Civil Society and an Urban Just Transition

For the past six months, I’ve been fortunate enough to work as a research assistant for the Urban Just Transition Cluster (UJT), a research hub at the University of Toronto Scarborough which works alongside community organizations to help support an equitable transition to a green economy.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) defines just transition as “greening the economy in a way that is as fair and inclusive as possible to everyone concerned, creating decent work opportunities and leaving no one behind”. Among other things, a just transition requires accessible training for labourers, robust social services that support vulnerable populations, and access to affordable housing. Ensuring a just transition is no easy task and will require support from both governments and civil society.

The City of Toronto’s Transform TO climate strategy promises an equitable implementation of policies that advance social equity, protect low-income residents, improve affordability, enhance and strengthen the local economy and create decent work opportunities. The city has acknowledged that communities in Toronto have different needs with regards to transportation, clean energy and employment. Toronto has also emphasized that collaboration with public and private stakeholders is crucial.

A central aspect of my research with the UJT entailed creating a list of organizations within Toronto working towards a just transition. From small scale neighbourhood organizations, to international NGOs, it was incredible to see the amount of groups working towards social-environmental action in Toronto.

As I progressed through my research, I gained a stronge understanding of what fell under the umbrella of just transition. Enabling a just transition doesn’t simply entail creating a set of policies that stick low-income residents into green jobs. It includes organizations like TreeMobile, a non profit designed to provide seasonal, local organics to low income communities. Or the Green Neighbours Network, a grassroots community network of individuals and groups helping to make neighbourhoods across Toronto more sustainable. Or the Lighthouse Project, a pilot project which established a need for faith-based organizations to support vulnerable communities affected by climate change.

Climate change is an issue with a time stamp. The government of Canada has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The city of Toronto has committed to net-zero by 2040. As time goes on, the situation becomes more dire. Governments, NGOs, private corporations, neighbourhood associations, youth groups, faith-based organizations, unions (the list goes on) have connections to communities with different needs and perspectives. Collaboration with these diverse groups is critical for Toronto to succeed in its just transition efforts.