As climate change accelerates, experts are sounding the alarm on two converging crises: the need for a just transition in the energy sector and the looming threat of climate-induced migration. A recent report warns that rising sea levels could force millions of people to migrate inland by 2050, especially in coastal countries like Bangladesh, parts of the U.S., and even low-lying Canadian regions. This “catastrophic inland migration,” as described by researchers from institutions like Climate Central and the IPCC, will place immense pressure on urban infrastructure, housing, and jobs. In Canada, cities like Edmonton and Calgary could become climate havens, making it urgent to rethink labour and social policies to accommodate both environmental shifts and human movement.
Parallel to this growing concern is the call from labour unions, policy institutes, and environmental groups to give workers a direct stake in the clean energy revolution. Organizations such as the Canadian Labour Congress and Just Transition Centre argue that transitioning to green energy without worker ownership will replicate existing inequalities and create what some call a “green Gilded Age.” As fossil fuel jobs decline — particularly in provinces like Alberta — proposals for worker-owned renewable cooperatives, community benefit agreements, and government-backed retraining are gaining ground. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that 24 million new green jobs could be created globally by 2030, but warns of 6 million job losses in high-carbon sectors. Including workers in governance and ownership, as demonstrated by Germany’s and Denmark’s successful co-operative energy models, is key to sustainable and equitable development.
Without these twin priorities — preparing for climate migration and ensuring just energy transitions — the future risks being defined by instability and inequality. But if Canada acts now, empowering workers and planning for inclusive adaptation, it can lead the way in building a resilient and fair green economy. More