LIST OF PANELS

The transition to a clean economy requires wide-ranging economic transformations. Governments all around the world are moving to clean, net-zero economies using different policy instruments, like cap-and-trade systems, carbon pricing, and investments in new technologies. The panel hopes to contribute to an evolving conversation and show how governments are moving to clean economies through public policy, focusing particularly on skills and jobs and an equitable and inclusive transition to the clean economy. The panel welcomes research from all over the world for a dynamic and wide-ranging conversation.

We have three main research questions for the panel:

1. What local, sub-national, or national policies are governments adopting to transition to a clean economy?
2. What are the skills and jobs associated with the clean economy? What are the policies that will enable the development of these skills and prepare the workforce for these jobs?
3. What kind of national or international policies would ensure an equitable and inclusive transition to the clean economy?

On the first main research question, a number of jurisdictions have made commitments to support a transition to the clean economy. In Canada, for example, the federal government has signed its net-zero commitment into law (the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act).[i] Legislative commitments are followed by significant investments: the $15-billion Canada Growth Fund incentivizes private capital investments into decarbonization and clean technology projects.[ii] The U.S. also announced investments to scale up low carbon technologies in developing countries.[iii] To support this direction, some research focuses on cost-effective solutions to reach a Canadian net-zero economy,[iv] while others evaluate existing policy (e.g., carbon pricing).[v]

On the second main research question, a net-zero transition also requires a workforce transition to equip workers with the necessary skills and supports,[vi] (e.g., Coal Transition Initiative[vii]). Recent research discusses the implications on skills and jobs: the Smart Prosperity Institute with the Diversity Institute and Future Skills Centre explores three net-zero emission scenarios for the Canadian economy and the impacts on labour demand and skills in different sectors in 2050.[viii] Understanding what skills might need to be developed, and how this varies across the world, will ensure the global workforce is prepared to support a net-zero economy.

On the final research question, especially given the disproportionate impact of climate change on historically marginalized groups,[ix] there is a policy imperative to ensure that the transition to a net-zero economy creates new sustainable jobs and opportunities for all workers.[x] Some research focuses on contextualizing and framing Canada’s efforts, dubbed the “just transition.”[xi] Other research examines pathways to transition vulnerable workers into rapid-growth careers in the clean economy.[xii]

There are a number of hypotheses that the panel can explore, some of which include:

1. Innovative government policies and actions are required for the unprecedented transformation into the clean economy
2. Governments need to address the skills gap for a rapid transition into a net-zero economy
3. Equity-seeking groups are currently under-represented and disadvantaged in the clean economy
4. It is simple to re-skill workers to the net-zero clean economy

The Chairs of the panel are expecting high-quality and evidence-based research that answers at least one of the three main research questions. There are a variety of possible papers that researchers can submit as a response. Chairs welcome research perspectives from any region of the world, examining the policy or labour market experience at local, sub-national, national, or international levels.

1. What local, sub-national, or national policies are governments adopting to transition to a clean economy?

a)    What innovative initiatives have governments enacted to move toward a net-zero economy and what are the (anticipated) impacts?

b)    What factors have enabled net-zero and clean economy initiatives to appear on local, national, or international policy agenda?

c)     How have policy and political discussions of the clean economy been framed? How has this framing impacted the adoption of clean economy policies?

d)    How can governments encourage innovation and scale solutions to achieve net-zero goals? What are examples of successful policies?

2. What are the skills and jobs associated with the clean economy? What are the policies that will enable the development of these skills?

a)    What kind of jobs and skills will be in-demand in the clean economy? How can governments encourage the development of these skills?

b)    How can we transition workers away from carbon-intensive sectors into the clean economy?

c)     What local, sub-national, or national policies or practices enable (or hinder) participation in the clean economy around the globe? (e.g., immigration or migration policies, recognition of international credentials, etc.)

3. What kind of national or international policies would ensure an equitable and inclusive transition to the clean economy?

a)    What are the barriers to entry in the clean economy?

b)    What policies or programs might lead to a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive clean/green workforce?

c)     What are the potential impacts of national policy efforts to achieve net-zero on labour market and social outcomes of the global south?