Page 44 - European Energy Innovation - autumn 2019 publication
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44 Autumn 2019 European Energy Innovation
REGIONAL COAL TRANSITION
fuels. This will require an economic “A significant challenge in the spirit efforts in convening representatives
and societal transition, one that of decarbonisation is not only to from coal regions across the
has the potential to leave certain diversify the energy systems of a continent to share good practice.
segments of EU citizens and regions region, but also to ensure that there
behind. are economic opportunities for the Both digitally and through face-to-
communities and the residents within face events, coal region stakeholders
The EU has said that any transition the region,” explained Robert Pollock, are given the opportunity to
should be “clean and fair”, meaning Senior Advisor within the Secretariat exchange with peers, establishing
that a transition that results in large of the Platform for Coal Regions in a commonality in the difficult task
swathes of a region becoming long- Transition. facing them. This realisation that no
term unemployed or that destroys region is facing these issues entirely
communities or cultures would be “A big challenge – and there are many alone helps to build a sense of
unacceptable. An economic transition – is to understand how the transition community.
that benefits many, as opposed to can impact the regions, understand
enriching a select few, is to be pursued. how they can benefit from it, how In true miner fashion, it is hoped
they can create new industries, or that by bringing people together
To help those regions that are find new ways of developing that can the Platform for Coal Regions in
economically reliant on coal, the EU bring jobs,” said Aleksandra Tomczak, Transition will give birth to a bond of
has established the Platform for Coal Policy Coordinator with the European its own. l
Regions in Transition. The Platform Commission’s DG Energy. “The ideal
offers targeted advice to coal and scenario would be that in five years To find out more about the
carbon intensive regions, providing we already see concrete projects Platform for Coal Regions in
technical assistance in the fields of that have been implemented [in coal Transition, visit coalregions.eu
strategies and governance, as well regions] that citizens have seen the or contact
as project design and development. benefits of.” secretariat@coalregions.eu
It strongly promotes the growth of
low-carbon industries that have the One of the most important aspects of
potential to benefit local residents. the Platform Secretariat’s work is its
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
