Skip to main content
Cornell University mobile logo

“Labor in NYS in 2025” presented in Albany

ILR Outreach and resident faculty presented ILR expertise on 2025 labor issues to members of the New York State Legislature on Tuesday in Albany.
The “Labor in NYS in 2025” program was presented in Albany.
“Labor in NYS in 2025” presented in Albany

Climate Jobs Institute Explores Building Decarbonization Approach to Achieving Scale, Equity, and High-Quality Union Jobs

The Climate Jobs Institute produced a primer and webinar on Thermal Energy Networks, which can decarbonize multiple buildings at once while also harnessing the existing skills of our building trades.
Photo overlooking a city
Climate Jobs Institute Explores Building Decarbonization Approach to Achieving Scale, Equity, and High-Quality Union Jobs

Climate Jobs Institute Talks Infrastructure and Green Workforce at 2024 SOMOS Puerto Rico

For two years in a row, the Climate Jobs Institute (CJI) has facilitated a panel discussion at the 2024 SOMOS INC Puerto Rico Conference, from November 6th - 10th. 
A group photo of the panelists
Climate Jobs Institute Talks Infrastructure and Green Workforce at 2024 SOMOS Puerto Rico

Climate Jobs Institute Leads New York Legislative and Labor Leaders on Educational Delegation to Sweden

In late September, the Cornell ILR Climate Jobs Institute (CJI) led an educational delegation of New York State legislative and labor leaders to Stockholm, Sweden.
NYS delegates at the Swedish Parliament with Members of Parliament Monica Hader and Adrian Magnusson
Climate Jobs Institute Leads New York Legislative and Labor Leaders on Educational Delegation to Sweden

Climate Jobs Institute Debuts In-Person Course on Climate Change Impacts and Solutions Through Labor and Equity Lens

On October 16th and 17th, Cornell ILR’s Climate Jobs Institute (CJI) debuted a two-day, in-person climate jobs course, “Building an Equitable, Resilient, and Unionized Clean Energy Economy.”
CJI training and education associate facilitating a class
Climate Jobs Institute Debuts In-Person Course on Climate Change Impacts and Solutions Through Labor and Equity Lens

New report details the working conditions of New York's solar workers

"Green jobs are kind of being sold as this equitable, just transition that people will go into and it's really like a life-changing career and that is not the case from what we're finding," said Avalon Hoek Spaans, assistant director of research at Cornell’s ILR Climate Jobs Institute.
north country public radio
New report details the working conditions of New York's solar workers

Climate Jobs Institute Unveils Exploratory Study on New York Solar Industry

Cornell’s Climate Jobs Institute launches “Exploring the Conditions of the New York Solar Workforce,” a two-year exploratory study of working conditions in the solar industry.
Panelists
Climate Jobs Institute Unveils Exploratory Study on New York Solar Industry

NYS Solar Work: Good for Climate, But Are They Good Jobs?

Cornell Chronicle
On April 26, Cornell’s Climate Jobs Institute released “Exploring the Conditions of the New York Solar Workforce,” which surveyed more than 260 solar installation and maintenance workers findings reveal that New York solar construction workers are transient, may not receive benefits, and are subject to racial disparities in pay.
Workers install solar panels
NYS Solar Work: Good for Climate, But Are They Good Jobs?

Climate Jobs Institute and Climate Jobs New York prepare rank-and-file union members to advocate for public solar

On April 11, Climate Jobs NY and the Climate Jobs Institute (CJI) came together to prepare rank-and-file union members to advocate for public solar. Workers from various unions gathered to meet council members and explain how public solar will benefit their communities.
Photo of CJI and rank-and-file union members lobbying for public solar
Climate Jobs Institute and Climate Jobs New York prepare rank-and-file union members to advocate for public solar

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

Apprenticeships Can Drive Inclusive Clean Energy Economy

Cornell Chronicle
“The Climate Jobs Institute report addresses a core aspect of tackling the dual crises of climate change and inequality: ensuring that diverse individuals and historically underserved communities are included in the shift to high-quality, clean energy careers through union jobs,” said Lara Skinner, executive director of the Climate Jobs Institute.
Tx Report
Apprenticeships Can Drive Inclusive Clean Energy Economy

CJI Participates in ILR's Convening of Albany Policymakers to Show Impact of State Funding

Representatives from the NY State legislative and executive branches gathered on the ILR campus Thursday morning to officially launch the New York at Work annual report.
Ariel Avgar addresses NY State policymakers
CJI Participates in ILR's Convening of Albany Policymakers to Show Impact of State Funding

