Pittsburgh Just Transition Launch

2101 Smallman Street,Pittsburgh PA 15222

12 November, 2021

Description

Stories from inspiring climate leaders in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area who are redefining what it means to transform their community. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is a City known as one of the centers of U.S. manufacturing and one that is at the intersection of conservative and progressive America. Stories of a Just Transition will focus on how we “Build Back Better” from the global pandemic, particularly in addressing the needs for a just transition in green jobs, community awareness, and green infrastructure in urban centers that have a history in polluting industries. By focusing on the idea of Just Transition, we are not only highlighting the need for transitioning from polluting practices and industries, but we are also acknowledging that some members of our communities are being “left behind” by these changes--including those who have cultural, economic, and personal ties to “business as usual”. By showcasing leadership that is more reflective of these communities, we hope to create more space for a diverse climate movement on a local level, and avenues for greater buy-in to much-needed climate solutions. As part of the programming, we will host three mini roundtable conversations in the style of our Human Impacts Salons, which we will curate and facilitate. These conversations include topics such as Jobs for the New Economy, Infrastructure for Good Growth, and Securing Equality in Our Communities. All three salons will show how people in different communities can be addressing diverse aspects of climate change in similar ways. We will showcase local stories from Pittsburgh alongside leaders in diverse regions of Germany who are addressing a just transition in similar ways. In this way, the salons will showcase how our stories of climate leadership can relate to communities across the U.S., Germany, and beyond. This will also build potential partnerships between participating communities, who may be in different stages of their climate action. Funding for this program was provided from the Transatlantic Climate Bridge program of Federal Foreign Office Funds in partnership with the German Consulate of New York. Special thanks to our co-sponsors: the Pennsylvania Solar Center and PittSustainabilty from the University of Pittsburgh. The Human Impacts Institute is a non-profit organization that inspires YOU to transform environmental challenges into social action for a just and livable world. We do this through Creative Communication, Learning-By-Doing, and Curated Actions.