Climate Week NYC 2026

Community Colleges, Climate Pedagogy, and Adaptive Workforce Development

Date

Tuesday
September 22, 2026
11:00 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. EST

Location

CUNY Graduate Center
Room 4102
365 Fifth Ave., New York
New York, NY 10016

Hybrid Option

If you are unable to join us in person, please register and use the link in your registration email to join virtually.

Event Description

Effective transition to a sustainable society will require skilled workers, agile thinkers prepared to respond to fast-changing climate, technological and economic realities. Community colleges are vital engines of workforce development, engaging the diverse, working-class students so essential to our climate future. How are community colleges adjusting to new constraints and possibilities? How are “green skills” re-shaping workforce development? What innovative pedagogies can help develop the adaptive workers and leaders we need? This Climate Week NYC panel brings together workforce educators to discuss strategies for immediate circumstances AND long-range needs.

Community, technical, and tribal colleges are uniquely positioned to address the climate crisis and support a transition to blue and green economies. Based in under-served urban and rural communities, community colleges enroll a huge fraction of the nation’s working-class and first-generation college students. Community colleges can engage these students and their communities through empowering climate education, undergraduate research, workforce development, and the development of community-based climate resilience. 

Community Colleges, Climate Pedagogy and Adaptive Workforce Development spotlights the work of four outstanding climate educators and creates opportunities for conversation about the future of workforce development programs in community colleges and beyond. 

The panel will be facilitated by Dr. Bret Eynon, who retired as Associate Provost at LaGuardia CC and now serves Georgetown University as a Senior Fellow for Climate Leadership in Higher Education. The session will provide ample opportunities for discussion with panelists and consideration of ways to advance effective climate pedagogy within and beyond workforce programs.

Community Colleges, Climate Pedagogy and Adaptive Workforce Development serves as the kick-off for the 2026-27 Community Colleges and Climate Futures webinar series.  

Background

Community, technical, and tribal colleges are uniquely positioned to address the climate crisis and support a transition to blue and green economies. Based in under-served urban and rural communities, community colleges enroll a huge fraction of the nation’s working-class and first-generation college students. Community colleges can engage these students and their communities through empowering climate education, undergraduate research, workforce development, and the development of community-based climate resilience.

Community Colleges, Climate Pedagogy and Adaptive Workforce Development serves as the kick-off for the 2026-27 Community Colleges and Climate Futures webinar series.