Building a Pro-Worker, Pro-Union Climate Movement

2020 ◽  
pp. 131-148
Author(s):  
Lara Skinner
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
New York ◽  
Labor Unions ◽  
New York State ◽  
Environmental Movement ◽  
Energy Sector ◽  
Green Economy ◽  
Green Jobs ◽  
York State

This chapter outlines tensions among unions in the energy sector and debates about a pro-climate, pro-worker agenda. Proposals for “green jobs” that protect the environment do not ensure good, union jobs. Energy-sector unions have often been wary of such proposals, arguing correctly that green jobs are rarely available in the same quality or quantity as jobs in fossil-fuel industries. Drawing on cases from climate initiatives in New York State, this chapter argues that unions must be at the table when proposals to expand green jobs are designed and implemented. It outlines a practical plan for unions to work with politicians and communities to ensure “just transition.” The chapter explains that while climate change issues have often pitted labor unions against the environmental movement and its progressive allies, there are also examples of successful “blue–green” alliances. These coalitions strengthen the labor movement by forging new ties with important allies and allowing workers to proactively shape the role of unions and workers in the emerging green economy.

Cities and a Green New Deal

Greenovation ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 166-196
Author(s):  
Joan Fitzgerald
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Los Angeles ◽  
Lake Erie ◽  
New York State ◽  
Green Economy ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Sustainable City ◽  
York State ◽  
Industrial Cities ◽  
Climate Action

The green economy is booming and many cities are connecting climate action with economic development. Although cities making this link are not necessarily topping the most sustainable city charts, the strong economic link can pave the way for more aggressive climate action. This chapter begins by examining how solar and wind technology production has shifted internationally, and how China has become the dominant player in solar and a leader in wind. It then moves to three historically industrial cities that are seeking to transition to different green economy sectors: New York State is paying $750 million of the $900 million cost to build the nation’s biggest new solar production facility in Buffalo; Cleveland has continued its efforts to develop offshore wind on Lake Erie; and Los Angeles is linking electrification of its buses and development of subways to manufacturing.

scholarly journals The Potential Impact of the New York State Smokers’ Quitline on Population-Level Smoking Rates in New York

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (22) ◽  
pp. 4477
Author(s):  
Nathan Mann ◽  
James Nonnemaker ◽  
Kevin Davis ◽  
LeTonya Chapman ◽  
Jesse Thompson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Smoking Prevalence ◽  
New York State ◽  
State Level ◽  
Population Level ◽  
York State ◽  
Point Reduction ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Current Impact

Receiving smoking cessation services from telephone quitlines significantly increases quit success compared with no intervention or other quitting methods. To affect population-level smoking, quitlines must provide a sufficient proportion of smokers with effective interventions. Nationally, quitlines reach around 1% of adult smokers annually. From 2011 through 2016, the average annual reach of the New York State Smokers’ Quitline (NYSSQL) was 2.9%. We used data on the reach and cessation outcomes of NYSSQL to estimate its current impact on population-level smoking prevalence and to estimate how much reach would have to increase to achieve population-level smoking prevalence reductions. We estimate NYSSQL is associated with a 0.02 to 0.04 percentage point reduction in smoking prevalence in New York annually. If NYSSQL achieved the recommended annual reach of 8% (CDC Best Practices) and 16% (NAQC), state-level prevalence would decrease by an estimated 0.07–0.12 and 0.13–0.24 percentage points per year, respectively. To achieve those recommended levels of reach, NYSSQL would need to provide services to approximately 3.5 to 6.9 times more smokers annually. Given their reach, quitlines are limited in their ability to affect population-level smoking. Increasing quitline reach may not be feasible and would likely be cost-prohibitive. It may be necessary to re-think the role of quitlines in tobacco control efforts. In New York, the quitline is being integrated into larger efforts to promote cessation through health systems change.

BUILDING A GREEN ECONOMY: ADVANCING CLIMATE JUSTICE THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL-LABOR ALLIANCES*

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-264
Author(s):  
Joanna L. Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Labor Movement ◽  
Green Economy ◽  
Climate Justice ◽  
Labor Movements ◽  
Organizational Diversity ◽  
Green Jobs ◽  
Hybrid Identities ◽  
Climate Change Policies

This article explores the role of environmental-labor coalitions in creating opportunities to promote green jobs and to shape climate change policies. The development of a green economy is critical for combating climate change, as well as for addressing rising unemployment and the expansion of precarious work. My research is based on a qualitative study of environmental-labor coalitions in California, United States, and British Columbia, Canada, including fifty-six in-depth digitally recorded interviews with environmental and labor movement leaders and policymakers. The findings point to the importance of three key mechanisms that shape the success of these coalitions: (1) drawing on the strength of organizational diversity, (2) fostering relationships of trust that allow organizations to adopt flexible ideologies, make concessions and tradeoffs, and create hybrid identities, and (3) frame bridging by local social justice organizations to mitigate conflict between environmental and labor movements.

Strategic technology adoption and entry deterrence in broadband

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 713-729
Author(s):  
Tedi Skiti
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Technology Adoption ◽  
Local Level ◽  
New York State ◽  
Investment Strategy ◽  
Entry Deterrence ◽  
Strategic Investment ◽  
York State ◽  
The Us

Abstract In this article, we examine the role of strategic investment in the US broadband industry. In particular, we provide evidence that cable incumbents adjust their investment strategy in response to fiber entry threat and that these deterrence strategies have been successful particularly in intermediate sized markets. We compile data on broadband deployment and exogenous franchise agreements for potential fiber entrants at the most local level in New York State. The results indicate that strategic cable investment may negatively affect optical fiber diffusion.

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