BOSTON – State lawmakers and key members of Congress from Massachusetts met publicly Monday to discuss the importance of providing jobs linked to energy innovation and maintaining a healthy environment.U.S. Rep. John F. Tierney, a Salem Democrat, was among those federal lawmakers to recently introduce the Green Jobs Act of 2007.The legislation was crafted as part of the Democratic leadership’s energy initiative package and would authorize $125 million to help the U.S. develop the specialized workforce needed to ensure robust growth and god jobs in the renewable energy sector, Tierney said.The Green Jobs Forum at Suffolk University Law School featured a keynote address by Van Jones, a popular environmental justice advocate and founder of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights based in Oakland, Calif., one of the nation’s leading green business and social justice innovators.Concerned citizens were provided an opportunity to learn about the steps Massachusetts policy makers are taking on a state and federal level to ensure America remains at the forefront of energy innovation, while increasing job opportunities at home.Sen. John F. Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, was joined at the forum by state Rep. Michael Festa, a Melrose Democrat, and state Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, a Democrat from Pittsfield.Kerry, who co-authored the book “This Moment on Earth” with his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, told the forum Massachusetts is a leader in the emerging world of green jobs.”There are approximately 8,000 jobs in energy efficiency and 2,000 in renewable energy companies in Massachusetts,” he said, noting that that city of Cambridge is leading the way in public-private partnerships and that Gov. Deval Patrick is pushing for statewide conservation efforts.The senator praised Jones for his dedication “to lifting whole communities out of poverty by implementing his philosophy of Green Collar Jobs as part of the center’s Reclaim the Future campaign.”Tierney said the time has come “to connect the dots between the need for sustainable energy and maintainable manufacturing jobs.”The intent of the forum was to explore in greater detail so-called “green collar jobs”.