Context:
Countries in the Western Balkans must reduce their dependence on fossil fuels to meet the climate targets of the United Nations Paris Agreement. The economic and social challenges involved primarily affect coal mining regions, households struggling to pay their electricity and heating bills, and workers in the coal industry and coal-based energy sector. Many places lack concepts to ensure that the transition is socially just.
Objective:
Through their expertise and cooperation, stakeholders from politics, authorities, businesses and organisations are helping to ensure that the transition to a climate-neutral and sustainable economy is achieved in a fair and environmentally sound manner.
Approach:
The project provides further training for specialists and managers – including those from national ministries, city and municipal administrations, businesses and civil society organisations. It organises training, dialogue, workshops, consultancy, networks and study trips with them. As part of this, it encourages participants to develop approaches for a just transition. They embed the approaches in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) and local plans, and implement them. At the same time, the project supports local authorities and the relevant businesses and groups in jointly assessing the impacts and opportunities arising from mine closures and in developing suitable solutions for sustainable post-mining land use. The project helps create training opportunities that allow people to prepare for new careers at an early stage. It also develops concepts to tackle energy poverty and mitigate the social consequences of the coal phase-out. To achieve this, it collaborates with education and research institutions, businesses, authorities and civil society organisations.