As the climate crisis intensifies, its impacts are disproportionately felt by marginalized and working-class communities. A new certificate being offered by eCornell, in conjunction with the ILR School’s Climate Jobs Institute, will delve into the critical intersection of climate change, labor and equity, exploring the far-reaching implications of a warming planet on workers, communities and the broader economy. 

“We at the Climate Jobs Institute have done some really great educational programming for our partners in the labor movement, and that will be a big focus of this certificate, but we also see this as a good opportunity to spread the message to a broader audience,” said Zach Cunningham, MILR ’15, training and education associate at the Climate Jobs Institute. “We’ve wanted to engage with more policymakers, environmental partners, and people specializing in workforce development to talk about tackling the climate crises in a way that prioritizes high-quality jobs and equity. We feel that an eCornell certificate is a perfect opportunity to help us do that.”

The course — geared toward policymakers; elected union leaders, staff and members; and individuals in the environmental movement — will examine the causes of climate change and how it exacerbates existing inequalities for diverse populations.

The certificate consists of four online courses with distinct themes, each structured to be completed within a two-week timeframe.

Read the full story on the ILR website.

Julie Greco is a senior communications specialist in the ILR School.