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Title
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Acting on Climate Change: Solutions from Canadian Scholars
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Description
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“A scholarly consensus on science-based, viable solutions for greenhouse gas reduction”. Sixty academics from across Canada combined to urge policymakers to adopt a long-term target of at least an 80 % reduction in emissions by mid-century. “In the short-term, we believe that Canada, in keeping with its historical position of aligning with US targets, could adopt a 2025 target of a 26-28% reduction in GHG emissions relative to our 2005 levels.” Policy recommendations include, most immediately: Either a national carbon tax or a national economy-wide cap and trade program; elimination of subsidies to the fossil fuel industry ; and integration of sustainability and climate change into landscape planning at the regional and city levels so that maintenance and new infrastructure investments contribute to decarbonizing. The paper also advocates establishment of East-West smart grid connections to allow hydro-producing provinces to sell electricity to their neighbours; energy efficiency programs, and a “transportation revolution”. Also available in French, as Agir sur les changements climatiques, http://www.sustainablecanadadialogues.ca/files/PDF_DOCS/FR_15mars_20H_lowres.pdf
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Identifier (PID)
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yul:576668
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Title
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Cap and Trade design principles for Canada
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Description
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Six principles are outlined, one of which relates to the Oil Sands: "Canada’s oil sands development puts our country in a difficult position, since no other industrialized country faces a situation where it has such a large sector poised for rapid emissions growth. Oil sands will account for close to half (44 per cent) of the projected increase in total Canadian emissions between 2006 and 2020 in a “business-as-usual” scenario, and virtually all (95 per cent) of the projected increase in industrial emissions. The oil sands emissions must not be allowed to expand at this rate or corner the market on allowances to achieve this. The impact on the rest of the economy could be devastating, effectively driving other carbon intensive industries out of business."
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Identifier (PID)
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yul:1122027
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Title
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Acting on Climate Change: Extending the Dialogue Among Canadians
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Description
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Compiles submissions from First Nations, business, NGOs, labour, youth and private citizens , organized into topics which include Employment and Labour, Social Justice, Indigenous Perspectives, Reinventing Cities, Renewable Energy Challenges, Youth, and more. Submissions were made in response to the first SCD consensus paper from March 2015: "Acting on Climate Change: Solutions from Canadian Scholars". Highlight papers from the responses: “The role of workers in the transition to a low-carbon economy ; “Protect the Environment by Doing More Work, Not Less”; and “Envisioning a Good Green Life in British Columbia: Lessons From the Climate Justice Project”.
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Identifier (PID)
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yul:772772
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Title
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Falling behind: Canada's lost clean energy jobs
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Description
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Contributors: Gillian McEachern, Charles Campbell, Matt Price. BlueGreen Canada is a partnership of Environmental Defence and United Steelworkers. The report compares the government investment in clean energy jobs between Canada and the U.S. since Obama became President, and concludes that the lack of investment in Canada is creating thousands of lost jobs for Canadians. If Canada’s spending matched U.S. investment in renewable energy alone, an additional estimated 66,000 jobs would have been created. The actual job gap is much larger once energy efficiency and transportation investment are taken into account. The report suggests an improved path for Canada to try to bridge the jobs gap. Includes a bibliography.
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Identifier (PID)
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yul:575592
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Title
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Pipes need Jackets Too - Improving Performance of BC Buildings through Mechanical Insulation Practice and Standards - A White Pa
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Description
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"Based on a survey of peer‐reviewed research and trade journals, interviews with a wide range of professionals who work with mechanical insulation and energy modeling of three different building types, we have identified actions that can be taken by the provincial government, utility companies, local government, developers, engineers and building owners/operators that can save millions of dollars and eliminate thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year." The paper provides a literature review and makes recommendations for policy changes at provincial and local levels.
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Identifier (PID)
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yul:637795
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Title
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Towards an ILO approach to climate change adaptation
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Description
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A working paper jointly produced by ILO’s Employment Intensive Investment Programme and the Green Jobs Programme. It explores the implications of climate change, its impacts on the world of work, and the role to be played by the ILO. This report is a detailed description of the relevant ongoing work, including the Decent Work Agenda, Green Jobs Programme and Skills for Green Jobs. It also discusses future strategies and priorities for the ILO and identifies three clusters which can serve as a basis for the integration of initiatives: 1) Local resource-based infrastructure, Social Protection, Income and Local Development, 2) Re-skilling, Social Protection and Active Labour Market Policies, and 3) Disaster Risk Reduction and Access to a Range of Financial Services.