Climate Jobs Institute leads educational delegation to Denmark

Cornell ILR’s Climate Jobs Institute leads educational delegation of 30 New York State legislative and labor leaders to Denmark to learn from the nation’s world-leading efforts to build a clean energy economy.
Delegation members at House of Green, an interactive showroom and visitors center operated by State of Green, in Copenhagen
Climate Jobs Institute leads educational delegation to Denmark

Opinion: Employ vulnerable communities to build New York’s clean energy transition

City & State
“The Cornell University Climate Jobs Institute delivers training for union members on climate change and clean energy, and connects policymakers with labor, environmental and industry leaders to navigate this historic transition,” says Dovan Lomax, Political Director, District Council 9 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) in NY.
City and State New York Logo
Opinion: Employ vulnerable communities to build New York’s clean energy transition

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.
New Climate Jobs Institute Allows for Research Addressing Climate Change, Aims to Create More Jobs

Labor Leading on Climate Trains Unionists from Four States as part of Climate Jobs Summit and Week of Action

Cunningham facilitates first training for rank-and-file union members on Sept. 22nd, as part of the Climate Jobs Summit’s Week of Action. Members attended the training via Zoom with in-person sessions to hear about the climate crisis, share their experiences, and learn more about ongoing campaigns in their areas.
Zoom screenshot of participants
Labor Leading on Climate Trains Unionists from Four States as part of Climate Jobs Summit and Week of Action

After Successful Bike Parking Demo, DOT is Rightfully Being Asked, ‘What Now?’

A recent study by Cornell's Labor Leading on Climate recommends converting 5 percent of street parking spaces into 150,000 sheltered bike parking spaces by 2025.
Oonee mini removal
After Successful Bike Parking Demo, DOT is Rightfully Being Asked, ‘What Now?’

LLC and CJNY facilitate Offshore Wind Training for IBEW Local 3

Zach Cunningham, Associate for Cornell’s Labor Leading on Climate, and Mariah Dignan, of Climate Jobs NY, facilitate training on Climate Jobs and Offshore Wind (OSW) to IBEW Local 3 apprentices
Participants at an Offshore Wind Training
LLC and CJNY facilitate Offshore Wind Training for IBEW Local 3

Updating aging NYC school buildings will reduce the city’s carbon emissions: energy advocates

NY Daily News
Cornell's Labor Leading on Climate released, “Climate for Change: A Climate Jobs Roadmap for New York City” in partnership with Climate Jobs New York which urges the city to adopt a plan for carbon free and healthy schools
Public School 169, the Sunset Park School in Brooklyn
Updating aging NYC school buildings will reduce the city’s carbon emissions: energy advocates

Op-ed: A road map for making inroads into climate change in New York

Anita Raman, research and policy development associate with Cornell’s Labor Leading on Climate Initiative details how New York City can ensure future net zero emissions, create millions of community-sustaining jobs, and reduce inequality.
Op-Ed Anita Raman
Op-ed: A road map for making inroads into climate change in New York

LLC participates in UALE’s first-ever Northeast Regional Gathering

Labor Leading on Climate team’s Zach Cunningham, the regional representative to UALE’s Board, led efforts to organize the event and Director, Lara Skinner, participates in panel discussion.
UALE LOGO
LLC participates in UALE’s first-ever Northeast Regional Gathering

Labor unions' climate agenda for City Hall includes cutting school emissions, adding bike lanes

“We are really thinking about how do we take on climate change at scale and the pace that science demands,” said Lara Skinner, Director of Cornell's Labor Leading on Climate program.
NYC Skyline
Labor unions' climate agenda for City Hall includes cutting school emissions, adding bike lanes

LLC facilitates “Carbon Free & Healthy Schools” training for union members in NYC

Zach Cunningham, Associate for the Worker Institute, and Tory Kaso, Campaign Director for Climate Jobs NY, helped NYC union members learn more about the Carbon Free & Healthy Schools campaign
CFHS 4.12
LLC facilitates “Carbon Free & Healthy Schools” training for union members in NYC

Skinner Recognized on PoliticsNY Labor Power Players

Skinner, Director of Labor Leading on Climate, is featured on the PoliticsNY Labor Power Players list.
Photo: Lara Skinner
Skinner Recognized on PoliticsNY Labor Power Players

