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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
'Everyone Wants a Good Job': The Texas Unions Fighting for a Green New Deal
At the Texas AFL-CIO’s annual convention on July 27th, 121 unions voted in favor of a resolution for a green jobs plan. The proposal was written by the Texas Climate Jobs Project, a project of the state labor federation and Cornell University’s Worker Institute in consultation with 27 unions statewide.
Why Texas fossil fuel unions signed onto a climate plan
Grist
Skinner, Labor Leading on Climate Director, says “there’s been a real focus on the carbon impact of proposals and not enough emphasis on what type of jobs are these activities going to create, what are the quality of these jobs, are they actually going to help reverse inequality.”
The UMWA local in Alabama has been on a five-month strike against Warrior Met Coal. Zach Cunningham, from Cornell's Labor Leading on Climate, proposes focusing on making the transition to renewable-energy sources one that provides good-paying jobs, rather than a narrative of “good jobs versus the environment.”
Energy transition could create 1.1 million jobs in Texas, report says
Lara Skinner, Director of Cornell’s Labor Leading on Climate Initiative, provided insight into the number of jobs that could be created in various aspects of growing the renewable energy and climate tech industries in Texas.
DOE's Granholm highlights need for 'place-based' climate investments
S&P Global
U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm requested Lara Skinner's research on renewable energy labor standards as a possible model for the federal government,
Skinner Speaks at the Canadian Labour Congress Convention
Lara Skinner, Director of the Worker Institute’s Labor Leading on Climate program, will participate in the panel session “A Climate Action Agenda” at the June 10th Canadian Labour Congress Convention
Lara Skinner, Director of the Worker Institute's Labor Leading on Climate, provides insight on the importance of including labor standards on clean energy work.
The Race To 52%: Little Old NJ Leaps Into US Offshore Wind Industry Lead
Clean Technica
Skinner, director of the Labor Leading on Climate, and member of the Just Transition Working Group in support of the Empire State’s climate goals. Earlier this year she drew an optimistic picture of the nation’s ability to grow a vigorous wind industry workforce, especially in the offshore area.
“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.
A Worker-First Green New Deal with Lara Skinner | Jacobin Show
Lara Skinner, director of the Worker Institute’s Labor Leading on Climate Initiative at Cornell's ILR School, joins the show to discuss the critical role of unions in the fight for climate protection and clean energy and why the Green New Deal must begin with the labor movement.
Skinner to Speak at the Virtual Boston Labor Conference: Labor, Climate Change, and Political Power
Lara Skinner, Director of the WI Labor Leading on Climate Initiative, will discuss what a “just transition” looks like that dramatically lowers carbon emissions, prioritizes working people, and redistributes wealth at the Virtual Boston Labor Conference: Labor, Climate Change, and Political.
Skinner to Participate in "Union Labor and Building a Renewable Future," LEP Labor Forum
Lara Skinner, Director of the WI Labor Leading on Climate Initiative, will discuss how Illinois can move into a clean energy economy at the scale climate science demands, create good union jobs, and support more equitable communities at the LEP Labor Forum live-streamed on Facebook Live.
Skinner to Speak at the 2021 Time for Turbines Conference
Lara Skinner, Director of the WI Labor Leading on Climate Initiative, will discuss how to create good, long-term jobs and build equity in the offshore wind industry at the 4th annual Time for Turbines conference on Jan. 26th.
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.
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.
Labor Leading on Climate Initiative Participates in 18th Transatlantic Social Dialogue
Lara Skinner speaks on how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities at the "Climate change, organized labor and the impact of COVID-19 pandemic – perspectives from Europe and the US" panel session.
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.
