A Good Environment for Jobs

The report argues that investments in clean energy and environmental protection generally create more jobs than the fossil-fuel industries they replace. Through a survey of 36 studies and original analysis using IMPLAN 2009 data, the authors find that non-fossil-fuel sectors have significantly higher job-to-spending ratios. A case study on eliminating coal and nuclear power by 2050 suggests a potential net gain of over 21 million full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs, although it notes that workers in fossil-fuel sectors would face real layoffs and require retraining.

• Shifting investments from fossil-fuel industries to non-fossil-fuel industries generally leads to an increase in total employment, while the opposite causes job destruction.
• Analysis using IMPLAN 2009 data indicates that $1 million of spending in non-fossil-fuel sectors generates twice as many jobs as the same amount spent in fossil-fuel industries.
• Despite overall net job gains from clean energy transitions, workers in the coal, natural gas, and nuclear industries would experience significant layoffs, necessitating retraining programs.
• A review of 36 job impact studies revealed widespread methodological deficiencies, particularly regarding the explanation of job ratios and the definition of a 'job' (FTE vs. part- and full-time).
• There is no reliable evidence to support the claim that environmental regulations are uniquely detrimental to employment; instead, they often result in net job creation as clean energy alternatives replace fossil fuels.
• Fossil-fuel industries have a relatively low impact on direct employment compared to other sectors, which drives the overall lower job-to-spending ratios for these industries.

APA

Stanton, E. A., & Taylor, M. (2012). A Good Environment for Jobs. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/sei-e3-2012-a-good-environment-for-jobs.pdf

Chicago

Stanton, Elizabeth A., and Matthew Taylor. A Good Environment for Jobs. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2012. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/sei-e3-2012-a-good-environment-for-jobs.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Stanton |first1=Elizabeth A. |last2=Taylor |first2=Matthew |title=A Good Environment for Jobs |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=August 2012 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/sei-e3-2012-a-good-environment-for-jobs.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stanton2012good, author = {Stanton, Elizabeth A. and Taylor, Matthew}, title = {{A Good Environment for Jobs}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2012}, month = aug, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/sei-e3-2012-a-good-environment-for-jobs.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }