Guest Blogger Series: Roberto Carmona on “The Latino Community would benefit from Comprehensive Climate and Energy Legislation”

You’ve seen the headlines. America is struggling through the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. Americans are losing their jobs and businesses are closing their doors. It is a vicious cycle – but it’s one we can break. As a Latino small business owner in Chicago, I recognize the importance of taking action during this hard economic time.

This is the reason I joined “Voces Verdes”, an initiative of Common Ground for Conservation and La Onda Verde de NRDC. Its purpose is to bring together the business leaders, professionals, parents, teachers and concerned members of the Latino community to urge policymakers to protect our environment and ensure safer, healthier clean energy future and stronger economy for all.

One way Voces Verdes is getting involved with the efforts for clean energy is by participating in the “72 Hours for Clean American Power” campaign.  This national progressive grassroots initiative will mobilize a broad coalition supporting clean energy policies to generate a large number of calls from diverse and meaningful messengers to Senators from each targeted state.  And since grassroots pressure cannot just come from one constituency or group, the campaign is engaging veterans, farmers, environmentalists, labor activists, scientists, business leaders, and many others.  This 72-hour event will send a strong signal to lawmakers in Washington on the urgent need for passage of comprehensive climate and energy legislation.

There’s no question that we have the power to do it. With help from the Senate, we can create millions of good paying jobs that can’t be shipped overseas.  Dozens of organizations, representing millions of Americans, are calling on the U.S. Senate to pass clean energy and climate legislation that will jump start our economy, foster innovation in new, cleaner technologies, and create millions of jobs.

In particular, our Latino communities and businesses nationwide are concerned about climate change.  This is something we have never had a loud voice on. We deserve a strong and effective energy and climate bill that would ensure a safer, more prosperous future for everyone.  Such legislation would create clean-energy jobs and make our communities cleaner and safer.

But despite the public’s support and the numerous benefits, our political leaders have not done enough to move this legislation forward.  And while the Senate stalls, countries like China are moving forward investing billions into new green technology.

America can and must be the leader in the new energy economy.  It is time for a comprehensive climate and energy plan that ensures a clean environment and better opportunities for all communities in this country.  Clean energy will help stimulate our economy, create new and sustainable jobs, bring opportunities for low-income workers and communities to come out of poverty, and provide a better future for our families.

I invite you to join me, business and community leaders in calling for Senators to pass comprehensive climate legislation that puts America back to work and protects our national security and our natural resources.  You can be part of the “72 Hours for Clean American Power” campaign by visiting the website at 72hoursamericanpower.com and calling your Senator to demand action on this important issue. Make the call. It is easy and only takes a few minutes and will allow our voices to be heard!

Roberto Carmona has nearly 20 years of professional experience in the areas of strategic planning, community based research, management, human resources, and leadership development in the federal government, the private sector and the non-profit sector.  After completing a Masters Degree in Public Administration (MPA) at Harvard, he worked in Washington, D.C. as Director of Programs for the New America Alliance (NAA).  In 2004, Roberto returned to Chicago and served as an environmental justice consultant for the Federal Aviation Administration.  From 2005-2008 Roberto was a Senior Consultant for an executive search and management consulting firm located in Chicago. His executive search experience includes serving clients and placing executives in positions with Fortune 500 companies, higher education, healthcare organizations, national nonprofits and local governments.