Weathering the Storm: The Role of Labor in an Era of Climate Change

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Weathering the Storm: The Role of Labor in an Era of Climate Change shows how the Industrial Revolution led to the climactic changes we see today, and how these changes have affected workers over the last two centuries. From the industrial transformation of landscapes in the early 19th century that ultimately led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency in the 20th, to new laws around water breaks on increasingly hot summer days, this exhibit also attempts to show how government policies have evolved over time to protect workers.

The exhibit will also highlight the work of Theodore Kheel—regarded as America's most distinguished mediator—who was a staunch advocate for sustainability and environmental protection during the first Earth Summit in 1992 and in other labor union-led environmental campaigns. Featuring evolving clothing needs as workers face unprecedented temperatures in their work, the exhibit is a collaboration between the Cornell Fashion + Textile Collection (CF+TC) and Cornell University Library's Kheel Center, located in Catherwood Library.

Weathering the Storm is part of a series of exhibits titled From the Brink: Contributions to a Sustainable Future from across Cornell, hosted by different unit libraries across Cornell University Library in close partnership with other departments and groups on campus. From the Brink showcases collections, research support, and collaborative efforts across Cornell and illuminates ways of addressing issues of critical, global importance. This series of exhibits aims to stimulate conversations about the threat of environmental and cultural loss and its implications, while also offering insights about positive developments and constructive steps toward a healthier future for our planet and our communities.

Weathering the Storm: The Role of Labor in an Era of Climate Change is on display from October 8, 2026 through August 15, 2027 during all hours Catherwood Library is open.