United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said the international community faces an existential choice: cooperate or perish at the start of the 27e Conference of Parties (COP27). Under the Paris Agreement and IPCC reports, we must limit the increase in global average temperature to 1.5°C by the end of the century and aim for carbon neutrality by 2050. This objective therefore implies decarbonization of all economic sectors, not just fossil fuels. Yes, sooner or later Canada will have to listen to science and shut down its oil and gas sector. Quebec, for its part, is much better positioned to accelerate the decarbonization of its economy now.
However, decarbonization must above all not be achieved at the expense of employment. Admittedly, workers in industries with high carbon emissions will be more affected by this transformation, but the fact remains that employees in all sectors of activity will have to adopt new behaviors and agree to improve in order to the best.
This is where the concept of just transition comes into play, which takes on its full meaning here. It is fundamentally about leaving no one behind by ensuring a transition to a green economy that is as inclusive and equitable as possible, by providing decent and quality jobs. It offers the possibility of carrying out an orderly and complete elimination of fossil fuels which does not leave workers with their backs to the wall without jobs and without social protection, on the contrary.
The just transition suggests first and foremost a tripartite approach, that is to say to bring together around the same table the government, the trade unions and the employers. Through this dialogue, equitable, socially acceptable and inclusive public policies will make it possible to respond adequately to the climate imperative. In addition, this approach could be broken down by economic sector and by region in order to be able to deploy the most robust policies possible for the well-being of the workforce and communities.
Let us have no illusions, the involvement of these three groups is essential for the success of the just transition and for the adhesion of as many people as possible. This is how a powerful consensus for climate action can emerge.
Currently, the impact on the workforce of the measures set out in the Plan for a Green Economy 2030 (PEV), unveiled in 2020, is completely ignored and even less documented. One way to remedy this is precisely to promote this tripartite approach, in addition to strengthening the social protection of the workforce, as well as the right to employment and labor law.
In Quebec, even though our economy is powered in large part by renewable energy and we have officially put an end to oil and gas exploration, thousands of people will be directly or indirectly affected by the transition. We can think of the sectors of agriculture, forestry, refining, construction, industry and mining. This is without mentioning the presence of very polluting companies such as the Horne foundry, the McInnis cement works, Rio Tinto, Kruger and Lafarge.
In short, the just transition is essential to support our human capital through measures to requalify and improve the workforce, economic diversification, support for the transition and compensation for losses and income. It’s about taking care of our people in a pivotal period for the future of Quebec. Let’s dare.