Emerging in recent years from the need for increased energy efficiency and conservation, greater reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and stepped-up action to clean the environment, green jobs have arisen as a distinct employment sector within the U.S. and around the world. While social and political activists have taken the lead to make sure low-income individuals get access to green jobs, scholars and academic institutions have joined them to provide institutional and intellectual support to the effort. Scholars and academic institutions are helping push the green-jobs movement toward providing poor and working-class Americans access to long-term and high-quality employment. Though there has been national attention accorded to the green jobs movement, much of the activity around training and work force development remains a local concern. Experts report that, while consumer demand for green products is pushing large corporations to alter their practices and priorities, new policies by local and state governments to require green building standards and higher energy-efficiency measures have helped drive green jobs development.