Moving towards a future beyond coal will be challenging for many people and communities. That is why we need a planned and orderly phase out of coal with significant government investment and support for workers and communities, including an Energy Transition Authority.

Workers in affected industries are calling for a job guarantee to ensure they can move to jobs in new industries. Government must ensure these are good, secure union jobs, located in coal-producing areas. This means building more diversified local economies, with jobs in renewable energy, mine rehabilitation, better emergency response, health, care, transport infrastructure, and more.

The coal industry cannot be allowed to abandon workers and communities when projects fail or close. Instead, coal corporations must contribute some of their billion-dollar profits towards the cost of these programs. Many of these corporations have avoided paying their fair share of taxes for years, while pocketing billions in government subsidies. It's time for them to give back.

The transition will look different everywhere, but it all starts with communities having a real say in decisions that affect them. It’s up to all of us to support bottom-up solutions that benefit communities and workers, not coal corporations.