“There will be a Just Transition or no transition at all”
— Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, European Commission
The global shift towards a low-carbon economy, as an imperative to combat climate change, raises some fundamental questions about matters of justice, fairness and cost-effectiveness/sharing, especially for the most affected people and regions. The principles of a “Just Transition” is currently a matter of heated debate accros the globe, shaped around the demand for climate action and climate justice based on human rights’ respect and equity, and a well-managed transition considering the challenges high-carbon intensive industries and regions are facing. The matrix is approaching the debate with a particular focus on the following issues:
The future of workforce and skills, with emphasis on the coal-depended regions in Europe. Author of the Book Chapter Fostering Green Jobs. Opportunities & Challenges for the European Union’s (EU) Clean Energy Transition in Rządkowska A. (ed.) Europe-Energy-Climate: The Quest for the Clean Energy Transition in the EU, European Solar Network (ESP) Press, 2020.
Youth climate movement and climate justice
Climate change litigation
Participated as a speaker, together with an excellent lineup of panelists, in the 2021 Energy Policy Group’s Summer School (EPG Summer School). The focus of the Summer School was the “Smart Transformation in the Energy Sector” and I have delivered a lecture on the subject of Affordable Green Energy and the principles of Just Transition.
Photo credit: EPG
Participated as a speaker in the Webinar, organized by the Bussola Institute, on “Youth Voices and Insights for Addressing Climate Change”.This Bussola webinar brought together a range of well-informed youth voices from Europe to the Gulf and beyond, to share their expertise and insights into what is needed to bring about more effective responses to climate change. We have also discussed why climate action is so important to young people right across the globe and how engaging with youth voices and insights can make for more effective climate policy development through introducing dynamic new thinking and innovative action to deliver sustainable prosperity and security for the future generations.
In March 2022 EIT InnoEnergy CommUnity, a global network where EIT InnoEnergy students and alumni can connect, invited me to discuss the EU’s efforts in managing a just energy transition while striving to reach its climate neutrality goal by 2050.