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Climate Jobs: Building an Equitable, Resilient Clean Energy Energy Economy

New Online Certificate

Through a labor and equity lens, you will examine the causes and consequences of climate change, understanding how this global crisis exacerbates existing inequalities and poses significant challenges for diverse populations.

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Recent Publications

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Building The Clean Energy Commonwealth: A Climate Jobs Roadmap for Massachusetts

The Climate Jobs Institute is thrilled to announce the official launch of its groundbreaking report: “Building The Clean Energy Commonwealth: A Climate Jobs Roadmap for Massachusetts."
Building the Clean Energy Commonwealth Report Cover
Building The Clean Energy Commonwealth: A Climate Jobs Roadmap for Massachusetts

Exploring the Conditions of the New York Solar Workforce

The Climate Jobs Institute launched the “Exploring the Conditions of the New York Solar Workforce," a report on its exploratory study of working conditions in New York's solar industry.
Solar Worker
Exploring the Conditions of the New York Solar Workforce

Building an Equitable, Diverse, & Unionized Clean Energy Economy: What We Can Learn from Apprenticeship Readiness

Building an Equitable, Diverse, & Unionized Clean Energy Economy: What We Can Learn from Apprenticeship Readiness Report
Building an Equitable, Diverse, & Unionized Clean Energy Economy: What We Can Learn from Apprenticeship Readiness Cover
Building an Equitable, Diverse, & Unionized Clean Energy Economy: What We Can Learn from Apprenticeship Readiness

Training and Education

Training

The Climate Jobs Institute partners with labor unions and state coalitions like Climate Jobs NY to train union leaders and members on climate and clean energy issues. These trainings, covering topics like offshore wind development and delivering public testimony, build trade unionists’ knowledge and skills so they can engage in debates over climate action. 

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Educational Resources

Having the most up-to-date information is important when championing climate jobs. The Climate Jobs Institute has developed maps, infographics, and other materials to help you better understand the climate and clean energy landscape.

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In the News

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

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.
New eCornell certificate explores intersection of climate change, labor and equity

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.
Apprenticeships Can Drive Inclusive Clean Energy Economy
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Student Impact

The Climate Jobs Institute Research Fellows will research a variety of topics related to climate change, and contribute to the creation of multi-state "climate jobs" policy papers and Canva presentations that address topics including job and training quality standards in energy efficiency and renewable energy work and exploring innovative financing models for climate mitigation activities. 

Learn more about our research fellowships

About the Institute

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The Climate Jobs Institute is guiding New York and the nation’s transition to a strong, equitable, and resilient clean energy economy that tackles the climate crisis, creates high-quality jobs, confronts race and gender inequality, and builds a diverse and inclusive workforce. We help policy makers and labor, environmental and industry leaders navigate this historic transition through cutting-edge applied research, deep relationships with on-the-ground partners, and innovative training and education programs.

The Climate Jobs Institute (CJI) at Cornell University’s ILR School is guiding the nation’s transition to a strong, equitable, and resilient clean energy economy by pursuing three aims: to tackle the climate crisis; to create high-quality jobs; and to build a diverse, inclusive workforce.

Through cutting-edge policy studies, deep relationships with on-the-ground partners, and innovative training and education programs, the CJI provides information that policymakers, the labor and environmental movements, industry leaders, and others need to navigate this historic transition to a zero-carbon economy.