Labor and Global Warming

Jobs with Justice seeks to increase awareness about the facts of global warming and to include the labor movement in the fight to reduce greenhouse gasses. 

Global climate change poses some dire threats to the jobs of Oregonians.  Agriculture will struggle with higher temperatures and reduced stream flows that could push irrigation demands past the capacity of rivers and reservoirs, causing crop failures. The timber industry could suffer from lower snow pack, increasing the risk for drought, forest fire and insect infestation.  Lower snow pack and drought would also cause problems for Oregon’s hydropower industry, not to mention the tourism industry, which relies heavily on Oregon’s beautiful environment to attract visitors to our mountains and rivers.

Our Global Warming Committee is dedicated to educating the labor movement about these issues and building a working relationship with environmentalists in the community.  We understand that working towards a healthy environment starts at the local level.  In partnership with the Oregon Apollo Alliance and the Oregon AFL-CIO, we are currently supporting legislation(see the complete list here). for increasing renewable energy sources, tougher energy efficiency standards, and tax credits for builders who build green or sustainable homes   JwJ also understands that union jobs can be created in fields like wind and solar power, public transportation, and alternative fuels.   

Other information:

 see the UN report on climate change