Leading a coalition of unions and environmental justice advocates, Climate Jobs NY launched the Carbon Free and Healthy Schools campaign in New York City. In a virtual live event on Wednesday, the night before Earth Day, the campaign outlined its goals of building carbon emissions-free public school facilities, updating heating and cooling systems, making use of large rooftops to generate solar power, and increasing each buildings’ overall energy efficiency. This is expected to create thousands of new jobs and save public schools tens of millions of dollars per year in energy costs.
On the night of the campaign launch, union leaders, school staff, and students spoke to the urgent need of renovating school facilities and building new ones. Speakers included NYC Central Labor Council President Vincent Alvarez, NYS Building Trades Council President Gary LaBarbera, UFT President Michael Mulgrew, and District Council 37 (AFSCME) Executive Director Henry Garrido. Four of the candidates for mayor, including Scott Stringer, have already pledged to support this initiative if they are elected.
“Schools across the five boroughs should be examples of how to address climate change,” NYC CLC Pres. Vincent Alvarez said.
Visit the Carbon Free and Healthy Schools campaign website www.carbonfreehealthyschoolsnyc.org for more information and to sign the pledge.