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Identifier (PID)
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yul:576657
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Title
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Just Transition Towards Environmentally Sustainable Economies and Societies for All
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Description
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This Policy Brief, aimed at a labour union audience, reviews the history and fundamental principles of the Just Transition concept, provides case studies which form an impressive catalogue of how just transition has (and in some cases, hasn’t) worked around the world, and concludes with recommendations of how trade unions and workers’ organizations can contribute to the goal of Just Transition to a low carbon economy. He concludes with the observation that 10 - 12 years is a realistic time frame for Just Transition agreements. Available at the ILO from https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_dialogue/---actrav/documents/publication/wcms_647648.pdf .
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Identifier (PID)
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yul:1150322
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Title
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Canada’s Fossil-Fuelled Pensions: The Case of the British Columbia Investment Management Corporation
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Description
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The report makes the following recommendations so that BCI can align its investments with the 2°C limit: 1. A portfolio-wide climate change risk analysis to determine the impact of fossil fuels on BCI’s public equity investments, and subsequent disclosure of all findings to pension members. 2. Divestment: freezing any new investment and developing a plan to first remove high-risk companies from portfolios, particularly coal and oil sands producers, and then moving toward sector-wide divestment.
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Identifier (PID)
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yul:1150321
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Title
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Make Manufacturing Work: An Industrial Strategy for the 21st Century
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Description
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This policy statement deals mainly with the steel, forestry and auto sectors, and their trade position. Part 2 is devoted to "A green Industrial Strategy" and Just Transition. The report states: "Although addressing such environment-industry policy disconnects may displace some workers, clean energy investments, shifts in subsides and targeted tax incentives may increase the number of well-paid, equitable, unionized jobs, though only if it is an explicit goal of Canada’s manufacturing or industrial policy." It makes recommendations for cleaner processes for each industry.
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Identifier (PID)
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yul:1122075
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Title
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Building An Ontario Green Job Strategy: Ensuring the Climate Change Action Plan creates good Jobs where they are needed most
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Description
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The report focuses on the building sector provisions within Ontario’s Climate Change Action Plan (June 2016), providing job creation forecasts from the reinvestments of energy cost savings into the economy. It also discusses Just Transition issues, and highlights the examples of community benefits agreements and high road agreements, which ensure job quality. The report was written by Glave Communications for the Clean Economy Alliance , Environmental Defence, and Blue Green Canada , “with the participation of the United Steelworkers, UNIFOR, Clean Energy Canada, the Toronto Atmospheric Fund, the Toronto and York Region Labour Council, the Labour Education Centre, the Columbia Institute, Canadian Solar Industries Association, Ontario Sustainability, the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, and Evergreen.”
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Identifier (PID)
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yul:1120719
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Title
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Just Transition of the workforce, and the creation of decent work and quality jobs. Technical Paper by the Secretariat
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Description
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"This technical paper provides an overview of the work undertaken under the Convention on a just transition of the workforce, and the creation of decent work and quality jobs (hereinafter referred to as just transition) in the context of the impact of the implementation of response measures. The paper also presents the general concept of just transition, including the drivers and objectives of such transitions, and then discusses the linkages between just transition and the impacts of the implementation of climate change mitigation policies. It also provides guidance on how to approach just transition at the national level. This technical paper draws upon relevant information contained in: (1) reports on the work of the forum on the impact of the implementation of response measures, as well as submissions, presentations and statements made by Parties and observer organizations during previous sessions of the Conference of the Parties and the subsidiary bodies from 2008 to 2015; (2) national inventory reports, national communications, biennial reports and biennial update reports submitted by Parties; (3) publications by experts, international organizations and research institutes; and (4) inputs from the International Labour Organization." Includes a 7 page bibliography. Highlights the work of the Adapting Canadian Work and Workplaces to Climate Change (ACW) project on page 40.
