Climate & EJ
Building a future green economy that centers justice + jobs*
The context.
As the country grapples with a multi-headed crisis, a major economic shift is underway, driven by climate change. That economic recovery should be rooted in equity - centering on climate-resilient infrastructure and our most impacted frontline communities. The window to act on climate is limited, and we are more poised than ever to embed bold climate action in fair work and good jobs. Collectively, the environmental justice community in Stockton has marshaled upwards of $65M of public sector investments into residential solar, transportation infrastructure, electric vehicle access, air quality improvements, urban agriculture, and workforce development for young people and marginalized populations. There’s a lot of momentum to build on.
Stockton can demonstrate how we build a robust and just economic transition. We’re seeking partners that want to build this future with us: whether that’s nonprofits creating green jobs for young people, climate tech companies that want to test their products in frontier markets, or educational institutions seeking to build new workforce pathways into an emerging economy.
A green economy lab in Stockton is intended to serve as an incubator for climate practices and job creation - that will bring together the private sector and community based organizations in the San Joaquin Valley region. We believe that the experiences of Stockon - and communities like it - can and should directly shape the programmatic and policy decisions at the intersection of climate innovation and workforce / economic development. But we believe more can be done; Stockton is an important test bed to show what’s possible when communities lead. In partnership with the Housing Authority of San Joaquin County, one of the first projects of the green economy lab is an EV car share program that will directly benefit, train and employ public housing residents. That launched in 2022, and continues to expand through 2023.
The opportunity.
We are interested in talking to organizations that want to leverage Stockton’s existing infrastructure and support some of the community’s greatest environmental justice needs.
Our team is currently evaluating a range of demonstration opportunities in climate tech areas as diverse as: indoor agriculture, electric transportation, air quality systems, thermal HVAC systems, and sustainable refrigeration. Over 2023 and 2024, we expect to explore a range of possible climate technology areas and partnerships that we’ll look to incubate in the green economy lab. Just as climate technology companies will need a workforce to meet the infrastructure needs that will continue to emerge over the next decade, training that workforce can generate new job opportunities for communities. We’re committed to proving this model in Stockton - to start, with a space of up to 20,000 sq ft. Beyond that, we have even bigger plans with our community-based partners.
With the right collaborators, Stockton is in a position to drive much of the opportunity and demonstration potential of what happens when an enabling public sector environment (state, federal) can meet an engaged EJ community and a climate tech private sector that is keen to build a new future – collaboratively.
Additional Reading
Rise Stockton Coalition - local, place-based organizing | Green Economy Benchmark - a blueprint of action from other cities