Industrial Transformation and a Carbon-Neutral Economy

Climate change poses an existential threat to humankind. However, it is also an opportunity to rethink and restructure our economies in a sustainable and socially just way. As two of the leading global economies, the United States and Germany are at the forefront of these debates. The German "coal commission", a multi-stakeholder group, just developed recommendations for phasing out the use of coal for energy production in Germany by 2038. In the U.S., progressives are advocating for transformational climate solutions and are pushing forward climate policies at the local, state, and national levels. The BlueGreen Alliance and its labor union and environmental organization partners recently released Solidarity for Climate Action, a unifying vision to address the dual crises of climate change and economic inequality while creating an economy that will work for all Americans.

What policy ideas exist for a transition to a carbon neutral economy, and - if implemented as public policy - what could that mean for our communities, workers, and unions? What has the transition experience been like for these affected groups in the absence of such policy to date? What can be done to build political will and power to achieve climate goals? What can our two countries learn from each other?

These questions and more will be the focus of our discussion with union and civil society leaders from both sides of the Atlantic. Please join us on September 6, 2019 for this exciting and informative event!  Register here.

Panelists:

Michael Vassiliadis, Chairman, German Industrial Union for Mining, Chemicals and Energy

Jason Walsh, Executive Director, BlueGreen Alliance

Greg Adams, President, UWUA Local 175

Moderated by

Adele Morris, Senior Fellow and Policy Director, Climate and Energy Economics, Brookings

A light lunch will be served at 12 noon.