Standing at the Human Centre of the Energy Transition

Held in Vancouver from March 30 to April 1, 2026, the Summit brought together employers, educators, policymakers, community organizations, and workers around a common objective: to move beyond mere discussion and actively design a sustainable workforce that is practical, inclusive, and aligned with real-world needs.

From Ambition to Capacity: The Human Constraint

As Mathieu Côte, Executive Director of CIET, noted during the Summit:

“The energy transition is no longer limited by ambition, technology, or even funding. Increasingly, it is limited by people, by skills in short supply, training systems struggling to keep pace, and pathways that remain too disconnected from on‑the‑ground realities.”

This reality was evident throughout the Summit’s two‑day agenda. Sessions focused on workforce gaps, training pathways, digital tools, and inclusive delivery models, not as abstract policy discussions, but as the daily challenges faced by institutions and organizations.

 

Where Sustainability and Education Converge

The discussions highlighted a growing convergence between sustainability and education, two fields that have historically evolved in parallel, but are now intersecting out of necessity. Workforce development is increasingly recognized as a key driver for achieving goals related to energy efficiency, clean energy, and decarbonization.

CIET’s presence at the Summit reflected this convergence. The organization was present not only as a training provider, but as a capacity‑building partner working at the intersection of energy efficiency, decarbonization, and workforce development. CIET contributed to conversations examining how training systems can meaningfully support the scale of transformation required to achieve energy efficiency and decarbonization goals.

 

What Effective Training Really Looks Like

During a panel discussion held on day one, Mathieu Côte engaged with leaders from across the country, who shared practical insights on what makes workforce training programs effective. A common message emerged: successful programs are practical, trusted, aligned with employer needs, and directly linked to real-world projects.

Equally important, these programs are designed collaboratively—with employers, trainers, and professionals—to ensure that training pathways remain firmly rooted in on-the-ground realities and the evolving needs of the labor market.

 

Modernizing Training to Scale Decarbonization

Another key theme of the Summit was a shift in focus: moving from identifying the required skills to examining the actual capacity of training systems to deliver them effectively. Discussions covered  micro‑certifications, accelerated pathways, workplace learning, and the growing role of AI and digital tools—not as isolated solutions, but as catalysts for more agile and scalable training systems. The conclusion was unequivocal: large-scale decarbonization will depend as much on the modernization of training methods as on the deployment of new technologies.

 

CIET’s Role in Building a Sustainable Workforce

These findings reflect the evolution of CIET itself. Founded in 1996 as an energy efficiency training organization, CIET has grown into a national capacity‑building centre working across energy efficiency and decarbonization. In 2025 alone, CIET trained more than 6,000 professionals across Canada—supporting employers, policymakers, and practitioners in building the skills needed for a low‑carbon future.

The Summit further reinforced that sustainable workforce development cannot be approached in silos. Effective solutions must connect educators and employers, align with policy and funding frameworks, and remain adaptable to regional realities—from building retrofits to large‑scale infrastructure projects.

Alongside CIET colleagues Mathieu Côte, Lisa Rae, Moises Albanes, and Alys Ouellet, the Summit offered a powerful illustration of what can be achieved when labour, industry, educators, and communities are brought into the same room—not to compete for attention, but to co‑design solutions.

 

Looking Ahead: A Collaborative, Human‑Centred Future

Moving forward, CIET will continue to strengthen its role at this critical intersection. The organization is placing increasing emphasis on system‑level collaboration, flexible learning pathways, and the design of evidence‑based programs.

The Sustainable Workforce Summit served not only as a convening of stakeholders, but as a clear signal that the future of the energy transition is human‑centred, skills‑driven, and deeply collaborative. It is precisely at this strategic intersection that CIET intends to continue playing an active role.