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Western Macedonia, Greece

Western Macedonia, Greece

Slide Regional profile Western Macedonia, Greece

INTRODUCTION

Western Macedonia’s just transition to a low-carbon economy is driven by a coalition of local mayors and regional stake­holders and supported by the Coal Regions in Transition Platform of the European Commission. In late 2019, Greece became the first Balkan country to announce a coal phase-out date. The rapid coal phase-out planned by the Greek government has caused great concern among mayors and stake­holders in Western Macedonia.

In 2016, the Western Macedonian Regional Council established the Regional Development Fund of Western Macedonia. The €10 million fund is providing small interest loans to local SMEs, particularly those that contribute substantial added value to the local economy.

 Overview

Western Macedonia Greece
Size (sq. km) 9,451 131,957
Population 269,222 10,741,200
Population per sq. km 28 81
GDP per capita €14,800 €17,200
Unemployment rate 27.0% 19.3%

Western Macedonia has the highest total technical potential of any European coal region for wind and solar PV system combinations on mine sites.

Electricity generation mix

Coal %

Renewables %

Natural Gas %

Oil %

Slide Lignite power plant and mines between Kozani and Ptolemaida.

The city of Kozani, located at the heart of Western Macedonia’s energy axis, plays an important role in promoting a just transition to a low-carbon economy. Eleftherios Ioannidis, who served as mayor of Kozani from 2014–2019, has been a crucial figure in promoting a just transition. Perhaps most notably, he has formed a coalition with other local mayors and the regional government and raised awareness at national and EU levels. In 2016, Ioannidis and WWF Greece began to advocate the creation of a National Just Transition Fund (NJTF) for lignite regions by inspiring a joint movement of mayors and other stake­holders from lignite regions. In April 2019, the Greek government estab­lished the NJTF. The fund will invest €30 million from CO2 auctions over a period of 3.5 years.

 Coal industry

Slide 8 37.9 of coal

4,280 mines active million tonnes
producing jobs in Greece providing 4 coal plants

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USA"> Southwestern Pennsylvania, <span class="caps">USA</span>

USA">Southwestern Pennsylvania, USA

Slide Regional profile Southwestern Pennsylvania, USA

INTRODUCTION

Pittsburgh provides a successful blueprint for the economic revital­i­sation of Rust Belt cities. The Appalachian Regional Commission has supported regional economic devel­opment since 1965. Federal bipar­tisan legis­lation currently under consid­er­ation could finance mine recla­mation projects throughout Appalachia.

In 1965, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) was formed as a regional development agency. Since then, the federal-state partnership has financed economic development in the Appalachian region, particularly in areas affected by the coal-industry downturn.

 Overview

Pennsylvania USA
Size (sq. km) 115,883 9.15 million
Population per sq. km 110 34
GDP per capita €45,581 €52,303
Median household income €51,949 €52,434
Per capita income €28,742 €28,507
Unemployment rate 4.5% 3.6%

25% of Pennsylvania’s residents live outside urban areas.

Electricity generation mix

Nuclear %

Natural Gas %

Coal %

Renewables %

Slide The Appalachian Mountains run diago­nally across Pennsylvania.

Over the past two decades, Pittsburgh has intro­duced various measures to shed its reputation as a ‘Rust Belt’ city and establish itself as a centre for biomedical research, banking, and education. In 2017, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto released plans for major invest­ments in renewable energy infra­structure, including programmes that would provide a ‘just transition’ for former coal miners, as part of a holistic approach to climate change mitigation.

 Coal industry

Slide 151 50
of coal

5,100 mines active
million

short
tonnes
producing jobs in Pennsylvania providing 19 coal plants

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Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France

Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France

Slide Regional profile Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France

INTRODUCTION

Over the past 50 years, Nord-Pas-de-Calais has taken ambitious measures to cultivate new local indus­tries. Recently, the region released an innov­ative master plan for a carbon-free economy. Loos-en-Gohelle provides a blueprint for successful community-led energy transi­tions.

After the development of a regional master plan, rev3 was created to accelerate the transition to a carbon-free society by 2050. Rev3 currently maintains an investment fund of €40 million, as well as a savings account of €17 million that enables citizens to support regional transformation projects.

 Overview

Nord-Pas-de-Calais France
Size (sq. km) 12,412 549,089
Population per sq. km 4,041,766 67,063,703
Population density (people/sq. km) 326.7
GDP per capita €27,900 €35,000
Unemployment rate 12.1% 8.2%

Today, there are no active coal mines or coal power plants in Nord-Pas-de-Calais.

