Confronting the Climate Crisis: Can Labor Help Shape an Effective Strategy?

The Joseph S. Murphy Institute and the Worker Institute at Cornell invite you to a forum:

Hurricane Sandy off the Carolinas on Oct.28, 2012. NASA photo

Hurricane Sandy off the Carolinas on Oct.28, 2012. NASA photo

“Confronting the Climate Crisis: Can Labor Help Shape an Effective Strategy?”

Thursday, January 17th, 8:30-10:15 am

Murphy Institute, CUNY, 25 West 43 rd St., 18 th floor

A light breakfast will be provided

RSVP to Eloiza Morales at 212.642.2029 or eloiza.morales@mail.cuny.edu.

Superstorm Sandy and its disastrous effects on the lives of working-class people have propelled the issue of climate change to the forefront of public policy concerns, challenging leaders at all levels to make it a top priority. The Murphy Institute joins the discussion with a forum, titled “Confronting the Climate Crisis: Can Labor Shape an Effective Strategy?”

Organized in collaboration with the Worker Institute at Cornell, the forum will be held on Thursday, January 17th, 2013 from 8:30 to 10:15 a.m. at the Murphy Institute, 25 West 43rd Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY.

Scientists have said that global greenhouse gas emissions must peak this decade if we are to have any chance of stabilizing our climate and to prevent runaway global warming. Yet 2012 set a record high of 39 billion tons of emissions, 58 percent above 1990 levels. Dr. James Hansen, director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies and the world’s most influential climate scientist, will explain the nature and scope of the climate emergency we face and outline what needs to be done to meet this enormous challenge.

In response, labor leaders David Coles, President, Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada; Hector Figueroa, President, Local 32 BJ, Service Employees International Union; and Bhairavi Desai, Executive Director, New York Taxi Workers Alliance will discuss the role of organized labor in shaping a regional, national, and global approach to both the causes and effects of climate change and will address some key questions: Can labor join with other social movements to advance a bold climate protection agenda that can build workers’ power? Or will unions back off in the face of fossil fuel companies committed to tar sands, shale gas, Artic drilling, and other forms of ‘extreme energy’?

Speakers :

  • Dr. James Hansen, director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies
  • David Coles, President, Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union, Canada
  • Bhairavi Desai, Executive Director, New York Taxi Workers Alliance
  • Hector Figueroa, President, Local 32 BJ, Service Employees International Union

Please RSVP to Eloiza Morales, at 212.642.2029 or Eloiza.morales@mail.cuny.edu.