Just Transition Conference
date: 21/03/2024
Reminder! Time is running out to register for the next Just Transition Platform Conference on 16-17 April
The countdown to the highly anticipated Just Transition Platform Conference is on, and there's not much time left to secure your spot. The conference will be held in Brussels and online on 16-17 April 2024!
This event will be co-hosted by DG REGIO and DG ENER. It will provide a forum for sharing views and experiences on the just transition process to stakeholders from national, local and regional authorities, as well as economic and social partners, the wider society and representatives from the European Commission. Among them is the Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, the Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, the Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, and the Director-General for Regional and Urban Policy, Themis Christophidou.
How to register
You can still register for online participation to the conference until the day of the event.
About the event
The two-day conference on 16 and 17 April will facilitate exchange between stakeholders on the journey of a just transition towards a climate-neutral Europe. The event will spotlight the high-level discussion on the future of just transition, and it will provide good practice examples in harnessing the financing opportunities offered by the Just Transition Mechanism (JTM).
Furthermore, specific sessions will address various topics such as effective just transition monitoring mechanisms, the role of just transition in poverty alleviation, empowering youth engagement, how to develop and implement energy communities, skills development for a green future and available on-the-ground support for regions.
More information
For more information about the event, you can consult the programme here.
If you have any questions about the event or any issues with the registration form, please send an email to events@justtransitionplatform.eu.
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JTP Groundwork announces the next edition of technical assistance
Following the successful implementation of technical assistance to six Just Transition Fund (JTF) regions in 2023, the technical assistance service of the Just Transition Platform continues with the second edition of JTP Groundwork. Twelve beneficiaries have been selected for the new cohort, benefiting 16 JTF territories across Europe.
The selected territories and their respective technical assistance focus are:
- Stara Zagora (BG): capacity building – energy efficiency in public buildings;
- Sisak-Moslavina (HR): project development – gaming industry centre;
- six French JTF regions (FR): JTF project analysis and brownfield sites development;
- Megalopolis (GR): project identification for PSLF and JTF financing;
- Baranya (HU): support with preparation of SMEs for JTF calls;
- Midlands & Eastern Region (IE): project development – community-owned electricity generation;
- Taranto (IT): project development – IT industry and bioremediation;
- Łódzkie (PL): capacity building on renewables acceleration areas;
- Gorj county (RO): supporting universities and youth in just transition implementation;
- Jiu Conurbation (RO): programme management for just transition implementation;
- Savinjsko-Šaleška (SI): communication support – district heating systems decarbonisation;
- Gotland (SE): assessing skill & labour needs under renewables expansion scenarios.
The participating territories will benefit from tailored, needs-oriented capacity-building and advisory support from JTP Groundwork. Over the coming weeks, the scope, content, and the type of the technical assistance will be defined in close coordination with the recipients to increase ownership and ensure a long-term impact.
The JTP Groundwork technical assistance will employ different formats, combining virtual and face-to-face interaction, to respond to the specific needs of the selected beneficiaries and to address the challenges they are currently facing in implementing their TJTPs. JTP Groundwork will focus on developing strategies and projects to address these challenges, as well as strengthening local and regional networks within each territory.
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Two new JTP Working Groups are getting started
Following the successful implementation and outcomes of the former JTP Working Groups in 2021–2023, two new JTP Working Groups on stakeholder engagement and equal opportunities will be established in 2024. The call for expression of interest concluded on 1 March 2024. The JTP Secretariat received close to 100 applications from various organisations all over Europe.
Application results in numbers
The JTP Working Groups received 95 applications in total: 41 for the group on stakeholder engagement, 22 for the group on equal opportunities, and 32 for the second circle of observers.
A third of the applicants represent civil society, a quarter represent economic and social partners, and the rest of the applicants represent local, urban and other public authorities (such as research centres and universities), local or regional authorities, and Member State authorities.
The new Working Groups focus on all JTF regions (coal and carbon-intensive). They focus on proper implementation of the JTF and bring together a varied group of stakeholders to closely monitor the just transition process, share competencies, and formulate guidelines for the implementation of JTF projects linked to their area of competence.
- The Working Group on stakeholder engagement cuts across different transition sectors (energy, steel, cement, chemicals, etc.) as well as different directly affected segments of society from JTF territories. The mission of this Working Group is to identify and assess approaches and good practices for engaging different stakeholder groups in the implementation of the JTM.
- The Working Group on equal opportunities acts as an observatory, focusing specifically on the most vulnerable and underrepresented groups of the just transition: youth, elderly, rural communities, women and other groups. The mission of this Working Group is to discuss and find ways to ensure that the implementation of the JTM benefits these groups of stakeholders and creates equal opportunities.
- A dedicated JTP Youth Task Force within the Working Groups will focus on the skills and challenges of the youth.
The Working Groups are established for approximately three years (until the end of 2026) and will meet regularly, both in person and online.
Next steps
The JTP Secretariat is informing all applicants of the selection outcomes. The first gathering of the core members (first circle) of the Working Groups will take place on Thursday 18 April in Brussels, right after the JTP Conference on 16–17 April.
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The Public Sector Loan Facility official video is now available
We are pleased to share that an official promotional video of the Public Sector Loan Facility #PSLF under the Just Transition Mechanism #JTM has just been released. It aims to provide information on funding opportunities and the application process.
Whether you are looking for additional sources of financing for your project or you are simply wondering what the PSLF is for and what kind of projects it can support, this video is for you.
Click here to watch it and learn about the PSLF in under two minutes.
Do not miss the next opportunity to apply for the PSLF funding for your project on 17 April 2024, 17:00 CET. Check this page for all application deadlines and the link to apply.