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

Exploring the Conditions of the New York Solar Workforce

Join the Cornell ILR Climate Jobs Institute on Friday, April 26th, for a first look at the results of our exploratory study on the working conditions of New York State solar workers. This event will include a summary of the study’s results—drawing from over 250 survey responses from on-the-ground solar workers—followed by a panel discussion with workers and leaders in this sector.

Union construction workers
Exploring the Conditions of the New York Solar Workforce

Climate Jobs: Building an Equitable, Resilient Clean Energy Energy Economy

New Online Certificate

Through a labor and equity lens, you will examine the causes and consequences of climate change, understanding how this global crisis exacerbates existing inequalities and poses significant challenges for diverse populations.

Union woman working on solar panels
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Climate Jobs Institute Conference Puts Boots on the Ground in New York State

Cornell ILR's Climate Jobs Institute holds Generating Equity: Pathways to Union Careers in Clean Energy conference in Albany, NY, on March 1-2, 2024.
CJI participants
Climate Jobs Institute Conference Puts Boots on the Ground in New York State

Climate Jobs Institute's Offshore Wind Webinar Launches New CAROW Series

Cornell ILRs Center for Applied Research on Work (CAROW) kicked off a new webinar series with the Climate Jobs Institute, "The Future of Offshore Wind in New York State: What Will It Take to Build a Large, Vibrant and Equitable Industry?" on February 13, 2024.
Offshore Wind Banner Image
Climate Jobs Institute's Offshore Wind Webinar Launches New CAROW Series

New Climate Jobs Institute Report Sees Clean Economy on the Horizon via Apprenticeship Readiness

Cornell ILR's Climate Jobs Institute celebrated the launch of its new report, “Building an Equitable, Diverse & Unionized Clean Energy Economy: What We Can Learn from Apprenticeship Readiness” on November 30th.
Panelists at the pre-apprenticeship report launch
New Climate Jobs Institute Report Sees Clean Economy on the Horizon via Apprenticeship Readiness

Climate Jobs Institute Launches First-ever Climate Jobs eCornell Online Certificate

Cornell’s Climate Jobs Institute Launches New Climate Jobs 4-course Online Certificate through eCornell
Union woman worker wearing a hard hat and standing in front of solar panels
Climate Jobs Institute Launches First-ever Climate Jobs eCornell Online Certificate

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
CJI Empire State Poll Chart
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

Scaling the US OSW Supply Chain with a Global Perspective

Avalon Hoek Spaans, Cornell ILR outreach extension faculty member with help from their student research assistant Scott Siegel advised a group of Columbia Climate School graduate students on how to answer the question: “How can offshore wind deployment in the US be accelerated while ensuring local high-quality job creation?”
Denmark
Scaling the US OSW Supply Chain with a Global Perspective

Recent Publications

See additional publications

Building an Equitable, Diverse, & Unionized Clean Energy Economy: What We Can Learn from Apprenticeship Readiness

Building an Equitable, Diverse, & Unionized Clean Energy Economy: What We Can Learn from Apprenticeship Readiness Report
Building an Equitable, Diverse, & Unionized Clean Energy Economy: What We Can Learn from Apprenticeship Readiness Cover
Building an Equitable, Diverse, & Unionized Clean Energy Economy: What We Can Learn from Apprenticeship Readiness

New York at Work 2023: Tracking 2022 Inflation Reduction Act Manufacturing Investments

Designed as a resource for policymakers and the public, the ILR School’s annual New York at Work report examines jobs and other issues impacting communities and individuals across the state.
Back end of an electric car attached by to a charger stand by a large cord.
New York at Work 2023: Tracking 2022 Inflation Reduction Act Manufacturing Investments

Washington State Climate Jobs Report Released

The Evergreen State has positioned itself as a climate leader in America, but a new report from the ILR Climate Jobs Institute reveals there is much more to be done to ensure that its climate investments maximize high-quality job creation, equity and economic development.
A scenic image of Washington state
Washington State Climate Jobs Report Released

Training and Education

Training

The Climate Jobs Institute partners with labor unions and state coalitions like Climate Jobs NY to train union leaders and members on climate and clean energy issues. These trainings, covering topics like offshore wind development and delivering public testimony, build trade unionists’ knowledge and skills so they can engage in debates over climate action. 

IUOE Local 1
Discover our trainings

Educational Resources

Having the most up-to-date information is important when championing climate jobs. The Climate Jobs Institute has developed maps, infographics, and other materials to help you better understand the climate and clean energy landscape.

Participants at an Offshore Wind Training
Explore our resources

Climate Jobs Institute Conference Puts Boots on the Ground in New York State

Cornell ILR's Climate Jobs Institute holds Generating Equity: Pathways to Union Careers in Clean Energy conference in Albany, NY, on March 1-2, 2024.
Climate Jobs Institute Conference Puts Boots on the Ground in New York State

REGISTER TODAY!! Climate Jobs Institute Provides a First Look on the Working Conditions of New York State Solar Workers.

The Climate Jobs Institute State of the NY Solar Workforce study provides a first look at the results of our exploratory study on the working conditions of New York State solar workers on Friday, April 26, in person and live stream.
REGISTER TODAY!! Climate Jobs Institute Provides a First Look on the Working Conditions of New York State Solar Workers.

Climate Jobs Institute's Offshore Wind Webinar Launches New CAROW Series

Cornell ILRs Center for Applied Research on Work (CAROW) kicked off a new webinar series with the Climate Jobs Institute, "The Future of Offshore Wind in New York State: What Will It Take to Build a Large, Vibrant and Equitable Industry?" on February 13, 2024.
Climate Jobs Institute's Offshore Wind Webinar Launches New CAROW Series

In the News

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Labor and environmental coalition calls for R.I. to transition to a clean energy economy

Boston Globe
A report by Cornell University researchers details crises involving climate change, the pandemic, and inequality, recommends major public projects involving wind energy, schools, and electrical grid
Labor and environmental coalition calls for R.I. to transition to a clean energy economy

Unlocking the Transition: Politicians tout renewable energy jobs for ex-fossil fuel workers, but it's not so simple

Skinner, Labor Leading on Climate Director, says “there's not going to be a just transition because the pay and health and retirement benefits are not there.”
Unlocking the Transition: Politicians tout renewable energy jobs for ex-fossil fuel workers, but it's not so simple

How the US labor movement is getting to grips with the climate crisis

The Guardian
In Texas and West Virginia, unions are having tough conversations about the future of fossil fuels. Lara Skinner explains that the way forward includes finding new ways to support workers transitioning from oil and coal to cleaner jobs.
How the US labor movement is getting to grips with the climate crisis

Student Engagement

Student Research Fellowships

Experience CJI @ Cornell ILR

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. 

Learn more about our research fellowships
Cornell campus
Student Testimonials

 

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.

WATCH NOW

The 2021 Climate Jobs Summit

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.

Several workers in clean energy
Watch Livestream on Facebook

The 2020 Climate Jobs and Just Transition Summit

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.

Workers building clean energy
2020 Climate Jobs and Just Transition Summit Videos

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.

 

The Climate Jobs Institute (CJI) at Cornell University’s ILR School 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.

Through cutting-edge policy studies, deep relationships with on-the-ground partners, and innovative training and education programs, the CJI provides information that policymakers, the labor and environmental movements, industry leaders, and others need to navigate this historic transition to a zero-carbon economy.