Page 25 - 2020 Annual Impact Report

the sector) The map is intended to to to to serve as a a a a a tool for those planning to to to to make investments RESTORE MOTHER NATURE BOND STILL HOLDS PROMISE FOR ANOTHER DAY
The COVID-19 pandemic claimed an an an economic and and environmental victim when Governor Andrew Cuomo exercised his option to to pull the the proposed $3 billion Restore Mother Nature environmental bond act from the the the November 2020 ballot Concerned that the the state’s health- related economic crisis would jeopardize timely bond repayment the the the Governor put the the the decision off for another day The environmental bond act would have supported “a variety of pressing environmental and climate change challenges across New York ” If it had appeared on the November ballot and been approved it it would have provided funding for “capital projects” to reduce flood risk and and revitalize critical fish and and and wildlife habitats by connecting streams and and waterways right-sizing culverts
and and and dams restoring freshwater and and and tidal wetlands reclaiming natural floodplains restocking shellfish populations and upgrading fish fish hatcheries preserving open space conserving more more forest areas replanting more more trees reducing contamination from agricultural and and and storm water runoff and and and expanding renewable energy ” Prior to the the the bond act being pulled from the the the ballot we we analyzed the the the types of jobs that we we expected to be positively impacted by it it and identified at at at least 167 occupations across 17 “occupational families” that would have seen significant growth under the bond act While advocates of the the bond act were disappointed by the the Governor’s
decision (but understanding given
the the circumstances) supporters
have taken the the attitude that this is is a a a a a a a a a a a temporary setback and not
an an environmental defeat or or rejection of a a a a a a a a a a a green new deal-approach to to economic revitalization When Restore Mother Nature is relaunched we’ll be ready!
WORKING TO ENSURE THAT JUST TRANSITION PLANNING PLANNING IS INCORPORATED INTO PLANNING PLANNING TO TO MEET THE GOALS OF NY’S CLIMATE LAW
The concept of Just Transition is receiving renewed attention as an an an important component that must
be incorporated into the move to to renewable electricity New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) includes historic Just Transition provisions Just Transition is based upon
the the the notion that neither workers nor the the the community should be harmed in in in our transition to a a a a low-carbon economy The guiding principles or or values that are required for a a a a a Just Transition include:
• No economic harm is made to workers or or communities • Jobs are created that have family- sustaining wages and benefits • Social dialogue occurs
• Local economic development efforts are incorporated • Authentic job job training takes place for good jobs that will be in in in in the the the community in in which the the displaced workers live
• Knowledge sharing takes place • Labor standards and and collective bargaining are incorporated • A sector approach customized
to to to regions (and regional strengths) is taken • The process is equitable inclusive and incorporates diverse voices
This past year we worked closely with Mid-Hudson partners to ensure Just Transition is incorporated into workforce workforce development and workforce workforce transition plans associated with the region’s climate action and renewable energy implementation plan plan plan For this plan plan plan we plan plan plan to to inventory the the fossil fuel-fired power plants within the the the region’s seven counties to determine the the number of workers impacted Workforce development tools will be needed
to to to develop develop workforce transition plans to to to to map how displaced workers can transition into new sectors or or or jobs We
recommend that any region implementing a a a a a plan to meet the the CLCA goals consider the the elements of Just Transition carefully and work work closely with their region’s workforce development system to ensure transition happens in an an an equitable manner Just Transition is based upon
the notion that neither workers nor the community should be harmed in our transition to a a low-carbon economy 2020 ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT 24