The Climate Jobs Institute is guiding the nation’s transition to a strong, equitable, and resilient clean energy economy by pursuing three aims: to tackle the climate crisis; to create high-quality jobs; and to build a diverse, inclusive workforce.
CJI is the first U.S. academic institution focused on conducting research and developing policies for governments nationwide to support clean energy targets and create union jobs that help drive a more inclusive and equitable economy. The event was attended by union leaders; state, local and national officials; non-profit organizations; members of the public, and many others across the nation.
Cornell ILR Empire State Poll Shows New York State Residents, From Long Island to the North Country to Western NY, Support Strong Climate Action with High-Quality Job Creation
The Cornell ILR Empire State Poll (ESP) 2022 shows that over 68% of New York residents are concerned about the impacts of climate change and more than 70% of New Yorkers have been impacted by climate change in the past five years
Skinner presents at the White House Forum on Campus and Community-Scale Climate Change Solutions
Skinner, Executive Director of the Climate Jobs Institute at Cornell ILR, presents at the White House Forum on Campus and Community-Scale Climate Change Solutions
New Report from Cornell's Labor Leading on Climate Provides Roadmap to Exceed NYC Climate Goals, Create Over 1 Million Jobs
A new report released today by Cornell's Labor Leading on Climate in collaboration with the Climate Jobs NY coalition outlines a comprehensive climate jobs action plan for NYC to fight the climate crisis, make NYC safer and address racial and economic inequity by investing in a pro-worker renewable energy transition.
A New Report from The Worker Institute Outlines a Climate Jobs Agenda for Maine
A new report released today by climate and labor experts at Cornell University examines the intersecting crises and then offers a series of “climate jobs” recommendations for Maine.
New Report Details how Rhode Island Can Create a Clean-Energy, Worker-Centered Economy
A new report released today by climate and labor experts at Cornell University in collaboration with the Climate Jobs Rhode Island Coalition outlines a comprehensive climate jobs action plan to put Rhode Island on the path to building an equitable and resilient clean-energy economy.
The Climate Jobs Institute works with our partners to design and deliver training for union members on climate change and clean energy.
Our training provides affiliate leaders and members with the knowledge, confidence and motivation to participate in key debates and decision-making processes on climate protection and energy policy. Our objective is to build a robust, equitable clean energy economy both locally and nationwide.
Educational Resources
In addition to our workshops, we have developed written materials to help you learn about climate change and clean energy, talk with coworkers about these topics, and explore different union-led campaigns to create green, union jobs.
In the Winter of 2020, the Climate Jobs Institute launched its newly-developed “Climate Jobs and Offshore Wind (OSW)” training in partnership with Climate Jobs NY - a coalition of 2.6 million members.
We look forward to continuing this work and expanding it into other states, in the upcoming years.
Skinner to deliver York University's GLRC 2023 John Eleen Annual Lecture in Global Labour
Skinner, Executive Director of the Climate Jobs Institute at Cornell's ILR School, to deliver the keynote address for the 2023 John Eleen Annual Lecture in Global Labour, “Labour and the Climate Crisis: Developing a Worker- and Equity-Centered Clean Energy Economy,” for the Global Labour Research Centre at York University.
Climate Jobs Institute Hosts Panel on Inflation Reduction Act and Workforce Development
On January 11th, Cornell's ILR Climate Jobs Institute hosted a panel discussion on the Inflation Reduction Act. The panel drew on the expertise of labor leaders, policymakers, and workforce development professionals.
New Climate Jobs Institute Allows for Research Addressing Climate Change, Aims to Create More Jobs
The Industrial and Labor Relations School launched their Climate Jobs Institute on Jan. 25. The Institute will help New York state transition to a stronger clean energy economy by addressing the climate crisis and creating more jobs through continued cutting-edge research.
Relax, New Yorkers. Nobody’s Coming for Your Gas Stove.
“We’re going to erode public support for this climate work if we’re not creating high-quality jobs and careers that are actually family and community sustaining,” says Lara Skinner, director of the Climate Jobs Institute.
An offshore wind project being built with union labor could be exactly what energy workers need
“The majority of [wind-related] jobs are going to be in the manufacturing supply chain,” says Lara Skinner, so the country needs to prioritize the development of domestic renewable supply chains.
The Climate Jobs Institute Research Fellows will research a variety of topics related to climate change, and contribute to the creation of multi-state “climate jobs” policy papers and Canva presentations that address topics including job and training quality standards in energy efficiency and renewable energy work and exploring innovative financing models for climate mitigation activities.
The Institute provides research, education and training programs to unions on climate change and clean energy across multiple U.S. states.
As in New York, this work will help unions proactively and positively engage in climate change and clean energy work and forge a stronger link in the public discourse between the crises of inequality and climate change.
Hear from labor leaders, and members, some of whom work on the frontlines of climate change, about the urgency to take on climate change by building a new renewable energy industry powered by good, family-sustaining union jobs.
2022 Climate Jobs Summit
From Ambition to Action
The Climate Jobs Summit on September 21 and the accompanying Week of Action brought together climate jobs coalitions, labor leaders, union climate activists, environmental advocates, policymakers, scientists, and allies in our shared mission to build an equitable renewable energy economy powered by good union jobs.
The Second Annual Virtual Climate Jobs Summit took place on September 21, 2021, during Climate Week NYC. The Summit convened climate jobs coalitions, labor leaders, union climate activists, environmental and environmental justice advocates, clean-energy developers, policymakers, scientists, and allies in our shared mission to build an equitable renewable energy economy powered by good union jobs. Throughout the Summit, emphasis was made on the urgency of taking action to lift up America’s working families through bold climate investments that create millions of family-sustaining union careers.
The 2020 Climate Jobs and Just Transition Summit brought together labor leaders, union climate activists, environmental and environmental justice advocates, clean-energy developers, policymakers, and scientists to discuss how to build the clean-energy economy of tomorrow with strong union jobs.
The Climate Jobs Institute is guiding New York and the nation’s transition to a strong, equitable, and resilient clean energy economy that tackles the climate crisis, creates high-quality jobs, confronts race and gender inequality, and builds a diverse and inclusive workforce. We help policy makers and labor, environmental and industry leaders navigate this historic transition through cutting-edge applied research, deep relationships with on-the-ground partners, and innovative training and education programs.