It’s heartening to see that not all of the noise generated by the 2020 presidential campaign has dissipated in these post-election times.
President Biden pledged last week to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030 — making good on a big campaign promise and possibly nudging some of us out of the still-skeptical category.
When I think about climate, I think about equity. Low-income people spend more of their paychecks on energy and transportation costs. Those sweet rebates on electric vehicles? They don’t go to people who can’t afford a new car, much less an electric one. As CPR Member Scholar Maxine Burkett notes, environmental degradation creates “sacrifice zones” — and communities of color pay the price. We simply cannot address climate change without addressing racism, and environmental racism in particular.
When I think about climate, I also think about jobs. Jobs that don’t expose workers to toxins, COVID-19, or abuse. Quality jobs for workers and communities that reduce our carbon footprint and facilitate our transition to a clean economy. Jobs with protections and security in a changing economy. We simply cannot protect public health and the environment without addressing workers’ rights.
With this in mind, it's perhaps no coincidence that we’re hiring two new policy analysts to enhance our research and advocacy around climate and worker justice. We'd love to have your help finding great candidates for these positions. Please spread the word and maybe even consider applying to one of these jobs yourself! CPR encourages people with underrepresented backgrounds in the nonprofit sector to apply, including people of color.
- Policy Analyst on Climate Justice (California)
California leads the nation in implementing a wide range of “climate justice” initiatives as part of its multifaceted climate strategy. We are seeking a policy analyst to investigate how California’s climate justice programs have functioned in practice, considering, in particular, its participatory structures and the efficacy of the state’s governance approach. The goal of the research project is to improve environmental justice governance in California and to provide essential intelligence to states hoping to achieve similar equity goals, as well as to federal policymakers exploring new administrative and legislative possibilities. - Senior Policy Analyst on Worker Justice (Washington, DC area)
Protecting and expanding the rights of workers — including safety and health — anchors our work. Workers’ rights are compromised by constraints to collective bargaining, exclusive definitions of employees, and limits on private rights of action — and these must be reversed. We’re strengthening this work through a greater focus on racial equity and a just transition to a clean energy economy in a climate-altered environment. Serving as a policy resource for frontline community advocates is an emerging priority.
Please join us in our efforts to advance climate justice and worker justice. To support this urgent work, please consider donating to CPR.
