Authorizing the Joint Committees on Education and the Environment to hold hearings on the Greater Philadelphia Region's training and technical schools, colleges and universities on the development and incorporation of sustainable degree and training programs in an effort to establish a qualified workforce of Philadelphians who are prepared for environmental and sustainability related jobs.

WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia wishes to become The Greenest City in America by 2015 and a leader

in clean energy development and technology

; and

WHEREAS, According to the 2005-2006 National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) the Greater Philadelphia colleges and universities produce over 67,000 graduates every year, including 35,103 bachelor degrees and 22,084 advanced degrees; and

WHEREAS

,

Approximately 360,600 full and part-time students are enrolled in the region's colleges and universities; and

WHEREAS, Education is among the top employers in the region with the University of Pennsylvania being the top employer in the City of Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, jobs that involve green goods and services include jobs related to energy from renewable sources, energy efficiency, pollution reduction and removal, greenhouse gas reduction, recycling and reuse, natural resources and conversation, Environmental compliance, education and training, and public awareness

;

and

WHEREAS, According to the United States Conference of Mayors, the Philadelphia Region has nearly 14,400 green jobs.

By 2015, Greenworks Philadelphia projects a doubling of this number as workers are employed in areas such as weatherization, green infrastructure and other industries that have the potential for growth and career-track, family-supporting jobs

; and

WHEREAS, According to the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board, for Philadelphia to be seen as a premier location for today's business and industry leaders, it needs to develop workers to meet the demands of today's dynamic knowledge-based economy; and

WHEREAS, Institutions of higher learning in the Greater Philadelphia region can maximize its benefits

to

the

citizens of

Philadelphia by providing avenues to earn degrees and train for jobs of the future; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, by the Council of the City of Philadelphia, That we hereby authorize the Joint Committees on Education and the Environment to hold hearings on the Greater Philadelphia Region's training and technical schools, colleges and universities on the development and incorporation of sustainable degree and training programs in an effort to establish a qualified workforce of Philadelphians who are prepared for environmental and sustainability related jobs.

End