The green economy is at a pivotal moment. Ambitious climate policies at the federal, state and city levels have gone into effect, yet many targets remain unmet. As federal investments begin to shift, there is growing uncertainty about the trajectory of a greener economy and whether it will meet earlier expectations.
As executive director of The HOPE Program – a pioneering workforce development program that equips individuals from marginalized areas with the tools, self-assurance and support needed to secure meaningful employment in the green economy – I know the answer. The green economy is already here.
The green economy is transforming the labor market, creating thousands of stable, high-growth jobs in sustainability, clean energy and infrastructure, and the demand for skilled workers is only growing.
In New York City, Local Law 97 alone is expected to create over 26,700 new high-skill jobs by 2030 in building efficiency, HVAC and renewable energy as property owners work to reduce emissions. By 2040, green jobs are expected to account for 7% of New York City’s jobs, contributing $87 billion to New York’s economy each year. The question should not be whether the shift to green jobs is happening – it’s whether New Yorkers from all backgrounds have the training and support needed to access long-term, sustainable careers in the evolving economy.
Last year alone, HOPE served 800 New Yorkers from communities burdened with poverty and environmental harm to meet this need for skilled talent, and I have seen firsthand how our targeted programs can encourage a green economy that functions for everyone.
As new green initiatives are driving jobs in energy efficiency, green infrastructure and clean energy, we should be expanding workforce development programs to meet the need in the very areas across New York City that could benefit most — underinvested communities like Hunts Point and Brownsville that are already burdened by environmental inequities and high unemployment rates.
HOPE’s programs are an important example of the green job opportunities available to trained New Yorkers. Demand is rising for green workers in fields like Green and Clean HVAC, which helps buildings meet Local Law 97 requirements; Intervine, which revitalizes public spaces while teaching landscaping and green infrastructure skills; and NYC CoolRoofs, which lowers energy costs by coating rooftops with reflective materials.
In places like Hunts Point and Brownsville, the issue isn’t job availability — it’s access to training. Without workforce programs, residents in these neighborhoods are locked out of stable, high-growth careers in emerging industries. HOPE’s new five-year strategic plan aims to tackle this gap by expanding training in key neighborhoods and connecting New Yorkers to lifelong careers, all while combating the cost-of-living crisis and revitalizing communities.
New York City has already made a bold commitment to a cleaner future. But without matching investments in holistic workforce training, we risk creating a skills gap that would slow progress and reinforce economic inequities. The private sector must recognize that sustainability is not just a regulatory requirement; it’s an opportunity to build a future-ready workforce.
A just and successful green transition depends on public-private partnerships that invest in workforce programs to meet the need. Businesses must actively train and hire the next generation of workers, and policymakers should expand incentives to make this happen. Aligning public funding with industry needs will ensure that every community, regardless of economic background, has a stake in the city’s growing green economy.
By investing in green workforce development, we have an opportunity to strengthen New York’s economy, establish a green workforce that reflects the city, and make the city more liveable for struggling communities. Programs like HOPE are already proving that this model works. Now is the moment to ensure that every New Yorker has the opportunity to harness the potential of the green economy and help build a stronger, more sustainable city.
Let’s build a New York City that’s sustainable for everyone.
Tracey Capers is executive director of The HOPE Program, a job training program geared toward low-income New Yorkers.