Cunningham facilitates Offshore Wind Training for IUOE Local 30

Zach Cunningham, Extension Associate for the Worker Institute and Mariah Dignan, of Climate Jobs NY deliver a riveting presentation on Climate Jobs and Offshore Wind (OSW) to IUOE Local 30
IUOE Local 1
Cunningham facilitates Offshore Wind Training for IUOE Local 30

Skinner Recognized on City & State’s 2022 New York State Labor Power 100

Skinner, Director of Labor Leading on Climate, featured on the City & State's 2022 New York State Labor Power 100.
portrait of Lara Skinner
Skinner Recognized on City & State’s 2022 New York State Labor Power 100

NYC unions rally behind ambitious new climate action plans

AM NY
Cornell's Labor Leading on Climate releases report in conjunction with the Climate Jobs New York (CJNY) outlining recommendations to Mayor Eric Adams’ administration as well as examining the impact of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic on NYC workers and schools.
climate change and ice ages concept
NYC unions rally behind ambitious new climate action plans

Skinner Participates in NYC LERA

Skinner participates in a virtual panel on climate change and the future of work, with a focus on the importance of including worker and community voices in shaping and implementing transitions to ensure the potential for just outcomes.
Presentation Flyer
Skinner Participates in NYC LERA

Skinner Presents at the New York State Laborers Build Renewables Summit

Lara Skinner, Director of the Labor Leading on Climate, discusses New York’s CLCPA at the NYS Laborers Build Renewables Summit on November 16, 2021.
Skinner Panel Session
Skinner Presents at the New York State Laborers Build Renewables Summit

Labor Leading on Climate Team Participates on 350 Brooklyn Labor and Climate Panel

Labor Leading on Climate Associates participated in 350Brooklyn’s panel session, Labor and the Climate Movement: Challenges and Opportunities
350Brooklyn
Labor Leading on Climate Team Participates on 350 Brooklyn Labor and Climate Panel

Lara Skinner wins Movement Builders Award

Cornell Chronicle
Lara Skinner, director of the ILR Worker Institute’s Labor Leading on Climate Change, will be honored Sept. 21 by the Alliance for a Greater New York with a 2021 Movement Builders Award.
Lara Skinner
Lara Skinner wins Movement Builders Award

Skinner to be Honored at the 2021 Movement Builders Awards

Lara Skinner, Labor Leading on Climate Director, is an honoree of the 2021 Movement Builders Awards for her tireless advocacy for a just transition to a renewable energy economy.
cartoon people with protest signs
Skinner to be Honored at the 2021 Movement Builders Awards

Offshore Wind Training Delivered to Communications Workers of America (CWA) Members across New York State

Zach Cunningham of the Worker Institute’s Labor Leading on Climate Initiative, in partnership with Climate Jobs NY, delivered a virtual training for Communications Workers of America (CWA) members across New York State.
Jamboard on What do you know about climate change?
Offshore Wind Training Delivered to Communications Workers of America (CWA) Members across New York State

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)

Skinner Featured on City & State’s 2021 New York State Labor Power 100

Lara Skinner, Director of the Labor Leading on Climate, makes the 2021 New York State Labor Power 100.
Profile Pic
Skinner Featured on City & State’s 2021 New York State Labor Power 100

Cunningham Facilitates Climate Jobs and Offshore Wind Training

Cornell's Labor Leading on Climate, Zach Cunningham, delivers virtual training to staff and member-leaders from NYSNA and Locals 1199 and 32BJ.
OSW Training
Cunningham Facilitates Climate Jobs and Offshore Wind Training

A Just Transition? On Brooklyn's Waterfront, Oil Companies and Community Activists Join Together to Create an Offshore Wind Proj

Inside Climate News
New York requires that all major renewable energy developments meet prevailing wage agreements and local or national procurement guidelines that encourage domestic manufacturing. But Lara Skinner, director of the Labor Leading on Climate Initiative at the Worker Institute, says other states are far behind.
A Just Transition? On Brooklyn's Waterfront, Oil Companies and Community Activists Join Together to Create an Offshore Wind Proj

NYS Passes Labor Standards on Clean Energy Work

NY is the first state in the country to pass a comprehensive suite of labor standards on clean energy work
solar panels upstate
NYS Passes Labor Standards on Clean Energy Work

Cunningham Facilitates LI Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) Training

Zach Cunningham, Training and Education Extension Associate, delivers Climate Change and Offshore Wind (OSW) Training to LiUNA members on Long Island.
Union members listening to Offshore Wind training presentation
Cunningham Facilitates LI Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) Training

