| In a special issue dated August 2002 Time Magazine | | | | without a doubt far-reaching. |
| declared the 21st century as the "green century." | | | | Another study done with the University of |
| Implicit in this is the development of the green | | | | Tennessee in parallel with a RAND Corporation study |
| economy and environmental jobs. Complicated, yet | | | | predicts that the US can reach a point of 25% |
| possible, Time's editors suggest the endeavor is not | | | | renewable energy by 2025. Environmental jobs can |
| only worthwhile, but critical. Doing nothing would | | | | be developed in areas such as increase crop yield |
| result in "facing a world far more inhospitable than | | | | utilization, contributions from the forestry sector, |
| the one we know now, possibly one unlivable for | | | | making use of food processing wastes; as well as, |
| people, and most animal and plants" ("The Challenges | | | | the use of over 100 million acres of dedicated energy |
| we face," Time Magazine Special Report by Jeffrey | | | | crops like switch grass. Combinations of these |
| Klugger and Andrea Dorfman (August 18, 2002)). | | | | existing and other existing resources can provide |
| Time went on to highlight topics discussed at the | | | | sufficient feedstock for the additional renewable |
| 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in | | | | energy needed. ("25X'25: 25% renewable energy for |
| Johannesburg. Reductions in fossil fuel use world-wide | | | | the United States by 2025, agricultural and economic |
| are imperative, as are programs to slow population | | | | impacts," Executive Summary by Burton C. English, |
| growth, improvements in agricultural efficiency, and | | | | et.al., Knoxville: University of Tennessee Agricultural |
| guarding wilderness area in an effort to stem the loss | | | | Economics (November 2006)). |
| of biodiversity. | | | | When the correlation between the thinning of the |
| In developing the tools to reach sustainability the | | | | ozone layer and the use of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) |
| creation of environmental jobs that provide a living | | | | became apparent as reported by scientists in 1976 |
| wage is critical. It is a perfect opportunity to train | | | | the US and other countries banned their use in |
| ourselves away from dependence on non-renewable | | | | aerosol cans shortly after. Manufacturing companies |
| energy sources and develop careers to go along with | | | | had to adjust very quickly. Additionally, over time, |
| this technology. Some believe that all major tools are | | | | other industries using CFC for appliances such as |
| already known and just need to be put in place in | | | | refrigeration and air conditioning units, made |
| amounts that make a difference. For instance four | | | | adjustments as well. They began to produce more |
| states, North Dakota, Texas, Kansas, and South | | | | energy efficient and environmentally friendly products |
| Dakota have the potential of provide enough energy | | | | in accordance to tightened regulations on the |
| from wind power to meet all of the present needs | | | | substance. |
| for electricity within the United States, according to a | | | | Changes in our economy can be made and they need |
| Global Insight study for the US Conference of | | | | to be made to support our planet and our lifestyles. |
| Mayors published October 2008 titled "Current and | | | | Creating environmental jobs is a logical and important |
| potential green jobs in the U.S. economy." According | | | | part of this process. Government and industry will |
| to the report we are using only "1/2 of 1 percent of | | | | need to work together to strengthen our green collar |
| the wind resources available in the US." The impact | | | | economy for the production of environmental jobs to |
| on environmental jobs this development will have is | | | | carry us successfully through this "green century. |