The Climate Jobs Institute (CJI) is guiding New York and the nation’s transition to a strong, equitable, and resilient clean energy economy by pursuing three aims: tackling the climate crisis, creating high-quality jobs, and building a diverse and 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.

As a member of the CJI, summer fellows will collaborate with faculty and staff on ongoing applied and academic research projects.

Project topics include (but aren’t limited to):

Inflation Reduction Act renewable energy jobs modelling
Union organizing in the renewable energy sector, with a focus on the solar industry
Union organizing in the green energy economy: worker solidarity in supply chains
Just transition in the building sector: skills mapping for thermal energy network
Clean technologies: costs, emissions, and associated jobs
Community member barriers to entry into unions
Project Labor Agreements

Project tasks include (but aren’t limited to):

Conducting research and literature reviews
Conducting legal research (one fellow will need to have at least one year of law school)
Coordinating and preparing for interviews/case studies
Preparing presentations for convenings
Proofreading and editing reports and other publications
Collating data and data validation
Supporting quality assurance review of sources and management of citations
Grant writing

In addition to learning about climate and labor policy, summer fellows will have the opportunity to enhance their research, writing, and editing skills, and learn to collaborate as a member of an interdisciplinary research team. 

Fellows will also learn about effective communication, as we work on questions such as: How can we effectively communicate climate impacts and risks to the labor movement? How do we communicate this information to union members and the general public?