The Promise of Offshore Wind

The American Prospect
“It’s great to get the construction work to put the turbines up, but there’s a lot of work—most studies say twice as much work—in the manufacturing and assembly,” says Lara Skinner, director of Cornell University’s Labor Leading on Climate Initiative.
Wind Turbines
The Promise of Offshore Wind

Cunningham Facilitates Climate Change and Offshore Wind (OSW) Training

Zach Cunningham, Training and Education Extension Associate, delivered Climate Change and Offshore Wind (OSW) Training to New York union leaders.
Opening slide of Climate Jobs and Offshore Wind Training
Cunningham Facilitates Climate Change and Offshore Wind (OSW) Training

Skinner to speak at CPC Carbon Neutral Summit

Lara Skinner, Director of the Labor Leading on Climate Initiative, will speak at the Carbon Neutral Summit on Jan. 13th. The Summit will cover climate action in NYS, prioritizing climate justice, and strategies for building decarbonization.
Climate Jobs Summit Logo
Skinner to speak at CPC Carbon Neutral Summit

New York’s Building Trades Unions Are Showing the Way Forward on Green Jobs

"Climate change impacts working people. There are some major opportunities here for labor if we can get ahead of this thing. What we’ve done is a very investment-led strategy, a very jobs-led strategy,” says Lara Skinner.
Image of Construction Hard Hats
New York’s Building Trades Unions Are Showing the Way Forward on Green Jobs

Four Cornellians Tapped for NYS Climate Advisory Panels

Cornell Chronicle
The New York State Climate Action Council has chosen Lara Skinner, director of the Labor Leading on Climate Initiative at the ILR School, to serve on the Just Transition Working Group.
NYS Climate Action Council Logo
Four Cornellians Tapped for NYS Climate Advisory Panels

Labor Leading on Climate Launches Long Island Pilot Program

The Labor Leading on Climate team conducted a pilot of its newly-developed “Climate Jobs and Offshore Wind (OSW)” training.
Long Island Climate Change and Offshsore Wind Training
Labor Leading on Climate Launches Long Island Pilot Program

New York aims to fight climate change by creating green union jobs

The Guardian
“We brought together more than a dozen unions, and said things are not good at the national level in terms of how unions are relating to environmental organizations and the climate movement,” said Lara Skinner
The Guardian Logo
New York aims to fight climate change by creating green union jobs

Organizing to Win a Green New Deal

Jacobin News
The labor movement has to be central to winning a Green New Deal and reversing climate change. Recent labor victories show how we can do just that, from the ground up, and quickly.
Climate Justice protestors at a march. Photo by Lawrence Makoona
Organizing to Win a Green New Deal

Reversing Inequality and Combatting Climate Change

The Climate Jobs Now! Summit took place on Oct. 27, 2017. The event was organized by The Worker Institute at Cornell, Climate Jobs NY and the office of NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Climate Jobs Now! Summit
Reversing Inequality and Combatting Climate Change

The fight against climate change: four cities leading the way in the Trump era

The Guardian
“Our carbon footprint is a lot smaller than it could be because we move around millions of people on public transport rather than car, but mass transit is often overlooked,” said Lara Skinner.
The Guardian Logo
The fight against climate change: four cities leading the way in the Trump era

Governor, labor unions announce climate jobs program

Cornell Chronicle
“The national debates on climate change are often defined as ‘jobs versus the environment’ or ‘workers against environmentalists,’” said Lara Skinner
New York State Logo
Governor, labor unions announce climate jobs program

Facing ‘Reckless’ Trump, The Empire State Strikes Back

Lara Skinner, associate director of The Worker Institute at Cornell, noted a “historic breakthrough” in the global effort to combat climate change.
Sea legs: Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announce state funding for Long Island-based coastal-water initatives Friday on Shinnecock Bay.
Facing ‘Reckless’ Trump, The Empire State Strikes Back

In staving off climate change, social landscape adjusts

Cornell Chronicle
As the U.S. enacts agreements made at the 21st United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP21) in December 2015 in Paris, Skinner said that New York state can lead the country to societal equity in a low-carbon economy.
Image of Lara Skinner speaking at Energy Panel
In staving off climate change, social landscape adjusts

‘Climate Change and Clean Energy’ panel is Feb. 26

Cornell Chronicle
Lara Skinner will provide opening remarks on “Paris Climate Talks and 80 Percent-Renewable New York by 2030.
Photo: Lara Skinner
‘Climate Change and Clean Energy’ panel is Feb. 26

Stay Connected

Join the Climate Jobs Institute mailing list.