6th BOLSTER regional policy dialogue

The Just Transition Mechanism as a way to tackle energy poverty: Perspectives from Romania and beyond

What?

The BOLSTER project (Bridging Organizations and marginalized communities for Local Sustainability Transitions in EuRope) aims to understand how marginalized groups are affected by European Green Deal (EGD) policies and to assess whether involving them in decision-making processes increases the support for transition plans.

The project, coordinated by Tilburg University, began in September 2022 and is delivering new scientific evidence on decarbonization transition strategies and how they intersect with various dimensions of inequality, such as gender, race, age and class. It conceptualizes the principle of leaving no one behind by developing participatory governance models and transition guidelines based on climate justice and gender equality.

In this framework, ECAS and the BOLSTER consortium partners are organizing a series of 10 regional policy dialogues, focused on the target regions of the project, and 3 EU policy dialogues.

When?

The 6th BOLSTER regional policy dialogue will take place online in English on Monday, 23rd September 2024, from 9:30 to 12:00 CEST.

Why?

The policy dialogue will delve into the project’s findings in Romania, with a special focus on the Prahova region. It will also explore the similarities and differences in the Just Transition process across Europe. With a primary goal of highlighting the experiences, challenges, opportunities and institutional arrangements within the Just Transition for communities affected by energy poverty, the dialogue will also investigate the potential contributions of these communities in the Just Transition and strategies to enhance their participation despite limited access to resources. By drawing insights from diverse stakeholders, including policymakers, community leaders, international networks, sustainable business representatives, and researchers, the dialogue aims to identify innovative approaches to empower marginalised communities throughout the energy transition process.

Speakers:

• Alexandra Lulache, Housing Coordinator, MKBT (Romania)
• Andreea Vornicu, Researcher, Centre for the Study of Democracy, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca; Romanian Energy Poverty Observatory (Romania)
• Alexandru Kelemen, Executive Director, Association for Integrated Territorial Development of the Jiului Valley (Romania)
• Anca Sinea, Energy Policy Researcher, Department of Political Science, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca (Romania)
• Ana Maria Elian, Managing Partner and Programme Director, MKBT (Romania)
• Nadya Parpulova, Department Economics of Transport and Energy, University of National and World Economy (Bulgaria)
• Zuzanna Sasiak, Campaign Coordinator, Polish Green Network, CEE Bankwatch Network (Poland)
• Anna Bajomi, Policy Officer, FEANTSA – European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (Europe)
• Gall Podlaszewski, Managing Director and Architect at PHLOX (Germany)

For further information, please contact anita.marullo@ecas.org

Agenda

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