I know I’m not alone in feeling growing anxiety about the changes to the natural world I’ve seen in my lifetime, or in my rising concern as I flip through the newspaper and think that America could be left behind in the accelerating race to a clean energy global economy. But I’ve also seen vivid proof that America can turn action on climate change into American jobs.

For all these reasons, and like millions of Americans, I was relieved and moved to hear President Obama commit to “respond to the threat of climate change” in his second inaugural address and to do so to preserve both America’s unique natural heritage, and our economic promise for our children.

In a  statement on Inauguration Day, NWF saw renewed hope for a secure climate future and underscored the broad public support to confront the urgent climate challenges that face all Americans.

Gov. Granholm at the Department of Energy Saturday.  Photo:  DOE

But for starters, here’s a hot-off-the-presses proposal that gives citizens of every state something to chew on (and a stake in the clean energy economy):

At an Inauguration weekend event at the Department of Energy,  I was happy to get a chance to hear former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm outline a Clean Energy Jobs Race to the Top that would spur states and regions to take advantage of their unique strengths to build in-state jobs and forge state and national energy leadership.

Here’s how it would work

One example of what responding to climate change looks like today. Building more fuel efficient cars and trucks in Kentucky. Photo: Sam Varnhagen, Ford Motor Co.

• Targeting industry clusters and opportunities for competitive advantage;
• Strong business and education partnerships;
• Approaches that spur supply and demand for new energy and technology;
• Partnering regionally; and
• More jobs created

How big is the upside to state action? Big. Take a look at these recent reports that outline the state-by-state and region-by-region benefits of deploying offshore windproduction, or modernizing our electric grid, building advanced vehicles, developing solar power or restoring the Gulf.

Full video of the DOE inaugural event is here, and provides a plenty to spur discussion of the specifics of  the Clean Energy Jobs Race to the Top  and other promising ways to meet our climate and energy challenges.  But whether you care most about jobs and  manufacturing, healthy families and communities, education and innovation, or wildlife and our natural heritage, there’s no doubt that states — in partnership with communities and the federal government — have a powerful opportunity to lead the way into a prosperous clean energy and climate smart future.

Ask your elected leaders and local organizations what they’re doing to respond to climate change and bring clean energy jobs to your neighborhood. You can make an #energypledge about what you plan to do to respond to climate change or meet our energy challenges, or a #GreenWish about what you’d like to see for the environment, wildlife, climate or energy in the year to come.

Whether your first concern is protecting wildlife or getting our economy back on track, these new standards will be critical to save billions of gallons of oil, combat global warming and put American oil dollars back to work building domestic jobs

For cars and light trucks, achieving 60 miles per gallon by 2025 is feasible with technology we have today. American industry is up to the task of getting the best, most efficient vehicles in the world into every garage – and the impact of such a standard is huge. When fully implemented, such a standard would cut global warming pollution by 465 million metric tons (MMT) annually – or about 7% of total US greenhouse gas emissions. It would cut gasoline use by 44 billion gallons a year or about a third of today’s gasoline consumption – enough to take real pressure off the drive to drill in ever more risky locations. It would also save consumers over $100 billion a year.

The Administration’s plan builds on the “harmonized” fuel economy and GHG standards promulgated earlier this year. Those standards were welcomed by auto and component manufacturers, national security, labor, and conservation groups because they save billions of gallons of oil while helping to put the US manufacturing sector on a path to growth, new jobs and global competitiveness.

Not surprisingly, the public continues to support moving forward on fuel economy. A poll by the Mellman Group found that 74% of likely voters favor having “the federal government require the auto industry to increase average fuel efficiency… to 60mpg by the year 2025.”

Rapid action on vehicles is also critical economic recovery. Strong standards and manufacturing investment go hand in hand to put American dollars back to work building jobs and the US economy instead of flowing out of the country for oil.
Last week’s announcement is a win-win-win for the nation, the economy and the environment. It demonstrates that climate progress can benefit everyone.

Photo Brett Weinstein