Just Transition for Workers and Communities Displaced by Climate Action

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) advocates for the rapid closure of coal plants in Canada to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate severe health risks from air pollution and mercury. While supporting this transition, CAPE stresses that unemployment and poverty are social determinants of health, requiring a just transition framework including retraining, relocation programs, and extended severance to prevent the health benefits of decarbonization from being offset by economic instability for workers.

• Coal-fired power plants are a primary driver of climate change and air pollution; globally, they account for 44% of energy-related greenhouse gases and 29% of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.
• Phasing out coal in Canada offers substantial public health gains, with air pollution-related health benefits estimated at $4.9 billion. Coal plants are major sources of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), which contribute to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ground-level ozone linked to heart and lung diseases.
• Coal plants are the single largest source of mercury emissions in Canada, responsible for nearly 35% of national air emissions. This poses significant risks to children, pregnant women, and Arctic peoples, with mercury exposure linked to reductions in cognitive abilities and motor skills.
• To prevent the loss of 'social determinants of health' such as employment and income, the transition away from coal must include long-term planning, retraining, relocation programs, and extended severance and pensions for older workers.

APA

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (2018). Just Transition for Workers and Communities Displaced by Climate Action. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/just-transition-statement-july-31-2018.pdf#new_tab

Chicago

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Just Transition for Workers and Communities Displaced by Climate Action. 2018. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/just-transition-statement-july-31-2018.pdf#new_tab.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |title=Just Transition for Workers and Communities Displaced by Climate Action |date=31 July 2018 |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/just-transition-statement-july-31-2018.pdf#new_tab |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{canadianassociationofphysiciansfortheenvironment2018just, author = {{Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}}, title = {{Just Transition for Workers and Communities Displaced by Climate Action}}, publisher = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, year = {2018}, month = jul, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/just-transition-statement-july-31-2018.pdf#new_tab}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }