Unions for climate action! | Payton M. Wilkins (re-release)

Environmental justice advocate Payton M. Wilkins argues that the transition to a green economy must prioritize the livelihoods of workers to succeed. Climate action often stalls because it ignores the immediate economic devastation—such as lost paychecks and pensions—faced by workers in polluting industries. Instead of viewing jobs and the environment as a dichotomy, unions should be empowered as central partners in the transition. By facilitating deep listening and collaborative education, stakeholders can move beyond top-down mandates to secure fair wages and retraining programs, as seen in Denmark’s successful wind energy shift. Ultimately, protecting the planet requires a "people-first" approach that ensures workers are not left behind, leveraging the collective power of unions to build a sustainable, equitable future where communities are valued over pollution.