Course Briefing for Nurses: Report on the Just Transition Listening Project

As the recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change emphasizes, we need to swiftly transition to clean and renewable energy to limit climate impacts. Doing so at the pace required calls for a just transition - a plan to move the economy away from its current extractive, fossil-fuel reliance to one that is robust and sustainable and places the health of people, workers, communities, and the planet as its priority. For the last century, workers across the country have brought us the "power" (coal, oil, and gas) to develop into a modern society and it is critical that these communities are part of discussions focused on how we move towards 100% clean energy. On this webinar, speakers from the Labor Network for Sustainability share more information about their recent report, "Workers and Communities in Transition: Report of the Just Transition Listening Project." This report was based on interviews with workers who currently work in the fossil fuel industries around the country. The overwhelming message from these workers makes it clear that we need a just transition plan. Watch the webinar to learn more about how nurses can support a just transition framework as they engage on climate solutions. We also explore the questions: As a nurse in a community that might see an industry and employees disrupted by our transition away from all things fossil fuels, what kinds of health, mental health and behavioral health issues might we expect to see? What would you want to make sure is in place ahead of time in order to keep the workers and community healthy and secure during and after the transition?