The out-phasing of lignite and hard coal due to the urgent need to achieve GHG-emission reduction targets as required by the Paris Agreement and EU’s climate policies, is an ongoing reality in Europe. Since 2012 the coal power generation was reduced by almost a third. The European Green Deal, presented by the Commission in December 2019, aims at making Europe the first climate-neutral bloc in the world by 2050. Although the shift to a low-carbon economy presents many opportunities, economic and social impacts in many coal regions cannot not be ignored. The structural change poses considerable challenges to coal-mining regions: for instance in East Germany (“Lausitzer Revier”), EUR 1.8bn of value added is at risk. In order to prevent political frictions, an ambitious climate policy should go hand in hand with participation and social justice, i.e. a Just Transition that ensures that the coal regions will not become (perceived) losers of energy system transformation (cf. WBGU, 2018). Structural change in coal regions is a currently important - but certainly only a first example of a transformation driven by climate policy and the international sustainability agenda. The commitment of the Paris Climate Convention means that fundamental upheavals of our economic system are unavoidable. Processes of structural change will occur in many other industries and regions. The switch from the combustion engine to the electric motor will present the automotive industry with a far-reaching transformation task. Another example are the challenges for action in the course of the implementation of decarbonisation strategies in energy-intensive industries.
Against this background we invite contributions of academics, politicians and other actors that are related to the following questions and issues:
- How structural policy and post-transitional policy can be successfully policy support each other in a positive way.
- Opportunities for transnational co-operation in energy transition (e.g., Lausitz in Germany and Lower Silezia in Polane).
- The usefulness of existing transition and transformation theories for guiding the energy transition.
- Innovativeness as a condition for effective structural change.
- Relevant reflections and studies on the issue.
Please submit your papers (completed or nearly completed) or abstract via e-mail to: Prof. Joost Platje (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
The submission deadline is September 1, 2020. Notification of acceptance: 5 September 2020.
Links
https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/oil-gas-and-coal/eu-coal-regions
https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/oil-gas-and-coal/EU-coal-regions/coal-regions-transition
http://www.just-transition.info/coal-platform
https://wupperinst.org/fa/redaktion/downloads/projects/PhasingOut_Coal_report.pdf