Upcoming events: JTP Conference (25-27 April) and Annual Political Dialogue (27-28 June) (13/02/2023)
Save the Dates – details regarding the next Just Transition Platform Conference, and Annual Political Dialogue have been announced! The seventh edition of the JTP Conference, co-hosted by DG REGIO and DG ENER, will take place in a hybrid format in Brussels on 25–27 April 2023, with registration due to open later this month. Two months later, on 27-28 June 2023, join us in-person in Karlovy Vary (CZ) for the Initiative for Coal Regions in Transition’s fourth Annual Political Dialogue.
Last chance to apply for the District Heating Working Group | Deadline: 24 February (30/01/2023)
To support coal+ regions facing the challenge of decarbonisation of fossil fuel-based district heating systems (DHS), the CRiT Secretariat is setting-up a Working Group to share experiences and identify technical options to facilitate the transition to non-fossil fuel alternatives. Members of the Working Group will have the opportunity to enter into dialogue with regions, municipalities, and experts from industry and academia. Applications should be submitted to the Secretariat by close of business (Brussels time) on Friday, 24 February 2023. Click below to access the application guidelines and become a member of this Working Group.
Just Transition Fund territories: apply for JTP GROUNDWORK (13/02/2023)
The Just Transition Platform has launched a call for applications for a new, comprehensive technical assistance programme. JTP GROUNDWORK aims to support Just Transition Fund (JTF) territories in implementing their Territorial Just Transition Plans (TJTPs). JTF territories with a TJTP already approved by the Commission are invited to apply for technical assistance on TJTP implementation on the ground. The deadline for submission is 28 February 2023 at 23:00 CET.
Meet the newest recipients of START technical assistance (13/02/2023)
Following an open call for coal, peat, lignite and oil shale regions (‘coal+ regions’), seven regions have been selected to receive technical assistance from the Initiative for Coal Regions in Transition’s START programme. Meet this group of geographically and topically diverse regions.
Meet Karlovy Vary: host of the 2023 Annual Political Dialogue (30/01/2023)
Get to know a bit more about Karlovy Vary (CZ) before we convene in this interesting coal region in June 2023 for the next Annual Political Dialogue.
Public sector loan facility: call for proposals launched to support just transition investments (30/01/2023)
The public sector loan facility (PSLF) has launched a call for proposals to support just transition investments by public sector entities. The PSLF is the third pillar of the Just Transition Mechanism. It supports a wide range of sustainable investments addressing the challenges deriving from the transition to the European Union’s climate target objectives. It combines grant support provided by the Commission (approx. €1.5 billion) with European Investment Bank (EIB) loans (up to €10 billion). It will finance projects which do not generate a sufficient stream of revenues to cover investment costs.
Featured knowledge product: Sustainable employment and welfare support toolkit (31/01/2023)
We invite our community to re-visit our toolkit on Sustainable Employment and Welfare Support for insights – in sum and in detail – on how to accompany labour market transition in coal regions with both short-term support for workers, and long-term job-creation actions.
News from the Initiative for Coal Regions in Transition (12/12/2022)
As 2022 comes to an end, read on to join us in reflecting on recent events and advancements in just transition. The Initiative for Coal Regions in Transition wishes all readers a restful winter break. We look forward to continuing to work with you to ensure the future is sustainable and just for all.
Save the Date: Coal Regions in Transition's next Annual Political Dialogue (15/12/2022)
The Coal Regions in Transition Initiative’s next Annual Political Dialogue will be held on 27-28 June 2023 in Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic).
Application period for START closes tomorrow, 16 December (12/12/2022)
Coal, peat and oil shale regions can once again apply to receive START technical assistance to help decarbonise energy production and usage, diversify economic activities, and progress social development. Applications are due tomorrow, 16 December.
Europe pushes ahead with global just transition efforts despite pitfalls in the final COP27 agreement (12/12/2022)
At the COP27 closing plenary, the European Commission affirmed that Europe wanted to see bolder fossil fuel phase-out commitments coming out of the COP27. However, the final agreement does, at least, open the possibility for more support for global just transition.
Executive Vice-President Timmermans visits Silesia to discuss just transition and new economic opportunities (12/12/2022)
Earlier this month, Executive Vice-President Timmermans visited the coal region of Silesia (PL) to meet with local leaders to discuss just transition for coal regions. Visit coalregions.eu to learn more about Silesia’s transition, including a Silesia regional profile, three case studies related to their just transition accomplishments, and a ‘Transformation Options Framework’ developed with START technical assistance.
Reminder: last chance to register for START workshop (15/11/2022)
Stakeholders from coal, peat and oil shale regions across the EU can once again apply to receive START technical assistance to help decarbonise energy production and usage, diversify economic activities, and progress social development to deliver just transition on the ground. Questions? Join an online workshop and Q&A session on Friday, 18 November from 10:30-12:00 CET (UTC+1) to hear more about START, how to apply and to pose your questions directly to senior START experts.
How can the Initiative support you? Let us know via a Knowledge Support Survey. (15/11/2022)
The Initiative for Coal Regions in Transition has a short Knowledge Support Survey now open for input. Filling in this survey should take only a few moments, and will help us ensure that the toolkits, case studies and knowledge products that we produce meet your needs. We would be grateful for your inputs, and invite you to fill in the survey by clicking the “more” button below. The deadline to complete the survey is Friday, 25 November.
6th Just Transition Platform conference: moving from planning to implementation (24-26 October, Brussels) (08/11/2022)
Read highlights, quotes, and overarching reflections from the recent Just Transition Platform conference, organised by DG REGIO and DG ENER. The event brought 1000 key transition stakeholders together in Brussels and online.
Open call for technical assistance (09/11/2022)
Coal, peat and oil shale regions can once again apply to receive START technical assistance to
help decarbonise energy production and usage, diversify economic activities, and progress social
development. Questions? Join an online workshop on Friday, 18 November from 10:30-12:00
CET to hear more about START and to pose your questions directly to senior START experts.
Spotlight on Velenje, Slovenia (08/11/2022)
Velenje (Slovenia) was planned as a coal town, and coal continues to play an important role in the city’s culture and economic activity today. Yet, its ambitious just transition work and vision for a climate-neutral future has led the city to win the European Green Leaf award, and be selected to be part of the EU Climate-neutral and Smart Cities Mission, through which the city is committed to being climate-neutral by 2030.
A global community of coal regions in transition: reflections from Climate Week NYC (22 September, New York City, USA) (08/11/2022)
Just transition does not end at the EU’s border. Read more about the international connections forged at Climate Week NYC 2022. And, be sure to join as the conversation is advanced at COP27.
Resources (09/11/2022)
9 November intro blurb (09/11/2022)
Over the past few months, the coal regions community came together for an Annual Political Dialogue (July 2022) and the sixth Just Transition Platform conference (October 2022), new calls were launched for START technical assistance and the exchangeEU programme, and the EU coal community implemented important projects to deliver just transition on the ground and forged connections with international just transition efforts. It has been a busy season – and much of this work is only just beginning! Read the articles below for more information, and stay tuned to our channels for further updates.
