Survey: EU funding in coal regions in transition (21/04/2021)
Our upcoming toolkit on transition financing will support actors working at local and regional levels by providing guidance for effective mobilisation of EU funds in coal regions in transition. We are currently seeking stakeholder views on key challenges faced by practitioners, knowledge and capacity gaps, and examples of good practice. Please take a moment to fill out this questionnaire. It will help us develop a toolkit best tailored to the needs of practitioners.
Just Transition Platform - Coal Regions Virtual Week and Carbon-intensive Regions Seminar (15/03/2021)
On behalf of the European Commission’s Directorates-General for Energy and Regional Policy, we are delighted to invite stakeholders from EU coal, carbon and fossil fuel-intensive regions to the 3rd meeting of the Just Transition Platform - Coal Regions Virtual Week. The event will take place online from 26 to 29 April 2021 and be opened by Kadri Simson, Commissioner for Energy and Elisa Ferreira, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms. Register below!
New toolkit: Technology options in coal regions in transition (15/03/2021)
This toolkit focuses on what technology options exist and which technological developments are likely in the future. The information gathered will provide decision makers in coal regions with a general overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the available technologies, enabling them to explore new business models, which also make use of the existing coal related infrastructure in their region. This in turn to help with the development of regional strategies.
"The new economy will require people who are mechanically-minded and hard workers. Coal communities have those people and can lead the way." (15/03/2021)
Coalfield Development's Jacob Israel Hannah (Conservation Coordinator) and Brandon Dennison (CEO), talked to us about the Appalachian region's transition away from coal and their bottom-up approach to rebuilding and reimagining the regional economy.
Survey: EU funding in coal regions in transition (15/03/2021)
Our upcoming toolkit on transition financing will support actors working at local and regional levels by providing: an orientation across various sources of EU funding; guidance for effective mobilisation of EU funds, including examples of successful programmes and initiatives. As part of this development, we are seeking stakeholder views on key challenges faced by practitioners, knowledge and capacity gaps, and examples of good practice in mobilising EU funds in coal regions in transition. Please take a moment to fill out this questionnaire. It will help us develop a toolkit best tailored to the needs of practitioners.
Coal Regions Learning Academy (14/04/2021)
The European Commission is actively supporting the implementation of the Coal Regions Learning Academy by the College of Europe in Natolin and the World Bank.
The Coal Regions Learning Academy will be open for a wide array of interested stakeholders in coal regions in transition in the Western Balkans and Ukraine. Find details about its objectives and curriculum below. Please note that the information is updated on an ongoing basis.
"The decarbonisation of our economy is one of our biggest challenges, but Asturias is committed to the just transition" (19/02/2021)
In this interview, María Belarmina Díaz Aguado, Director General of Energy, Mining & Repurposing, Government of Asturias (Spain), talked to us about Asturia's challenges in their path towards decarbonisation. We discussed their industrial legacy, their action plans and how the START programme helped them open up to technical assistance and seek out improved ways of undertaking stakeholder engagement.
SAVE THE DATE - Coal Regions in Transition Virtual Week (26-30 April) (03/03/2021)
The upcoming Just Transition Platform – Initiative for Coal Regions in Transition Virtual Week will be hosted during the week of April 26 (schedule to be confirmed soon). Speakers will discuss a wide range of topics, including the upcoming toolkit "Technology options - Transforming industries in coal regions for a climate-neutral economy", potentials of the creative industries in coal regions, the reuse/repurposing of former coal sites, the role of coal regions in the new energy value chain, updates from the START support, and welcoming newcomers to the Initiative. Stay tuned for more information.
Commission launches the Secretariat of a new initiative for coal regions in transition in the Western Balkans and Ukraine (19/02/2021)
The Secretariat of a new initiative to help coal regions in the Western Balkans and Ukraine transition away from coal towards a carbon-neutral economy has been launched by the European Commission. Mirroring the successful EU Initiative for coal regions in transition, the newly established Secretariat will deliver support to coal regions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Ukraine.
