The Green Jobs Act puts $125 million to developing green jobs in the U.S. Photo: Rain Forest Action Network (flickr)

The unemployed in the U.S. may be taking the next big steps to solve our climate crisis.

The U.S. House of Representative recently approved the Green Jobs Act of 2007, which provides $125 million dollars to fund national and state job training programs in green industries, such as energy efficient buildings and construction, renewable electric power, and energy efficient transportation. It also researches new jobs and skills that are created by growing renewable energy and energy efficiency industries. This research is then used to develop job standards and create training programs.

The Green Jobs Act would create jobs that allow people in poverty programs to become self sufficient. Priority for the training programs would go to veterans, displaced workers, and at risk youth. The Senate has passed a similar bill, and a conference committee is meeting to work out the different versions.

The Green Jobs Act was largely supported by the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, as part of founder Van Jones’ Green Collar Job Campaign, which argues that the only way for a green economy to succeed is for all sectors of society to be equally involved and equally benefiting.

As Van Jones explains, “It’s not a hand out here; you’re really connecting people who most need work with the work that most needs to get done.”