CLIMATE, JOBS, JUSTICE
Edition 8
SEIU members and worker leaders in the Fight for $15 and a Union are confronted daily by the impacts of climate change and environmental injustice. This newsletter offers a snapshot of how we’re combating climate change and fighting against environmental injustice in our workplaces and communities as well as calling on major industries, corporations, and governments to protect the health, safety and long-term economic well-being of all working people across America.
Climate Change Impacts - Summer 2022
We just wrapped up the 2022 hurricane season and another summer of record breaking heat. The impacts of the disasters that occurred this summer will be felt going into the new year. According to NOAA, this hurricane season produced 14 named storms (winds of 39 mph or greater), of which eight became hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or greater) and two intensified to major hurricanes (winds reaching 111 mph or greater). According to Climate Central, we also experienced record heat across the U.S. In 2022, the contiguous U.S. experienced its third-warmest summer (June-August) on record with an average summer temperature of 73.9°F—which is 2.5°F above long-term (1901-2000) average. Summer temperatures were far above average for most of the lower 48 states. SEIU members across the US and Canada felt these impacts especially those, in Florida, Puerto Rico, Washington, and California
Opportunities for Action
President Biden promised to address the climate crisis by cutting climate pollution in half by 2030 and to deliver strong public health protections for all communities, including those historically overburdened by pollution.
The Climate Action Campaign’s (CAC) “Solutions for Pollution” will call on the Biden administration to carry out its responsibilities under our nation’s bedrock environmental laws, such as the Clean Air Act. The campaign will try to implement protections across federal agencies that could cut climate pollution in half by 2030, advance vital public health and environmental justice goals, accelerate the transition to clean energy, and create new economic opportunities.
SEIU is working with CAC on “Solutions for Pollution”, and we anticipate the EPA rules on soot and smog will be opening for comments early in the new year. We will be mobilizing SEIU members who are affected by unhealthy air to speak out in favor of stronger protection and pollution measures.
Hospitals
According to the World Health Organization, climate change is the biggest health threat in the 21st Century. The health sector, which includes our nation’s hospitals, is responsible for roughly 10% of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. SEIU’s Climate and EJ team has convened a Hospital Workgroup with the following locals: 1991, 199FL, 1199NW, HCMN, HCIL, UHW, and 1021.
The goal of this working group is to help advance energy efficiency and green initiatives at hospitals that benefit members and the patients they care for. This work is based on Local 1991’s model in Miami. Miami’s Jackson Health System has implemented a highly successful system-wide sustainability effort thanks to the work of the SEIU Local 1991 Climate Committee (an initiative under Jackson and SEIU local 1991’s labor management partnership), and their partnership with Practice Green Health. Starting in 2019, the member-led Local 1991 Climate Committee has helped implement environmentally friendly practices at the Jackson facilities and reduced the system's overall carbon footprint.
“At Jackson Health System, our union (Local 1991) has worked with management to create a committee for sustainability. We are evaluating all of our practices, from the products we buy to the vehicles we use, to lower our carbon footprint. I hope through the hospital working group of the EJ committee, we can all learn from each other and spread this work far and wide.” - Caitlin MacLaren 1991
EBoard presentations
SEIU’s Climate and Environmental Justice team has been collaborating with several locals to present to Local Executive Boards on sustainability, climate change, and environmental justice initiatives and opportunities for staff and member engagement. Since this summer, locals 1199NW, 49, MSEA, and 105 have held these presentations and more are planned for the new year.
Climate Summit
The 2023 Climate Summit will take place Saturday April 15th. The planning committee (made up of volunteers from 1199 FL, 1199NW, 509, 1, 503, UHW, 1021, and 32BJ) is in the process of organizing the event. If your local would like to participate on the planning committee, please contact Nicole at nicole.hernandez-hammer@seiu.org. More details will be available soon!
Local Highlights
Local 26
Local 26 in Minneapolis has kicked off the green janitor program in their city. Below is the first group of Minneapolis graduates who work for Marsden at the headquarters of Target Corporation.
1199 UHE and 32BJ
1199 UHE and 32BJ worked together to help pass New York Proposal 1, which will release $4.2 billion for projects related to the environment, natural resources, and water infrastructure-- as well as projects classified as climate change mitigation.
503
During the "short" legislative session when few policy bills were entertained, 503 helped pass legislation to remove barriers and incentivize life-saving cooling technologies for vulnerable Oregonians as they face record heat waves.
1021
More than 100 SEIU members gathered in late October for a planning session and presentation with Climate Jobs about strategies to address climate action in bargaining with a special focus on schools.
2015
The Caregiver Resiliency and Emergency Preparedness Program has trained more than 400 caregivers in Los Angeles County to be better prepared for climate impacts and to help their consumers respond to emergencies. In 2023 the program will reach providers in San Bernardino County and then move to the Central Valley.
For more information on the activities listed in this newsletter please contact Nicole Hernandez Hammer at nicole.hernandez-hammer@seiu.org
Archive:
https://act.seiu.org/a/climate-newsletter-archive