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Identifier (PID)
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yul:1120504
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Title
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Climate Justice, green jobs and sustainability
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Description
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The authors advocate a green social contract: "A “green social contract” would guide a government to prioritize both the environment and the well-being of its citizens in any decision-making process, and would include strategies for helping workers transition to green jobs and protect against widespread unemployment. “Just transition” packages should include education and training, income support and mobility allowances for workers who need assistance in changing careers. A coordinated strategy should bring in secondary, post-secondary and training/apprenticeship programs to ensure appropriate skills development."
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Identifier (PID)
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yul:823120
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Title
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Just Transition: Creating a Green Social Contract for BC’s Resource Workers
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Description
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The result of of seven focus groups composed of displaced workers from the forestry, mining, and fossil fuel industries. Participants stressed the importance of improving training and education programs, which were seen as neglecting transferable and upgraded skills in favour of narrow specialization that plugged current labour gaps but left workers vulnerable to wage suppression and unable to change industries without downgrading. Participants also highlighted personal, family and community strain associated with moving to find work or commuting long distances, pointing to the need for related socioeconomic support, counselling, and policies that keep workers closer to home.
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Identifier (PID)
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yul:823119
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Title
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We make it Move: a Vision for Sustainable Transportation
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Description
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At the first ever CAW Transportation Conference, held from September 23 – 25, 2011 the Canadian Auto Workers discussed a draft version of a new policy for transportation in Canada. The starting point of the policy is that “transportation must change”, because of three forces: climate change, peak oil, and globalization. The union states its goal: “to create a made-in Canada transportation system that is the most efficient, accessible, green and safe in the world”, based on four overarching principles: the transportation system must be environmentally sustainable, recognized as a public good, made-in-Canada, and a place for good jobs. For each of the transportation sectors (road, rail, air, marine) the paper outlines issues and proposes very specific solutions and policy goals. The document and an accompanying action plan will be discussed and voted on by the National Executive Board, and CAW and Quebec Councils.
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Identifier (PID)
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yul:788614
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Title
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Green New Deal and the Question of Environmental and Social Justice
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Description
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Provides a wide-ranging and well-documented global analysis of Green New Deal programs , green economies, and green jobs . Some excerpts: “… while advocates of the green economy promise the elimination of poverty, the green economy agenda is a new version of what has been described as finance-led accumulation and as such a continuation of the neoliberal project that has fuelled inequality during the past three decades.” Of green jobs, he observes, “statistical evidence suggests that many of the assumptions associated with green jobs are far too optimistic.”…Referencing Austrian, EU, and South African studies, he states, “Statistical evidence suggests that in terms of working conditions they (i.e. green jobs) are actually worse than average jobs” .. and “In sum, female workers are clearly disadvantaged when it comes to the distribution of the benefits from green growth.” Finally, “In sum, an alternative approach to a green transition towards a more sustainable economy and society must go beyond the goal of a thermal insulated capitalism and promote ecological, gender and social justice.” The author particularly discusses the importance of hours of work as a key factor in equality/inequality, and in ecological damage
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Identifier (PID)
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yul:777777
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Title
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We can afford the Leap
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Description
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Released in support of the LEAP Manifesto, to provide more detail and analysis about revenue sources to finance the proposals of the Manifesto.
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Identifier (PID)
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yul:776495
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Title
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Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable, Low-carbon World
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Description
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This Report has been commissioned and funded by UNEP, as part of the joint UNEP, ILO, IOE, ITUC Green Jobs Initiative. Produced by Worldwatch Institute, with technical assistance from Cornell University Global Labor Institute. It provides statistical and anecdotal evidence of the current situation re green jobs, and makes forecasts for future. Conceptual issues include a definition of green jobs, and job quality. "We define green jobs as work in agricultural, manufacturing, research and development (R&D),administrative, and service activities that contribute substantially to preserving or restoring environmental quality. Specifically, but not exclusively, this includes jobs that help to protect ecosystems and biodiversity; reduce energy, materials, and water consumption through high efficiency strategies; de-carbonize the economy; and minimize or altogether avoid generation of all forms of waste and pollution."
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Identifier (PID)
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yul:576665
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Title
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Green jobs: Draft guidelines for the Statistical Definition and Measurement of Employment in Environmental Sector
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Description
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At the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS) in Geneva in early October, labour statisticians discussed and adopted new guidelines for the statistical definition of employment in the environmental sector. The guidelines define the environmental sector as consisting of “all economic units producing, designing and manufacturing goods and services for the purposes of environmental protection and resource management.” The discussion identified as two distinct concepts: 1. employment in production of environmental output, and 2) environmental processes. While both are aspects of greening of employment, the report states that they are different targets for policy-making, and should be measured separately using different methods.