Coal Regions Learning Academy - Training Needs Assessment Questionnaire (08/03/2021)
The Coal Regions Learning Academy (in the framework of the initiative for coal regions in transition in the Western Balkans and Ukraine) aims to address capacity gaps that are impeding coal regions in the Western Balkans and Ukraine from successfully designing and implementing transition strategies and associated kick-start projects as part of their energy transition. The knowledge to be delivered through the e-learning Academy shall reflect a broad array of case studies, global good practices on technical subject areas, use of analytical tools, and prevailing regulatory and administrative processes. Please take a moment to fill out this questionnaire. It will help us develop a training programme best tailored to the needs of the learners.
TJTP assessment tool (WWF) (19/02/2021)
WWF's tool helps to assess how effective proposed Territorial Just Transition Plans are to deliver a truly just transition aligned with the Paris Agreement. It is aimed at policy makers, municipalities, civil society and other partners involved in developing the plans to provide information about what makes a good plan and to enable them to evaluate the quality of the plan as it develops.
Expanding the just transition and strengthening interregional cooperation (24/11/2020)
Coal regions stakeholders from across the EU and beyond joined the Just Transition Platform meeting and Coal Regions in Transition Virtual Week on 16-19 November. The week featured discussions on a wide range of topics, including hydrogen as an opportunity for EU coal regions, the current outlook of the Initiative for coal regions in transition, youth involvement in the just transition and the just transition in the Western Balkans and Ukraine, among others.
START updates (01/12/2020)
Work on the START programme continued throughout 2020, starting with visits to five of the seven regions followed by a revision on the modalities through which assistance is being provided due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The technical assistance to the Midlands region in Ireland concluded in September 2020, becoming the first region to have completed the START programme. The outputs from START assistance to the Midlands can be found on the Initiative for coal regions in transition webpage. The technical assistance and related outputs vary in each region reflecting their unique regional contexts and needs.
Inaugural Western Balkans and Ukraine Coal Regions in Transition Platform Meeting (02/12/2020)
The meeting will be held on December 10 and 11, 2020 virtually. The Platform Initiative convenes the coal regions from the Western Balkans and Ukraine together to share experiences and lessons learned on the energy transition. It is supported by the World Bank, the College of Europe (Natolin campus), the Energy Community Secretariat, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Commission, and the Government of Poland.
Save the date - Just Transition Platform Meeting – Coal Regions in Transition Virtual Week (02/10/2020)
Save the date for the upcoming Just Transition Platform Meeting – Coal Regions in Transition Virtual Week, taking place online from 16-20 November! During this week we will be welcoming new regions to the Initiative and host discussions on developments on the EU Just Transition, the current outlook of the Coal Regions in Transition Initiative, stories of regions from the EU and beyond, among many others. Please reserve these dates in your agendas, more information will be available soon!
Lessons learned from START (02/10/2020)
Fair Development Plan (Master Plan) for the lignite areas of Western Macedonia and Megalopoli (06/10/2020)
The Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy opened a public electronic consultation for the Master Plan for the Fair Development Transition Plan (SDAM) in the lignite areas of Western Macedonia and Megalopoli. Every social partner and interested party is invited to participate in this public consultation before Tuesday, November 10, at 16:00, submitting their proposals for any improvement of the Plan (in Greek).
The EU’s commitment to the just transition (10/07/2020)
This year has been anything but normal. The COVID-19 pandemic caught the world off-guard and its impacts were felt across countries, regions and communities around the world. Coal regions across the EU were especially hit by this crisis. However, we also witnessed the resilience of communities and institutions around the continent in rising to the challenge and finding creative ways to make the best out of the situation. The European Commission’s commitment to a climate-neutral Europe and the just transition is one such example.
Outcomes of the Coal Regions in Transition Virtual Week (10/07/2020)
Click the button below for videos, presentations and conclusions from the Coal Regions in Transition Virtual Week.
