CLIMATE JOBS NY

December 2023

Climate Jobs New York's Carbon Free & Healthy Schools campaign hosted a group of labor leaders, union members, and elected officials on a tour of P.S. 62 Kathleen Grimm School for Leadership and Sustainability at Sandy Ground, the first net-zero energy school in New York City and one of the first in the nation. The Kathleen Grimm School, located on Staten Island, was 100% union-built and its nearly 2,000 solar panels, underground geothermal wells, green roof technology, rainwater retention tanks, and other clean energy features make the school a shining example of how NYC public schools and buildings can be key tools to combat climate change.

Leaders and members from the coalition's affiliate unions – UFT, CSA, DC37, 32BJ, NYSNA, Local 3 IBEW, the Laborers, and IUOE 891 – joined the tour to learn how their work had contributed to the school's successful construction and operational achievements. Several union members who helped build the school – and others who help maintain its operations – attended the tour and offered insights and experiences from their work. By advocating for NYC to apply the progress showcased by the Kathleen Grimm School to more city schools and buildings, we can create family-sustaining, union careers while also greatly reducing pollution and our reliance on fossil fuels. The Carbon Free & Healthy Schools campaign is seeking rapid implementation of solar installation on NYC public schools and estimates that nearly 45,000 jobs can be created with an associated savings of $8.25 billion in energy expenditures over the next 30 years.

Read more here!

December saw the South Fork Wind project become operational as the first turbine began spinning and supplying the local grid. The project represents the first commercial-scale offshore wind farm in the U.S. and will have 12 turbines in total when complete – the power generated will be enough for 70,000 homes. 

South Fork Wind is an important first step in both New York State and national efforts to make offshore wind a viable, leading component of the transition to a renewable energy economy. Additionally, work done to construct the project is being completed by union labor, providing good jobs for local community members. Offshore wind projects like South Fork Wind are essential to the New York State goals outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act – aims set to achieve 70% of state energy needs from renewable sources by 2030.

Fifth National Climate Assessment Released

On Tuesday, November 14th the Biden Administration released the fifth national climate assessment. The report covers the impact of climate change on our nation and globally from a variety of perspectives and based on the input of leading experts and a broad array of government agencies. While the U.S. is seeing temperatures rise faster than the rest of the world and experienced $25 billion worth of weather disasters last year alone, the assessment highlights areas of hope and opportunity amid the crisis. Due to the increasing availability of new technologies and renewable energy sources, the U.S. has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 12 percent from 2005 to 2019. As these technologies for transitioning the energy system improve, the report calls for deeper, more rapid change at a policy and individual level across America. 

See the report in full here: nca2023.globalchange.gov