In support of putting green schools at the heart of California’s just transition
March 27, 2021

Resolution

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.