Launch of the Just Transition Platform (14/07/2020)
To aid the transition to sustainable and climate-neutral economies, the European Commission launched the Just Transition Platform to assist EU countries and regions to unlock the support available through the Just Transition Mechanism. This platform will provide a single access point for support and knowledge related to the just transition. All the relevant knowledge and information that authorities and beneficiaries need will be shared on the platform, including funding opportunities, relevant regulatory updates or sector specific initiatives. Click the button below to read more.
Task 3 regional profiles (10/07/2020)
The START team has compiled four regional profiles for seven of the regions in which it is delivering technical assistance. The regional profiles were developed with significant input from the respective regions and provide insights and perspectives on the economic, social, industrial and transition contexts in each region.
The profiles reflect a range of regional types in terms of: nature of the resource (hard coal, lignite and peat); socio—economic and industrial structures; and geographic characteristics e.g. urban and rural areas. The profiles developed to date relate to: Asturias in Spain; Karlovy Vary in Czechia; Malopolska and Silesia in Poland; and Midlands in Ireland.
The profiles have already proved their worth as a useful reference for EU, national and regional policy makers. It is hoped that other regions will be inspired to develop their own regional profiles which can be uploaded on the CRiT initiative’s webpages.
Launch of the Just Transition Platform (19/06/2020)
Between June 29 - July 3, the European Commission will launch the Just Transition Platform during a high-level online event with a keynote from Executive Vice President, Frans Timmermans, and featuring Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson and Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira. The 5-day event will also present the Just Transition Mechanism, detailing its purpose and how it can assist a just transition, and the Coal Regions in Transition Virtual Week, addressing issues faced specifically by coal, peat and oil shale regions. Register below.
Webinar series (19/06/2020)
The Platform for coal regions in transition, together with experts in energy transition, representatives of regional authorities, trade unions and NGOs, hosted a series of webinars on key topics for EU coal regions in their path towards decarbonisation. You can find the presentations and video recordings in the link below.
COVID-19 in European coal regions (19/06/2020)
The COVID-19 pandemic affected all countries, regions, and communities throughout Europe. Measures to limit the spread of the virus have caused an economic downturn followed by a reduction in energy demand, with a severe impact on coal power generation and mining activities. The Secretariat of the Platform for Coal Regions in Transition reached out to the affected regions to collect information on the experiences of Europe’s coal regions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
New toolkits to support EU coal regions in transition (28/05/2020)
The Platform for coal regions in transition has just launched a suite of toolkits to assist practitioners in EU coal regions. The toolkits focus on key aspects of the transition: strategies, governance, employment and welfare support, and environmental rehabilitation. Click the button below to access the toolkits.
Webinar series (28/05/2020)
A recovery plan for Europe (28/05/2020)
The implementation of the European Green Deal lies at the heart of the Commission’s plan, so does the principle of solidarity. It provides for a fourfold increase of the budget of the Just Transition Fund, at EUR 40 billion, at the direct benefit of coal regions in transition. With a reinforced InvestEU programme, the second pillar of the Just Transition Mechanism will also increase its available support.
Survey: EU Green Deal (28/05/2020)
Help shape the EU Green Deal and take part in surveys on key aspects such as: increasing climate ambition; clean, affordable and secure energy; industry for a clean and circular economy; energy and resource-efficient buildings; and more. Click the button below to read more.
Updates from the Platform for coal regions in transition (04/05/2020)
Webinar series (06/05/2020)
During the coming weeks, we will host a series of webinars on key issues facing coal regions in transition.
Adapting START to a new reality (05/05/2020)
The START (Secretariat Technical Assistance to Regions in Transition) team has undertaken in-depth scoping visits to five of the seven regions selected for technical assistance. Detailed work plans have been developed for four of these regions. In response to the changing environment caused by COVID-19, the START team is in liaison with regional and national authorities to understand how the technical assistance can be adapted to changing regional circumstances, and reshaping the support around remote engagement and online materials and tools.
