By Joe Spease, The Kansas City Star.

Last month on Earth Day, leaders from more than 170 nations signed an international accord addressing the global threat of climate change. The Paris climate agreement laid out the steps countries, including the U.S., China and India, are committing to take to reduce carbon emissions.

People know climate change threatens the planet but don’t feel it in their everyday lives. A recent report should help change that thinking. Clean Jobs Midwest by Clean Energy Trust and Environmental Entrepreneurs, shows how critical clean energy and energy efficiency are to our economy. The report highlights the positive effect federal policies addressing climate change can have on job and economic growth.