California’s persistent efforts to create a “green state” appear to be paying off albeit gradually. A recent “Next 10” report has indicated that the number of “green jobs” and “green businesses” in California is on the rise. In fact, the report says, the number of green businesses has risen by 45% from 1995 to 2008, and green jobs have contributed 36% of the total new jobs created during the same period.

California is showcasing to the world that if there is sincere commitment towards the environment, it is not impossible to reduce global warming and protect the future of the planet. California’s pioneering battle to resist climate change is visible from its historic Global Warming Solutions Act and also its Low Carbon Fuel Standards, which is the first of its kind in the world.

The green policies and initiatives of the state have ensured that the green economy is receiving a huge amount of support from constituents as well as the government. This is all leading to a bright future for green jobs. The “Next 10” study indicates that green jobs can help to stimulate the economy, while helping to improve the environment at the same time.

The Labor and Workforce Development Agency Secretary of California, Victoria Bradshaw, reacted to the findings of the report with the following words:
 
“Green jobs are the wave of the future for California’s economy and this report shows a strong foundation for green economic development across the state. We must now build on this momentum and we are committed to ensuring that we a have a trained workforce ready and available to meet the needs of a growing clean technology industry.”

Recently, the state launched a massive $75 million green jobs training program. The program aims to train up over twenty thousand new or re-skilled clean energy workers, or “green workers” to create a workforce that can perform jobs that are critical to achieve the state’s goals of development of renewable energy resources and reduction of climate change.

In its endeavor to promote green jobs, the state has also launched the “California Green Corps.” This team will include communities along with the state’s own green workers that help to guide, train and place at-risk young adults in the age group of 16 to 24 into jobs in California’s expanding green economy.

Importantly, the green job numbers are not confined to a particular area of the state, and are rather spread across different regions. This ensures that every region becomes a participant in the green economy and makes contributions as well as reap the benefits of this endeavor. This holds great promise for the environmental as well as economic future of California as a thriving green state.