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Identifier (PID)
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yul:576661
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Title
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Towards a Greener Economy: the Social Dimensions
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Description
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This report is the result of a cooperation project between the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs, and Inclusion of the European Commission and the International Institute for Labour Studies of the ILO. Its purpose is to better understand the nature of the green economy and the implications for labour markets. It shows that a double dividend – encompassing greater decent work opportunities and a greener economy – is possible, provided that adequate complementarities between environmental, economic and social policies are created. The report draws upon a series of background discussion papers also produced as part of the cooperation project.
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Identifier (PID)
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yul:576660
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Title
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The Social and Decent work dimensions of a new agreement on climate change: A Technical Brief
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Description
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"The purpose of this brief is to highlight the close inter-linkages between climate change and the world of work. It aims to promote a better understanding between both spheres and greater coherence between climate,social and labour policies." It's audience is the world of work, ministries of labour, representatives of employers’ and workers’ organizations as well as experts and policy makers on climate change. It provides a brief synthesis of the scientific knowledge re climate change and summarizes the existing climate agreements (i.e. Kyoto, Bali) and anticipates the Copenhagen conference of December 2009. The main contribution of the document is a discussion of entry points for promoting policy coherence between climate and social and labour policies.
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Identifier (PID)
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yul:576659
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Title
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Promoting safety and health in a green economy
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Description
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The report looks at different "green industries" from an OSH perspective. Industries discussed include all forms of renewable energy, waste management (including shipbreaking), agriculture, forestry, construction, and the special case of nuclear energy.
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Identifier (PID)
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yul:576658
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Title
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Building the green economy: Employment effects of green energy investments for Ontario
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Description
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Widely cited study. Estimates of job creation are given for 2 alternative investment scenarios for the province: 1) a baseline program of $18.6 billion invested in conservation and demand management; hydroelectric power; on-shore wind power; bioenergy; waste energy recycling; and solar power over 10 years, and 2) a more ambitious $47.1 billion 10-year investment program, also investing in off-shore wind power and a smart grid electrical transmission system. Recommendations include ways for the province to maximize the quantity and quality of those jobs.
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Identifier (PID)
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yul:575593
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Title
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More Jobs, Less Pollution: Why Energy Conservation is Common Sense for Ontario
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Description
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BlueGreen Canada calls on the Ontario government to cut energy use by 25 per cent by 2025 (“25 by 25.”) According to the economic analysis commissioned by BlueGreen and conducted by Stokes Economic Consulting, reducing consumption by 25% would result in 25,000 new jobs, $3.7 billion more in GDP, lower deficits for both the federal and provincial governments, and a 9% reduction in carbon emissions by 2025. BlueGreen Canada states that a more aggressive conservation approach is supported by environmental groups. The release of the BlueGreen report coincides with a formal review of the provincial government’s long term energy plan.
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Identifier (PID)
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yul:575591
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Title
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Building Ontario's Green Economy: a Road Map
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Description
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The brief report compiles policy recommendations for a variety of different sectors, including agriculture, construction, manufacturing, transportation, waste management. It calls upon the government to enact these policies urgently.
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Identifier (PID)
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yul:575590
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Title
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A Green Economic Stimulus Package to Secure our Current and Future Prosperity
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Description
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We propose at least $15 billion in targeted investments that will create over 160,000 jobs this year in areas such as clean energy and transportation, and green infrastructure and households. These activities will generate immediate economic returns – at least on par with other stimulus options – while reducing environmental impacts hat cost Canada billions each year. We have researched a broad range of potential stimulus measures put forward by international and Canadian organizations and experts. Each was tested against a series of economic and environmental criteria, which essentially ask two questions: (i) will it provide maximum economic bang for the buck (using basically the same criteria as Finance does); and (ii) will it also generate significant environmental benefits (based on a three part test)? Our results were reviewed by some of Canada’s top economic experts, and form the basis for our recommendations. Our three areas of focus are: Public (green infrastructure); Business (clean development and jobs), and Households (helping Canadians go green).
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Identifier (PID)
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yul:575589