The U.S. economy is in the early stages of an once-in-a-lifetime shift from an economy powered by fossil fuels. To prevent catastrophic climate change we have to switch quickly to electric vehicles and appliances fueled by renewable energy. Now that the electrification revolution is solidly underway — with electric car sales surging and electric heat pumps outselling gas furnaces — bad-faith actors are trying to exploit workers’ anxieties about their role in a zero-emission future. When former President Donald Trump visited Michigan last month, he said electric vehicle mandates will kill the U.S. auto industry so it doesn’t matter what sort of contract autoworkers secure. But the agreement with GM shows that is a choice, and that tackling climate change by shifting to a zero-emission economy does not have to mean leaving workers behind.

Source: Los Angeles Times October 16, 2023 14:02 UTC