Climate Jobs

Our climate, economy, and society are in crisis. Climate disasters, skyrocketing costs of living, and deepening inequality are hitting workers first and worst. Workers know that our time to act is running out; that’s why unions across the country are organizing to tackle these compounding crises with a bold, pro-worker climate agenda.

The Climate Jobs Summit on September 21 and accompanying Week of Action will bring 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.

We will talk about the ways that climate change and inequality are inextricably linked, dig into specific opportunities for labor to shape bold climate action and emerging technologies, and discuss strategies for training an inclusive and equitable climate workforce.

The Climate Jobs Summit and Week of Action will take place during Climate Week NYC and are sponsored by Climate Jobs National Resource Center, Climate Jobs NY, and the Labor Leading on Climate Initiative at Cornell University’s Worker Institute.

Please contact Sophia Reuss (sophia.reuss@cjnrc.org) with questions.

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Agenda (All times Eastern)

A detailed agenda for the day can be found here

12:15 pm Welcome Message and Opening Remarks
Gary LaBarbera - President, Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York and New York State Building and Construction Trades Council

Mike Fishman - President and Executive Director, Climate Jobs National Resource Center

12:30 pm - 2:00 pm Climate Jobs 2050: How Labor Can Shape Emerging Climate Technologies (Panel Discussion)
See detailed agenda for panelists.

2:00 pm - 2:15 pm Keynote Remarks
Ali Zaidi - Assistant to the President, National Climate Advisor, and Vice-Chair of the National Climate Task Force

Jennifer Granholm - Secretary, Department of Energy

Liz Shuler - President, AFL-CIO

2:15 pm - 3:45 pm Building the Climate Jobs Workforce We Need: Workforce Development and Inclusive Union Career Pathways (Panel Discussion)
See detailed agenda for panelists.

3:45 pm - 4:00 pm Break

4:00 pm Keynote Presentation
Lara R. Skinner - Executive Director, Labor Leading on Climate Initiative, Worker Institute at Cornell University

4:15 pm - 5:45 pm Advancing a Climate Jobs Agenda: Taking Action at the Local, State, and National Levels (National Conversation)
See detailed agenda for panelists.

5:45 pm Keynote Remarks
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse

5:47 pm Closing Remarks
Matt Schlobohm - Executive Director, Maine AFL-CIO

A detailed agenda for the day can be found here