Venue:
Maison des Associations Internationales
40, rue Washington
1050 Brussels
Belgium
Conference organised by the Delegation DIE LINKE. in the European Parliament and the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Brussels, in cooperation with transform! europe.
The recently adopted Paris agreement on climate change should accelerate the decarbonisation of the global economy, since, for the first time, all countries have committed to become carbon neutral by the end of this century. Europe should approach carbon neutrality by 2050. Whereas these ambitious objectives have been established, the concrete strategy to make the low-carbon industry a reality in Europe is still to be developed. This is especially true in regions which rely heavily on carbon intensive activities and which often remain important employment providers.
The aim of the conference is to create an exchange of views between trade unionists, politicians of left and green parties across Europe, and policy makers coming from coal regions/nuclear regions such as Lusatia and Ruhr area in Germany, Poland, Asturias in Spain, France and Scotland who face the political and economic consequences of a coal phase-out or nuclear phase-out.
We would like to discuss the concept of “Just transition” and possible opportunities and barriers to its implementation. What is the need for policy planning at regional level? What kind of governance structures do we need to ensure workers’ participation? Which initiatives at EU level are necessary to accelerate the deployment of low-carbon breakthrough technologies? How can we achieve a skilled workforce which is an asset in the transition of regions towards a low-carbon economy? How can the local support for decarbonisation be strengthened?
Languages: German, English, Spanish, Polish
Please register at: cornelia.ernst@ep.europa.eu
10:00-10:15 Welcome and Introduction
10:15-11:45 SESSION 1: What is to be done? Points of view from regions to be affected by the coal and/or nuclear phase-out – Facilitator: Claire Roumet (Director of Energy Cities)
Discussion
11:45-12:00 Coffee Break
12:00-13:30 SESSION 2: Arguments and Proposals for a Just Transition: Trade Unions’ Voices – Facilitator: Paloma Lopez-Bermejo (MEP)
Discussion
13:30-14:30 Lunch Break
14:30-16:00 SESSION 3: Arguments and Proposals for a Just Transition: Left Parties’ and Green Parties’ Voices – Facilitator: Cornelia Ernst (MEP)
Discussion
16:00-16:15 Coffee break
16:15-17:45 SESSION 4: Assessments of on-going regional experiences – Facilitator: Marlis Gensler (RLF)
Discussion
17:45-18:15 Concluding Remarks and Next Working Steps – Facilitator: Martin Schirdewan (Director RLF Brussels)
18:15 Networking cocktail