-speed rail and other infrastructure projects that contribute to solving global warming.

The Blue Green Alliance Foundation is working to educate the public about the job-creating potential of environmental investments, including solutions to global warming, with programs including:

• The annual Good Jobs, Green Jobs National Conference, which took place in Washington, D.C. in 2009, brought together labor, environmental, business, academic, political and social justice leaders to share research and ideas for achieving a refashioned, green economy.
• Labor Climate Project. In partnership with former Vice President Al Gore's Alliance for Climate Protection, the Blue Green Alliance Foundation is working with union members across the country to educate blue-collar constituencies about the urgency and solvability of global warming and how its solutions can revitalize our economy and create good, union jobs.
• State-based Blue Green Alliance Chapters. The Blue Green Alliance Foundation and the local chapters of its national partners are working in states around the country on climate change, workers' rights, clean energy job creation, fair trade and green chemistry. For more information on chapter work go to our State Pages.
• Economic Development Programs. The Blue Green Alliance Foundation works with cities and states on implementing green-jobs strategies, such as the Twin Cities' Mayors Green Manufacturing Initiative.