This policy brief discusses the meaning and importance of a just and equitable transition for the City of Edmonton in Alberta, Canada, as it pursues more ambitious emissions reduction policies. It proposes actionable recommendations to support the city’s updated Community Energy Transition Strategy.

The author emphasizes the importance of social justice in formulating and implementing climate strategies. The author advises against a “narrow view” of just transitions that focuses only on employment issues and instead promotes a broader view of social equity. With this in mind, the author explores the potential injustices of a carbon-neutral transition in the City of Edmonton. The author concludes with an Edmonton-specific framework for a just and equitable transition that includes both general guiding principles and action-oriented recommendations for the city.