Making Good Green Jobs the Law: How Canada can build on international best practice to advance just transition for all

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines how Canada can utilize federal legislation to advance a just transition, drawing on international best practices and interviews with 15 experts.

• The IISD identifies several priorities for federal just transition legislation in Canada, including linking the transition to a 1.5°C-aligned pathway, entrenching principles of decent work and social dialogue based on International Labour Organization guidelines, and formally establishing an independent advisory body. The legislation should also mandate a comprehensive just transition strategy and create institutional structures with clear responsibilities for implementation, accountability, and transparency.
• Federal legislation must ensure the respectful inclusion of Indigenous Peoples through adequate resourcing and specific references to Indigenous rights, while committing to a 'Leave No One Behind' approach linked to environmental justice.
• Beyond legislation, the paper suggests additional policy priorities: mainstreaming just transition principles across departments, increasing corporate accountability to prevent burdens from shifting to taxpayers, providing scaled-up funding for local decision-making, and implementing green industrial policy and social protection. It emphasizes the need for a managed wind-down of coal, oil, and gas production to meet climate goals.

APA

Beedell,, V. C. (2022). Making Good Green Jobs the Law: How Canada can build on international best practice to advance just transition for all. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/green-jobs-advance-canada-just-transition

Chicago

Beedell,, Vanessa Corkal,Estan. Making Good Green Jobs the Law: How Canada can build on international best practice to advance just transition for all. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2022. https://www.iisd.org/publications/green-jobs-advance-canada-just-transition.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Beedell, |first1=Vanessa Corkal,Estan |title=Making Good Green Jobs the Law: How Canada can build on international best practice to advance just transition for all |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=25 January 2022 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/green-jobs-advance-canada-just-transition |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{beedell2022making, author = {Beedell,, Vanessa Corkal,Estan}, title = {{Making Good Green Jobs the Law: How Canada can build on international best practice to advance just transition for all}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2022}, month = jan, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/green-jobs-advance-canada-just-transition}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }