December 2020
Climate Jobs New York
As 2020 comes to an end, we want to thank you for working alongside us and look ahead to the promise of 2021.

Over the course of 2020's unimaginable challenges and heartaches, we’ve seen the call for building our economy back better—addressing climate at the scale science demands and doing it with good, family-sustaining, community-supporting jobs—move to the forefront. We’ve seen a greater commitment to building a more just economy that takes on extreme inequality and systemic racism. We’ve seen a greater understanding of how we can take collective action.

All of these changes have led us to a 2021 where we can, if we work together, turn movements and commitments into far-reaching reality. The perils of climate change and of the growing divides between us are very real, but this is a year when concrete action can set a new course.

In New York, there are three essential components of success in 2021

  • Basic labor standards in emerging green sectors. This is foundational as we push for development that will build the clean-energy economy of tomorrow in New York. Learn more

  • Green infrastructure investments that can reduce emissions and put New Yorkers back to work. We know we need to take aggressive action to combat climate change and meet the state’s ambitious emissions-reduction goals. We know we need to create good jobs and spur an economic recovery. There are important opportunities to do both in the building sector, the energy sector, and the transportation sector. Learn more

  • Mapping a holistic just transition for workers and communities that rely on fossil fuel industries and communities most affected. With leadership by Climate Jobs NY leaders and allies, 2021 can be the year that a practical just transition takes shape, including working together through the New York State Just Transition Working Group. Learn more


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We Applaud President-elect Joe Biden's Focus on Climate Change and Jobs
President-elect Biden’s plans for climate action and environmental justice will play an important role in achieving these goals. The Biden administration's plan includes the investment of $1.7 trillion over the next ten years, and additional private-sector and state and local investments of more than $5 trillion. We are excited to see that the president-elect has assembled a pro-worker, pro-climate team that can help get the job done:
  • Jennifer Granholm, Secretary of Energy
  • Rep. Deb Haaland, Secretary of Interior 
  • Michael Regan, EPA
  • Gina McCarthy, National Climate Advisor 
  • Ali Zaidi, Deputy National Climate Advisor 
  • Brenda Mallory, Council on Environmental Quality

These nominations send a clear signal that President-elect Biden is committed to following through on his pro-worker, pro-climate agenda. In 2021, we look forward to working with the new administration to build a new green economy that works for everyone.
In closing, we are happy to share all of the
2020 Climate Jobs and Just Transition Summit videos of speakers/panelists.

Our collaboration with The Worker Institute and
Climate Jobs National Resource Center was the largest labor led Summit
on climate change, job creation, and just transition ever in history.

The Summit assembled 51 distinguished speakers/panelists and was viewed
by over 4,000 participants throughout the day.
Hear from Gina McCarthy, the newly appointed National Climate Advisor, as she accepts our #BuildBackBetter award earlier this year at the Climate Jobs and Just Transition Summit. (Scroll down for the video with all the awardees.)

Below, see the Summit sessions featuring our panelists and speakers, including NY's own Ali Zaidi, who is now set to be the Biden administration's Deputy National Climate Advisor.
CLIMATE JOBS AND JUST TRANSITION SUMMIT:
WELCOME, PURPOSE, AND REVIEW OF THE DAY

  • Gary LaBarbera - President, Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, and Board Member, CJNY

  • Mike Fishman - Climate Jobs National Resource Center, Former Secretary-Treasurer, SEIU
CLIMATE JOBS AND JUST TRANSITION SUMMIT: OPENING LIGHTNING ROUND

  • Xiye Bastida - Youth Climate Activist
  • Jim Slevin - President, Utility Workers Union of America 
  • Rhiana Gunn-Wright - Director of Climate Policy, Roosevelt Institute  
  • Antha Williams - Environment Program, Bloomberg Philanthropies
  • Liz Shuler - Secretary-Treasurer, AFL-CIO
THE IMPORTANCE OF LABOR LEADING ON CLIMATE
Chair: Vincent Alvarez - President, NYC Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO  

  • Sharan Burrow - General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation  
  • Nikki Budzinski - Strategic Advisor, Climate Jobs National Resource Center  
  • Lisa Dix - New York Senior Representative, Sierra Club 
  • Rick Levy - President, Texas AFL-CIO 
  • Edwin Lopez - Executive Secretary, New York Electrical Contractors Association
BUILDING CLEAN ENERGY INDUSTRIES AND A LOW-CARBON ECONOMY THAT WORKS FOR ALL
Chair: Lara Skinner - Executive Director, Worker Institute at Cornell University ILR School  

  • Marilyn Brown - Professor, School of Public Policy, Georgia Tech 
  • Alex Laskey - Founder and Executive Chair, Rewiring America 
  • Matt Schlobohm - Executive Director, Maine AFL-CIO 
  • Ali Zaidi - The Biden Administration's newly appointed Deputy Domestic Climate Coordinator
SECURING AN EFFECTIVE AND JUST TRANSITION
Chair: Mijin Cha - Assistant Professor, Occidental College  

  • Eddie Bautista - Executive Director, NYC Environmental Justice Alliance 
  • Michael Leon Guerrero - Executive Director, Labor Network for Sustainability  
  • John Murphy - International Representative, United Association 
  • Samantha Smith - Director, Just Transition Centre
CONCURRENT SESSION 1 - CLIMATE CHANGE, RACIAL JUSTICE & ECONOMIC JUSTICE
Chair: Henry Garrido - Executive Director, AFSCME District Council 37

  • John Cartwright - President, Toronto and York Region Labour Council
  • Candis Tolliver - Political Director, 32BJ SEIU
  • Larry Williams, Jr. - Labor and Environmental Justice Program, Sierra Club
SESSION 2 BUILDING A ROBUST, EQUITABLE OFFSHORE WIND INDUSTRY IN THE U.S.
Chair: Roger Clayman - Executive Director, Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO

  • Julia Bovey - Director, External Affairs, Equinor Wind U.S.
  • Christopher Erikson - Business Manager, IBEW Local 3, and International Board Chair, IBEW
  • Doreen Harris - Acting President and CEO, NYSERDA
  • Michael Northrop - Program Director for the Sustainable Development Grantmaking Program, Rockefeller Brothers Fund
  • Elizabeth Yeampierre - Executive Director, UPROSE and Co-Chair, Climate Justice Alliance
SESSION 3 - THE NEXT GENERATION OF BUILDINGS-BEST PRACTICES FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SOLAR RETROFITS
Chair: Kyle Bragg - President, 32BJ SEIU

  • Beth Cheverie - Marketing Expansion Coordinator, New York State Laborers
  • William Lynn - Business Manager, IUOE Local 30, and Vice President, IUOE
  • Lee Smith - Managing Member, American Solar Partners
SESSION 4 - STRONG UNIONS, SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT
Chair: JP Patafio - Vice President, TWU 100  

  • Elizabeth Bunn - Labor Network for Sustainability 
  • Alana Dave - Public Transit, International Transport Workers’ Federation 
  • Micah Mitrosky - IBEW Local 569 
  • Michael Yee - Director, Educational and Cultural Trust Fund of the Electrical Industry, IBEW Local 3
SESSION 5 - MAINE, TEXAS, ILLINOIS, CONNECTICUT: BUILDING CLIMATE JOBS ORGANIZATIONS STATE BY STATE
Chair: Mike Fishman - Climate Jobs National Resource Center, Former Secretary-Treasurer, SEIU

  • Pat Devaney - Secretary-Treasurer, Illinois AFL-CIO
  • Monserrat Garibay - Secretary-Treasurer, Texas AFL-CIO
  • John Harrity - Chair and Founding Member of the Board, CT Roundtable on Climate and Jobs
  • Cynthia Phinney - President, Maine AFL-CIO
CLOSING REMARKS AND THE #BUILDBACKBETTER AWARDS
Climate Jobs NY presented its Build Back Better Award to the following recipients for their leadership on building a sustainable future with good union jobs.
Chair: Henry Garrido - Executive Director, AFSCME District Council 37

  • Senator Chuck Schumer - U.S. Senator for New York
  • Nella Pineda-Marcon - RN, NYSNA Board Member
  • Gina McCarthy - President and CEO, NRDC
  • John Samuelsen - President, Transport Workers Union of America
And in case you missed it, please check out CJNY'S 2020 video laying out our mission to build a new green economy.

Remember to show your support for our work by following us on social media.

Let's #BuildBackBetter together.

From all of us at Climate Jobs NY, we wish you and yours a safe and happy New Year.