Energy Transitions Across Multi-Scalar Governance Levels in Europe

On March 21st, ECAS organised the 8th regional policy dialogue in the framework of the BOLSTER project (Bridging Organizations and marginalised communities for Local Sustainability Transitions in Europe). This dialogue is part of a series organised by ECAS within the project framework to promote cross-regional policy learning on just and green transition processes.

Purpose: The expert speakers explored how energy and climate transition policies unfold across Europe, from EU Commission directives to local-level implementation, and assessed their real-world impact.

With presentations from…

Dr. Michiel Stapper (Tilburg University, The Netherlands): Introduced the concept of the just transition by tracing its evolution from labour movement origins to its current framing in socio-spatial and policy contexts.
Ana Maria Elian (MKBT, Romania): Presented insights from Prahova, Romania, detailing how historical dependencies and economic challenges have created fractures in the local implementation of just transition policies.
Nevelina Pachova (RMIT Europe, Spain): Examined the divergent visions of environmental justice in León, Spain, demonstrating how long-term industrial decline and community marginalisation have shaped local expectations and participation in the transition.

And a panel discussion with…

Prof. David Evers (University of Amsterdam and UGoveRN, The Netherlands) examined multi-level governance in energy transitions, illustrating how national, regional, and local efforts can be aligned to support a coherent policy framework.
Andre Legarza (University of Amsterdam and UGoveRN, The Netherlands) offered a socio-spatial analysis of the just transition, highlighting how deeply carbon-intensive industries are embedded in local life and cultural practices.
Prof. Tobias Arnoldussen (Tilburg University and UGoveRN, The Netherlands) provided a legal perspective on the just transition, discussing how existing legal frameworks can be reconfigured to better support marginalised communities.

Key takeaways:

Transition policies must integrate social, environmental, and economic objectives to ensure that marginalised communities are not left behind.
Multi-scalar governance—coordinating actions from European to local levels—is critical for a coherent and inclusive energy and climate transition.
Effective transitions require a balance between top‐down funding and regulatory measures and bottom‐up community engagement, ensuring both systemic change and local resilience.

Conclusion:

A just and effective energy transition requires a holistic approach that puts together social, environmental, and economic priorities. Governance must operate across multiple scales, ensuring that policies are coherent and inclusive, while also being sensitive to local histories, cultures, and economic conditions. Finding the right balance between high-level regulation and grassroots participation is essential, fostering both systemic transformation and local resilience. Only through this approach can the transition be truly sustainable and equitable for all communities.

The recording of the dialogue is available below and presentations can be downloaded here.

A more detailed summary can be consulted here.