Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has launched a green jobs council in partnership with many of its leading suppliers of goods and services in an effort to help rebuild and retool America's workforce.

The world's largest retailer announced the formation of the council yesterday. The group of more than 30 firms includes BP Solar, Dematic, General Electric, HydroPoint Data Systems, Lennox, ReCold, Schneider Electric, SwissLog, Systecon, Thermastor and Zurn.  

"We believe that creating green jobs is essential to keeping the United States competitive in the global marketplace," Leslie Dach, executive vice president of corporate affairs and government relations for Wal-Mart, said in announcing the creation of the council.

"We also think that it's important that we're working collaboratively with vendors to foster an environment to create these green jobs in the U.S." company spokesman Kory Lundberg told GreenBiz.

The council's membership currently is focusing on the vendors who work with Wal-Mart stores, Sam's Club locations and the company's fleets to provide goods and services related to the firm's business operations. The group could expand to include others after it becomes more established, according to Lundberg.

The Wal-Mart Green Jobs Council is in its early stages of organization and held its first meeting earlier this fall in Bentonville, Lundberg said.

During the initial gathering, participants talked about key drivers for green job creation as well as key obstacles.

The external, internal and market-influenced catalysts for green job growth that were discussed included government policies, executive leadership for sustainability programs and increased customer demand, the company said. Toughest challenges identified included a lack of a workforce that is trained to meet tomorrow's needs and limited or blocked access to capital — a situation that is exacerbated by the economic climate.

"To overcome both rising unemployment and dwindling natural resources, we must invest in our nation's workforce through the development of jobs that preserve the environment for generations to come," Christopher Spain, chairman and chief strategy officer for HydroPoint Data Systems in Petaluma, Calif. said in a statement. "I believe the goals of the Green Jobs Council are highly achievable."

The formation of the Green Jobs Council is Wal-Mart's most recent initiative in a broad environmental responsibility agenda to address internal and external sustainability issues.

The council plans to reconvene in early 2009 in Washington, D.C.