Climate change and carbon neutrality strategy constitute topics that received increased attention from the scientific community and policymakers, shedding light on the multifaceted interplay of socio-economic, and environmental aspects of the transition.
Bringing the above topics into the broader spectrum of research, JT-OBSERVATORY probes deeper into the need for efficient governance encompassing monitoring and assessment of just transition at local/regional level. To this end, the project aims to explore synergies among Just Transition Observatories, place-based governance, spatial justice, and deliberative democracy, based on a comparative case study analysis in three different coal regions in Greece, Bulgaria, and Poland. In particular, JT-OBSERVATORY attempts to examine to what extent the transition governance modes applied in Western Macedonia-GR, Stara Zagora-BL, and Silesia-PL, are effective and just and whether they embed spatial justice and place-based elements. We conceptualize spatial justice as the fair and equitable distribution of socially valued resources and opportunities (Soja, 2010). In this framework, we critically discuss the concept of transition as a fundamental societal change through the lens of justice and efficiency.
The place-based notion is examined and theoretically founded on the well-known definition of the place-based approach, given by Barca (2009). The compelling research question relates to the potential contribution of an objective and collectively agreed monitoring and assessment mechanisms at local/regional level, on a “just” energy transition in relation to governance configuration and spatial imbalances. It is also examined whether the current set of just transition policies at local/regional level and the existing structures of the governance system support or impede spatial justice and whether place-based policies are able to mobilize local resources and generate endogenous growth.