Electricity generation mix

Nuclear %

Renewables %

Oil %

Natural Gas %

Coal %

Other %

Slide Loos-en-Gohelle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Jérémy-Günther-Heinz Jähnick, CC BY 2.0

In contrast to most of Nord-Pas-de- Calais, the coal community of Loos-en-Gohelle took early action to implement a sustainable transition process following the closure of the local mine. Until 1986, Loos-en-Gohelle was one of the main coal-mining towns in Nord-Pas-de-Calais. It is now considered a best-practice example of a community-led energy transition. Today, the city is a tourist desti­nation and a centre for green research and development.

 Coal industry

Slide 35
of coal

220,000 1930 The coal industry of 

Nord-Pas-de-Calais
million tonnes
produced people
and employed peaked in

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Lusatia, Germany

Lusatia, Germany

Slide Regional profile Lusatia, Germany Gunter Tschuch, CC BY-SA 4.0.

INTRODUCTION

Germany will phase out coal-fired electricity gener­ation by 2038 the latest. Over the next two decades, the German government and federal states will provide €17 billion to Lusatia for struc­tural support. As part of the WindNODE project, consortium partners in Lusatia are devel­oping blueprints for the second phase of the energy transition.

In 2019, 20 mayors from Lusatia signed the ‘Declaration of Mayors on Just Transition’ to show their support for a just transition, demand appropriate support mechanisms, and stress the importance of social dialogue and consultation with local governments.

 Overview

Lusatia Germany
Size (sq. km) 11,727 357,386
Population 1.2 million 83 million
Population per sq. km 99 230
GDP per capita €28,434 €37,128
Disposable income per capita €18,722 €21,583
Unemployment rate 6.7% 5.2%

Lusatia was selected as one of nine ‘hydrogen regions’ in Germany, winning funds to develop innovative ideas for regional hydrogen production, storage, and use.

Electricity generation mix

Coal %

Renewables %

Natural Gas %

Nuclear %

Other %

Slide Mining became fully mecha­nised with the invention of the conveyor bridge in 1924.

Since German reuni­fi­cation, Lusatia has imple­mented various strategies to support regional economic devel­opment and facil­itate necessary struc­tural change. The region has culti­vated a strong tourism industry by promoting local attrac­tions, including the Spreewald Biosphere Reserve and, more recently, the Lusatian Lake District, a chain of artificial lakes extending across 140 km² of former open-cast mines. Faced with multiple challenges related to struc­tural change, Lusatia is building on its long tradition as an energy region and on the related know-how of regional research insti­tu­tions and business actors. Today, the region is home to solar and wind parks and a factory for wind turbine blades.

 Coal industry

Slide 2 60 of coal

7,649 Branden-
burg
each in

Saxony and
million tonnes
producing jobs in Lusatia providing 4 active mines

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USA"> Colorado, <span class="caps">USA</span>

USA">Colorado, USA

Slide Regional profile Colorado, USA

INTRODUCTION

Colorado has estab­lished itself as a national leader in renewable energy production and climate change mitigation. Recently, plans for a just transition to a low-carbon economy have won the support of a broad coalition of stake­holders. Colorado Governor Jared Polis has created a Climate Cabinet and developed one of the country’s most ambitious plans to combat climate change at the state level.

In 2019, Colorado passed a package of 14 bills supporting climate change mitigation and the energy transition. The bills include plans for mine reclamation projects and training programs for high-quality jobs and created the Advisory Committee and Just Transition Office to administer transition assistance and ensure the participation of workers.

 Overview

Colorado USA
Size (sq. km) 269,837 9.15 million
Population per sq. km 21 34
GDP per capita €52,333 €52,303
Median household income €60,134 €52,434
Per capita income €49,677 €28,507
Unemployment rate 2.5% 3.6%

Colorado’s Renewable and Clean Energy Challenge provides $12 million (€11 million) in grants for projects that can help the state achieve its target of 100% renewable energy by 2040.

Electricity generation mix

Natural Gas %

Coal %

Renewables %

Slide World’s largest wind tower factory, Pueblo, Colorado. Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0

In Pueblo, a city in south­western Colorado, the local economy was dependent on coal and steel production for much of the city‘s history. However, as the coal industry’s success began to fade, Pueblo charted a new path forward, aiming to become a low-carbon city and regional hub for renewable energy production. Support for the transition grew as a result of grass­roots campaigns, local government initia­tives, Xcel’s Colorado Energy Plan, and the devel­opment of the world’s largest wind tower factory in Pueblo. 

 Coal industry

Slide 6 14
tonnes of coal

1,258 plants
coal
short producing jobs in Colorado providing 7 active mines million

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