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Union woman worker wearing a hard hat and standing in front of solar panels

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.

Estimating and Understanding Bridgeport Public School Emissions through a Carbon-Free Healthy Schools Tool

Researchers from the Labor Leading on Climate team in collaboration with Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs recently developed a geospatial dashboard to analyze Bridgeport Public School District environmental health issues while calculating potential emissions. This tool was made to support the Connecticut Carbon-Free Healthy School initiative.
Child doing homework
Estimating and Understanding Bridgeport Public School Emissions through a Carbon-Free Healthy Schools Tool

UN calls IPCC climate report ‘code red for humanity’ -- how an equitable, resilient, climate jobs movement can save us

Cornell’s Labor Leading on Climate research team addresses findings from the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report and highlights the opportunity for workers and their unions to tackle climate change and reverse inequality through high-quality, union job creation.
It Takes Work
UN calls IPCC climate report ‘code red for humanity’ -- how an equitable, resilient, climate jobs movement can save us

Zach Cunningham and local partners deliver training for Local 338 (RWDSU)

Cunningham of the Worker Institute, in conjunction with Climate Jobs NY, delivers virtual training for the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union Local 338.
Local 338 Training
Zach Cunningham and local partners deliver training for Local 338 (RWDSU)

New York

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How New York State Can Tackle Climate Change, Reverse Inequality and Build a Robust, Equitable Clean Energy Economy

New York state has a generational opportunity to “build back better” from the COVID-19 pandemic, reduce inequality through high-quality job creation and tackle the accelerating climate crisis. Meeting this moment will require large, strategic investments in clean energy, with strong labor standards and community benefits.
cover graphic for New York at Work 2021 report
How New York State Can Tackle Climate Change, Reverse Inequality and Build a Robust, Equitable Clean Energy Economy

Four policy recommendations for New York State to beat back inequality and climate change

Cornell’s Labor Leading on Climate research team makes recommendations for NYS policy intervention. It will not be easy to tackle climate change -- but New Yorkers don’t shy away from a fight. Reducing inequality and creating meaningful high-impact Climate Jobs through strategic planning and having strong labor standards.
Policies to beat back
Four policy recommendations for New York State to beat back inequality and climate change

Reversing Inequality, Combatting Climate Change

In 2017 the Worker Institute at Cornell University’s ILR School published the report, “Reversing Inequality, Combatting Climate Change: A Climate Jobs Program for New York State."
Reversing Inequality Cover
Reversing Inequality, Combatting Climate Change

Texas

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Texas Unions Launch Major Effort to Combat Climate Change, Tackle Inequality in US Energy Capital

A new report by climate and labor experts at Cornell University, Northeastern University, and Occidental College, in consultation with 27 Texas labor unions, accompanied the launch and outlays out a comprehensive climate jobs action plan to put Texas on the path to building an equitable clean-energy economy.
Man installing solar panels
Texas Unions Launch Major Effort to Combat Climate Change, Tackle Inequality in US Energy Capital

Combatting Climate Change, Reversing Inequality: A Climate Jobs Program for Texas

The Worker Institute’s Labor Leading on Climate launches report that examines the crises of inequality and climate change in Texas and makes a series of “climate jobs” recommendations that can help Texas simultaneously combat climate change, create high-quality jobs, and build more equitable and resilient communities.
Tx Report
Combatting Climate Change, Reversing Inequality: A Climate Jobs Program for Texas

Final Recommendations for Texas

The Worker Institute's Labor Leading on Climate team presents final recommendations to Texas AFL-CIO members.
Utility-Scale Solar
Final Recommendations for Texas

Maine

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Climate Jobs Recommendations for Maine

The Worker Institute's Labor Leading on Climate Initiative presents climate jobs recommendations to Maine members.
Energy Sector in Maine
Climate Jobs Recommendations for Maine

Preliminary Recommendations for Maine

The Worker Institute’s Labor Leading on Climate Initiative presents its preliminary recommendations to Maine members.
Wind Turbines in Maine at sunset
Preliminary Recommendations for Maine

Research Presentation for Maine

The Worker Institute’s Labor Leading on Climate Initiative shares an overview of the climate crisis, discusses inequalities in Maine and provides an employment profile for Maine.
Wind Turbines in Maine
Research Presentation for Maine

Connecticut

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Preliminary Recommendations for Connecticut

The Worker Institute’s Labor Leading on Climate Initiative presents its preliminary recommendations to Connecticut members.
Wind Turbine in Connecticut
Preliminary Recommendations for Connecticut

Research Presentation for Connecticut

The Worker Institute’s Labor Leading on Climate Initiative presents background research to Connecticut members.
Offshore Wind Industry
Research Presentation for Connecticut

Connecticut Kicks Off Climate Jobs Convening

The Worker Institute’s Labor Leading on Climate Initiative presents how climate change/climate crisis impacts Connecticut's union, members, and community.
Connecticut landscape
Connecticut Kicks Off Climate Jobs Convening

Rhode Island

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Rhode Island Kicks Off Climate Change Convening

The Worker Institute’s Labor Leading on Climate team presents background research on Rhode Island.
Providence, Rhode Island, city skyline on the river.
Rhode Island Kicks Off Climate Change Convening

Our Partner

Watch Lara Skinner discuss her work which helped spark the formation of Climate Jobs New York (CJNY).

Climate Jobs Resource Center Logo

The Worker Institute's Labor Leading on Climate Initiative is the university partner of the Climate Jobs National Resource Center (CJNRC).

The Initiative 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. 

Climate Jobs and Just Transition Summit

September 22, 2020

Climate Jobs and Just Transition Summit Videos

Green Recovery - Building Clean Energy Industries and a Low-Carbon Economy That Works for All

  • Chair: Lara Skinner - Executive Director, Worker Institute, Cornell University ILR School
  • Marilyn Brown - Professor, School of Public Policy, Georgia Tech
  • Alex Laskey - Founder and Executive Chair, Rewiring America
  • Matt Schlobohm - Executive Director, Maine AFL-CIO
  • Ali Zaidi - Deputy Secretary to Governor Cuomo for Energy and NYS Chair of Climate Policy and Finance