In support of putting green schools at the heart of California’s just transition
March 27, 2021
Whereas, in the wake of California’s most recent catastrophic wildfires Governor Newsom issued an executive order that directed the state to develop a Just Transition Roadmap by July 15, 2021; and
Whereas, the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency and the Office of Planning and Research in consultation with the Department of Finance and other state agencies is developing this roadmap consistent with the recommendations in “Putting California on the High Road: A Jobs and Climate Action Plan for 2030 Pursuant to Assembly Bill 398;” and
Whereas, that report establishes the basic principle that the high road to a just transition is not just creating green jobs but also good paying union green jobs; and
Whereas, the vast majority of California’s thousands of school campuses from TK-12 through higher education have not been adequately updated to make them sufficiently “green” to be a part of a transition to a sustainable future; and
Whereas, all existing California educational institutions should be part of a transition that reduces degradation to the environment, maximizes energy efficiency, radically reduces our collective carbon footprint, and provides a healthy learning and work environment for students, educators, and staff; and
Whereas, transforming existing educational infrastructure and all new construction of public schools and campuses could provide thousands of new climate sustaining, good paying, union jobs in the construction, renovation, and maintenance of these buildings and spaces; and
Whereas, the CFT is already on record in support of a Green New Deal and a robust climate justice agenda including progressive taxation to fund such efforts;
Therefore, be it resolved, that the CFT will
publicly advocate with the governor’s office, the Legislature,
and general public that greening our state’s public schools and
colleges should be at the heart of a just transition to a
sustainable future.
- Passed as Resolution 17 by CFT Virtual Convention on March 27, 2021
- Submitted by the Labor and Climate Justice Education Committee