Wisconsin Climate & Jobs Package

The Issue

There is an overwhelming scientific consensus that we face runaway climate change unless we start a bold transition very soon and achieve dramatic reductions in greenhouse emissions by 2030. While many Wisconsin elected leaders believe in science and are publicly committed to addressing this generational challenge, we lack state legislation up to the scale of the challenge. The good news is that we have it well within our means to rapidly transition to a sustainable future that also generates greater opportunity for Wisconsin working families. Embracing a green conversion creates an unparalleled opportunity to address the 40 year decline in the availability of living wage jobs for everyone who wants one, especially those in marginalized urban and rural communities left behind by outsourcing and deindustrialization.

The Solution

The Climate & Jobs Package is the first comprehensive legislation ever introduced in Wisconsin or in the Upper Midwest to actually meet the international climate targets needed to avert catastrophic climate change. The plan also leans into the opportunity to use a greenhouse gas transition to create a fair economy that offers real economic opportunity to every Wisconsinite in every region of our state. The legislation is a good way to meet Governor Evers’ bold Clean Energy Plan, which provides a framework for planning a meaningful climate response.

That’s why Citizen Action of Wisconsin has worked diligently with Representative Supreme Moore Omokunde and Senator Chris Larson to create the most visionary climate and jobs agenda Wisconsin has ever seen.

CONTACT your state legislators to support the Climate & Jobs Package!

Here’s what’s in the package:

Protecting Workers and Communities from Negative Economic Impacts

• Creates a large-scale public jobs program (transitional jobs) to assure all Wisconsinites, especially those who live in marginalized communities left out of real economic opportunity, get the training and job opportunities they need to launch careers in the fast growing green economy.
• Investing in workers currently employed in the fossil fuel sector transition to a green energy job, prioritizing communities with relatively high unemployment and poverty such as Communities of Color and rural areas.
• Create a Just Transition Council in the Department of Workforce Development to minimize the impact to workers in the transition away from fossil fuels, and a fund to mitigate the impact of facility closures on workers and communities.

Transition to Clean Energy

• Holds for-profit utilities accountable for doing their part, requiring 70% of Wisconsin electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030, and 100% by 2040.
• Cut overall greenhouse gas emissions by 40% of 1990 levels by 2030 and 85% by 2050.
• Creates a Climate Action Council to develop the additional policies needed to  meet the international climate targets, and to assure that 35% of resources go to disadvantaged communities.
• Holds lawmakers accountable by providing public data on progress towards the greenhouse gas reduction goals.

CONTACT your state legislators to support the Climate & Jobs Package!