We are guiding the nation’s transition to an equitable and resilient clean energy economy by pursuing three aims: tackling the climate crisis; creating high-quality union jobs; and building a skilled and diverse workforce.
Public Impact
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.
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.
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.
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.”
Climate Jobs Institute to Host Panel on Infrastructure Funding and Green Jobs in New York and Puerto Rico at the 2024 SOMOS Conference
On Thursday, November 7th, at 10:30am, the Climate Jobs Institute (CJI) will co-host a panel discussion on “Infrastructure Funding and Green Jobs in New York and Puerto Rico” at the 2024 SOMOS INC Puerto Rico Conference.
IAM Takes Bold Steps in Addressing Climate Crisis and Embracing Green Technologies, Releases Report on Clean Energy Economy for the Future
At the 2024 IAM Grand Lodge Convention, a groundbreaking discussion was held, with insights from a comprehensive study conducted by Cornell ILR's Climate Jobs Institute, in partnership with the IAM, about the urgency of the climate crisis and potential for growth and renewal within the union.
Exclusive: Texas clean energy jobs can be dirty business for a precarious workforce, new research shows
A field team surveyed 1,224 non-union workers in Texas’ solar or wind construction and manufacturing jobs about their labor conditions, then conducted in-depth interviews with some respondents.
Power and People: Working Conditions in the Texas Clean Energy Transition
A first-ever investigative survey of Texas clean energy workers provides unprecedented data of working conditions for over 1,200 workers. This study was conducted in partnership with the Texas Climate Jobs Project and Organized Power in Numbers
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.
Michigan leaders warn about the health impacts of climate change
“Climate change is often perceived as purely an environmental issue — maybe a technical or scientific issue — but not a social, economic or jobs issue” said Skinner at the second annual MI Healthy Climate Conference on May 16, 2024 at the Lansing Center.
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.
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.
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.
From April 19th - 21st, five team members represented the Climate Jobs Institute at this year’s Labor Notes Conference in Chicago. The conference, organized by Labor Notes magazine, brought together unionists from across the country and world for a weekend of workshops, panels, and speeches.
New eCornell certificate explores intersection of climate change, labor and equity
Cornell Chronicle
A new certificate being offered by eCornell, in conjunction with the ILR School’s Climate Jobs Institute, will delve into the critical intersection of climate change, labor and equity, exploring the far-reaching implications of a warming planet on workers, communities and the broader economy.
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.
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.
Working With Labor Unions to Create a More Sustainable Future
Avalon Hoek Spaans, Assistant Director of Research at the Climate Jobs Insititute, shares what inspired them to seek a career focused on climate science, hoping to contribute to a more environmentally just and sustainable society.
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.
A Climate Jobs Roadmap for Washington State, "is a bold first step towards a pro-worker clean energy transition that meets the scale of this crisis and addresses long-standing racial and economic inequality,” says Lara Skinner, Founding Executive Director of the Climate Jobs Institute at Cornell University.
Climate Jobs Institute releases Washington state report
Cornell Chronicle
The Climate Jobs Institute releases, "Washington Climate Jobs Roadmap: A Worker-Centered Approach to a Clean Energy Future," a culmination of a two-year process that included interviews with more than 85 labor, environmental and industry leaders and policymakers, educational convenings, and qualitative and quantitative research.
Senate Labor Committee Chair Jessica Ramos, a Queens Democrat, and Lara Skinner, executive director of the Climate Jobs Institute at Cornell University's ILR School, share what they learned about creating good-paying jobs in the renewable energy sector during a visit to Denmark this summer.
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.
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.