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The shift to a clean-energy economy could definitely shake things up for the poor and working class, just like when everything moved from farming to factories during the Industrial Revolution. For a lot of people working in industries tied to oil, coal, and gas, it might mean losing their jobs if those industries shut down or shrink. Even though clean energy creates jobs too, like in solar and wind power, not everyone can easily switch. Learning new skills or moving to where these jobs are could be tough for people who are already struggling. For poorer nations, it could be even harder. Many of them rely on selling oil or coal to richer countries, so if demand drops, they’ll lose a huge part of their income. Plus, switching to clean energy takes a lot of money—building wind farms, solar panels, or upgrading power grids isn’t cheap. Wealthier nations might have the resources to make the switch, but less-developed countries could get left behind, which would only widen the gap between rich and poor countries. At the same time, though, clean energy could help poorer nations in the long run. For example, solar panels don’t need massive infrastructure, so remote areas without electricity could get power more easily. But whether they can afford it or not is another story. A big part of how this shift plays out depends on whether wealthier countries are willing to help less-developed ones make the transition or if they’ll just focus on themselves. So yeah, the clean-energy shift could bring a lot of positives, but it’s probably going to be a bumpy road, especially for people and places already at a disadvantage.
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