CONTINUED: Green Jobs: Environmental Fantasy or Tomorrow's Common Reality? Part 5

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To the moon, or bust

President Obama, in his 2011 State of the Union address, said:

Half a century ago, when the Soviets beat us into space with the launch of a satellite called Sputnik, we had no idea how we would beat them to the moon. The science wasn’t even there yet. NASA didn’t exist. But after investing in better research and education, we didn’t just surpass the Soviets; we unleashed a wave of innovation that created new industries and millions of new jobs.

This is our generation’s Sputnik moment. Two years ago, I said that we needed to reach a level of research and development we haven’t seen since the height of the Space Race. And in a few weeks, I will be sending a budget to Congress that helps us meet that goal. We’ll invest in biomedical research, information technology, and especially clean energy technology—an investment that will strengthen our security, protect our planet, and create countless new jobs for our people.

Many pundits (and late-night comedians) have criticized Obama for comparing the challenges before us now to the more glamorous challenge of going to the moon and overtaking the Soviets. If anything, though, I think the problems we currently face are just as big, and maybe even more important.

Climate change may not inspire everyone, but what about the implications of playing economic loser to the rest of world? The North American lifestyle we enjoy depends on the U.S. retaining its superpower status. In the clean energy race, America is now a follower.

Obama’s intentions are noble. But it will take more than his eloquent speeches to transform America into a green-jobs powerhouse. Congress, after all, is still sharply divided.

“My feeling is that we have before us some really great opportunities to meet some really pressing needs,” says Jeannette Wicks-Lim, an economist at the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. “That, by itself, makes me hopeful. How politicians actually end up handling these issues, I just can’t predict.”

Pernick agrees. He says, “I’m a pragmatic optimist. And I choose to be an optimist because it’s certainly better than the alternative. But I understand that shifts take time and that there are forces at play. In the U.S., there is a dumbing down of politics. Half-truths or non-truths get taken for reality. That’s problematic.”

Americans might be culturally and politically divided from each other in many different ways, but the bigger picture is common to everyone. Our green jobs future will be decided by whether or not we collectively choose to step back, recognize that fact and rise to meet our greatest challenge.

“Whether it is evangelical Christians or right-leaning politicians or left-leaning politicians or local communities, at the end of the day,” says Pernick, “you can ask people, ‘Do you support clean energy? Do you think it’s a good idea to embolden our national security? Do you want to see the jobs that come from the next wave of innovation? Do you want to see us win or China win?’ The answer from all of those communities is usually a resounding, ‘Yeah, we want that to happen. We want to support it.’”

Well, it’s time to step up and support it. The future is what we create.

In the meantime, green jobs do exist right now. No, they aren’t everywhere just yet. But you can be part of the initial spark that is igniting in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, New York, Denver, San Diego, Houston, Chicago, Austin, Seattle, Atlanta, Dallas, Portland, Sacramento and others.

Environmental training programs are sprouting up for fields that are already in high demand like home weatherization and energy auditing, wind turbine manufacturing and maintenance, and solar fabrication and installation. More and more colleges are offering engineering and business programs with a special emphasis on clean technology.

Despite all of the uncertainties, the opportunity exists now to match your career to the aspirations you hold for America.

It’s so easy to fall into the trap of fear, conspiracy and angry inaction. I’ve been there—many times. It is worth the effort, though, to replace that helplessness with constructive optimism. Hope and courage are what fuel better tomorrows. Those who advocate the creation of a green economy are at least offering a positive vision. Based on my Y2K experience, I’m inclined to lean their way, even if I remain a little skeptical once in a while.

Michelangelo once said, “Criticize by creating.”

The future does not wait.