Why electric cars are driving the auto strikes

Sep 29, 2023

Auto workers on strike raise concerns about the impact of electric cars on their livelihoods. The podcast also discusses the importance of automakers in promoting low-carbon steel production. The Republican candidates' stances on climate change are examined. The challenges of transitioning to clean steel and public pressure on the automotive industry are explored. Michael Bloomberg's efforts to address emissions and the challenges in the green hydrogen industry are mentioned.

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Introduction

00:00 • 3min

The Intersection of Labor and the Clean Energy Transition

02:43 • 13min

The Transition to EVs and the Role of Green Steel in the Auto Industry

15:31 • 3min

The Shift Towards Green Steel

18:03 • 8min

Public Pressure and National Climate Politics

26:14 • 13min

Shift in Focus: Bloomberg's Efforts in the Petrochemical Industry and Funding for Distributed Energy Systems

39:13 • 7min

Just as the auto industry resolves supply chain problems from the Covid pandemic, a new disruptive force has emerged: labor disputes.

Nearly 20,000 American auto workers are on strike as they ask for higher pay. At the heart of their concerns: will the shift to electric cars make them worse off?

We’ll look at a strike that is raising big questions about how to support the companies making electric vehicles for the masses – and support the workers who make them.

Then: the push for green steel. Are automakers critical for getting low- and zero-carbon steel into mass production?

Finally, as the presidential campaign gets noisier, we look at how Republicans are talking about climate and energy.

Joining us this week are Maria Gallucci of Canary Media and Katherine Hamilton of 38 North.

Stories we mention in this episode:

Canary Media: DOE offers $15.5 billion to retool existing auto plants for EVs
New York Times: Battle over electric vehicles is central to auto strike
Canary Media: Major steel users band together to place first big “green steel” order
Energy Monitor Op-ed: The road to clean steel runs through automakers
Bloomberg: Ron DeSantis pledges more fossil fuel production
New York Times: A roundup of what GOP candidates say about climate change

Don’t forget to grab your tickets for Transition-AI: New York and Canary Live: Bay Area, coming up in October.

The Carbon Copy is supported by FischTank PR, a specialized climatetech PR firm dedicated to bringing meaningful results for companies in sectors spanning grid edge, solar, energy storage, battery, EVs, alternative fuels, VC and green building. FischTank helps clients stand out in an increasingly competitive and noisy space. Visit FischTank PR to learn more.

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