Manufacturers Say: Fix Climate Change and Create New Jobs

New ad campaign highlights opportunity to jumpstart economy

Major American manufacturing companies are talking about climate change. In a new national ad campaign, the CEOs of John Deere and Eaton Corp – major Midwestern manufacturers with over 100,000 employees between them – and a small business leader see solving climate change as a real opportunity to create jobs and jumpstart our economy. Watch the ad:

These business leaders want America to build the clean energy technologies that will power the 21st Century. By putting a cap on greenhouse gas air pollution, they say, we'll drive huge investment into solving global warming and creating jobs here at home.

Ignoring climate change is costly

The key question on the economics of climate change is: Which path is more expensive, action or inaction? There is a growing understanding that ignoring climate change is the most costly and dangerous course for our economy.

Tackling climate change will cut our addiction to imported oil, give America an edge over our European and Chinese competitors, and ensure this problem isn't left to our children's generation.

• In 2006, renewable energy technologies were responsible for 8.5 million manufacturing and other high paying jobs. (Source: OH Dept. of Development)

• A cap on greenhouse gas pollution will cut oil imports by $20 billion by 2015, and 60% by 2050. (Source: MIT study)

• A panel of retired U.S. generals reports that without action to address it, climate change will lead to international instability. (Source: Center for Naval Analysis)

Posted: 13-Jul-2007; Updated: 14-Mar-2008