International context
There is growing recognition that workers and communities will play a critical role in the global shift to a low-carbon economy. That is why there has been a mounting effort to ensure policies are in place to address the social impacts of a net-zero world.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is at the forefront of these global efforts, establishing standards that help countries deliver on their climate commitments while protecting workers’ rights and creating decent, sustainable job opportunities. This includes advancing the principle that the global transition to a low-carbon economy should be fair and inclusive for workers and communities.
International agreements, such as the 2015 Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), as well as international bodies such as the G7 and G20, have also emphasized this focus on an equitable future and the need to protect workers and communities in the face of any economic disruptions from climate action.
Canada’s international action
Canada has shown strong leadership in helping to ensure an equitable and inclusive global transition to net-zero. This includes collaborating with other countries to develop policies and initiatives that support a sustainable, low-carbon future while safeguarding workers’ livelihoods.
Among the key multilateral agreements and initiatives advanced over the past decade are:
- ILO Guidelines for Sustainable Transitions (2015): These guidelines outline how countries can manage the environmental and social impacts of economic transitions while ensuring workers’ rights are fully protected and new job opportunities created. Canada has endorsed the ILO guidelines and Canada’s sustainable jobs principles are based on this framework, which was updated in 2023.
- Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM): The CEM is a global forum of 29 countries working together to promote policies and programs for a clean energy future. Through various initiatives, CEM highlights the socio-economic aspects of energy transitions, including gender equality, skills and workforce development that align with efforts to ensure a fair and inclusive transition to low-carbon economies.
- Empowering People Initiative: Under CEM, this initiative highlights critical socio-economic elements, including skills development, inclusivity, and workforce empowerment to foster a more fair and equitable future for everyone.
- Equality in Energy Transitions Initiative: The Equality Initiative is a joint effort between the CEM and the International Energy Agency (IEA) that works to accelerate gender equality and diversity in the clean energy economy and includes a particular focus on closing the gender gap by 2030.
- The Equal by 30 Campaign: Under the Equality Initiative, Equal by 30 is an international campaign that asks governments and organizations to work toward equal pay, equal leadership, and equal opportunities for women, as well as all marginalized groups, in the energy sector by 2030.
- International Energy Agency (IEA): The IEA supports global energy transitions by providing data, analysis, and policy recommendations. Through specific initiatives – such as The Global Commission on People-Centred Clean Energy Transitions: Designing for Fairness – the IEA emphasizes fairness and inclusivity; advocates for policies that protect workers; enhances affordability; and ensures equitable outcomes during the shift to clean energy systems.
- G7: The member countries of the G7 consistently emphasize the need to advance climate action with a focus on job creation, skills development, and protecting vulnerable populations. For example, the 2024 Energy and Environment Communiqué reaffirmed the need for the transition to be inclusive and enhance social development and economic growth while addressing impacts arising from climate action.
- G20: The G20 Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG) facilitates G20 ministerial collaboration on the transition to a low-carbon economy. Topics include energy security; affordability and accessibility; renewable energy; energy efficiency; innovation; technology and financing.
- The ETWG recently adopted the Principles for Just and Inclusive Energy Transitions, which seek to address inequalities related to this transition while simultaneously promoting environmental and economic sustainability, job creation, and support for vulnerable communities. Intended as a guide to member country actions, the principles include a focus on social justice, poverty eradication, and fairness.
- Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) – Energy Working Group: This APEC working group seeks to maximize the energy sector's contributions to the economic and social well-being of people living in the APEC region, while mitigating the environmental effects of energy supply and use.
- APEC Non-Binding Just-Energy Transition Principles (2024): Countries from the APEC region agreed to promote equitable energy transitions by, among other things, engaging more deeply with workers, the private sector, and communities.
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): The UNFCCC has facilitated major international agreements and guidelines to integrate inclusivity and fairness for workers and communities into climate policies. When the landmark Paris Agreement was drafted in 2015, it emphasized the importance of a “just transition” in its preamble, recognizing the need to consider the social impacts of climate action. It explicitly takes note of the “imperatives of a just transition of the workforce and the creation of decent work and quality jobs." Canada has played a leading role in many UNFCCC discussions, including:
- Just Transition Work Programme: In 2022 at COP27 in Egypt, member countries created this work program, the details of which were agreed upon at COP28 in Dubai (2023). This includes an annual dialogue with responsible international ministers to discuss strategies that advance climate action while taking into account economic and social considerations.
Looking to the future
By supporting international frameworks and agreements that prioritize social inclusion and worker protections, Canada is contributing to a more equitable global path toward climate goals. These efforts reflect Canada’s broader commitment to ensuring the transition to a low-carbon economy is environmentally sustainable, equitable, and inclusive.