IN JULY, I VISITED Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to speak at a renewable energy panel that was focused on the Biden administration’s proposed $500-million investment in the first commercial-scale green steel-manufacturing facility in the world. The excitement of the community, which will be the beneficiary of up to 6,000 construction jobs and 560 permanent jobs, was palpable. Green steel, which is manufactured using renewable energy sources, significantly reduces the emission of greenhouse gases of one of our most important construction materials.

The rebirth of manufacturing jobs is bringing economic resurgence to formerly “left behind” communities across America. Noticeably, these manufacturing jobs are being powered by the climate goals contained in the Inflation Reduction Act — landmark legislation accomplished through decades of work by the environmental movement.

After all, there are no good jobs on a dead planet.

The future of work is here and now, as emerging technologies transform industries without compromising the environment. This hasn’t always been the case. For decades, labor unions and environmental advocates have seemed like completely separate entities, yet they share significant common ground in recognizing that environmental degradation and labor exploitation are often the result of the same corporate greed. Advocates are slowly discovering that the solution to both the climate crisis and high unemployment lies in understanding that our movements are stronger together. We don’t have to choose.

As economies shift towards renewable energy and sustainable practices, the potential for job displacement in traditional industries — such as fossil fuels and steel manufacturing — is a pressing concern. Corporations might place labor unions and the environmental movements on opposing sides to stall action. However, as the United States increases investment for green manufacturing, there has never been a better time for this alliance to build a transformative movement.

Labor unions must first buy into the transition to clean manufacturing, understanding that traditional, dirty manufacturing practices have done a lot of harm not only to the environment but also to the health of workers and communities over the past century. After all, there are no good jobs on a dead planet.

The social justice that many labor groups aim for can include cleaner manufacturing, which both reduces pollution and toxic emissions and provides secure, stable jobs in communities where industries are located.

Similarly, environmental advocates must also understand how their fight for clean air and water can at times directly challenge the ability of families to support themselves. Efforts to combat climate change that ultimately lead to increased economic and social inequality cannot be the end goal.

Workers in former boomtowns have shared the tales: When an industry busts, it leaves behind little hope for revival. But new investment in green manufacturing is changing what’s possible. Take the town of Holyoke, Massachusetts, once the paper capital of the world. After decades of manufacturing decline, a green cement plant using cutting-edge technologies, operated by Sublime Systems, is poised to revitalize Holyoke’s economy and usher in a new era of high-tech, clean jobs, thanks to millions of dollars from the Biden administration.

Though the initial impact of the new facility might seem somewhat modest, the potential for 80 or more family-sustaining union jobs, plus hundreds of construction jobs, would be a significant addition to the community. What’s more, the mix of public and private dollars backing this facility could signal to other companies, including clean-tech startups, that Holyoke and the Pioneer Valley are worth investing in. This project is an example of the standards for community benefits that labor unions and the environmental movement can create when they are aligned.

By uniting efforts, both unions and environmental advocates are amplifying common voices.

Historically, corporations have long positioned families on the fence line with an unfair choice: healthy, thriving communities or well-paying jobs. The environmental injustices that disproportionately affect low-income and marginalized populations living near industrial pollution — populations that also have to bear the worst brunt of climate change impacts — have been ignored or dismissed. That era is over. Labor unions, now representing many of these workers who have been directly impacted by the toxic legacy of some industries, seek to improve their conditions and advocate for safe workplaces.

Although we still have a long way to go to remedy harms from the past, in recent years, labor unions and the environmental movement have been working together to combat the false dichotomy that the high cost of good jobs is toxic pollution. The status quo has led to the offshoring of more dirty manufacturing in countries with weak environmental laws and low wages.

Another beacon of hope on this front is Kentucky, a state poised to win big from the clean energy transition. A combination of clean manufacturing projects and renewable energy could bring more than 5,000 green jobs to the Bluegrass State, allowing Kentuckians to rebuild their economy and end the state’s toxic reliance on a dying coal industry. While the American aluminum industry has been struggling, in part due to the cost of dirty electricity, Century Aluminum’s new green smelter project could help lock in a cycle of growth based on modern manufacturing processes and clean energy across the industrial Midwest.

Right now, Kentucky has one of the dirtiest grids in the country, so a new smelter can’t simply plug into the existing power system. But the Century project can help prompt new renewable energy projects to help Kentucky find cleaner, more economic ways to “keep the lights on.”

By uniting efforts, both unions and environmental advocates are amplifying common voices, pushing for policies that address both labor rights and environmental sustainability. At the Sierra Club, we contribute to this alliance by pushing for the adoption of clean energy initiatives that prioritize the creation of good jobs — including campaigns for renewable energy jobs that offer family-sustaining wages and safe working conditions. From building solid community-benefit agreements tied to billions in public funds to co-developing bills that will bring the next green industrial revolution to your town — we are committed to creating a “Good, Green Jobs” boom.

By aligning our efforts, labor and environmental movements can create a powerful coalition that challenges systemic inequalities and advocates for policies that benefit both workers and our climate. This partnership is essential for fostering a resilient economy that uplifts all individuals while safeguarding the environment for future generations.

It’s a great thing to know that we can have a strong economy and a healthy planet. We truly do not have to choose.