Just Transition in Western Balkans
Rachel Guyet – Eda Bülbül
At the doorstep of the EU, the Western Balkans are struggling with the decarbonization process that is an absolute necessity for the climate action. Aged infrastructure and energy systems need support to be updated to reach the EU standards. Countries such as Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia have six times higher carbon intensity than the EU[1] while 16 coal power plants in Western Balkans are producing more hazardous emissions than 250 power plants in Europe. This has negative consequences for both Member States and Western Balkans such as air pollution and health care cost. It is estimated that every year the pollution from coal causes 3,000 premature deaths and 8,000 cases of bronchitis in children of the region[2] while the health care costs of coal emissions to Western Balkan governments and the EU is above EUR 6 billion[3].
Although the need for coal-phase out is apparent and expected after China announced they would stop investing in coal power plants abroad, the countries in Western Balkans have no plan for coal phase out. On the contrary, there is some level of resistance from national governments against planning of a coal phase-out while the subsidies in the region that accumulated up to €72.7 million in 2019 are still being flooded to the coal sector[4]. With Western Balkans’ pledge to follow EU’s Large Combustion Plants Directive, 10 aged power plants in the region are set to be closed before the end of 2023[5] with or without just transition plans. The transitioning process to low carbon economy may create new vulnerabilities if not planned with just transition concept. Miners and citizens in mining towns are going to be strongly affected by the coal phase out and energy transition. If jobs are lost in specific regions, it may result in people moving to other places because of lack of jobs, because of closures of services resulting in ageing populations staying and limiting the potential development. Furthermore, the end energy users, and particularly vulnerable energy consumers, are going to suffer from energy transition because of potential price increases. It means citizens and regions are going to be broadly affected by the energy system transformation.
The Just Transition is a concept that can address the fairness aspect of this transformation. The main focus at the heart of the EU policies has been the reskilling and employment of fossil fuel workers and improving economic diversification of the regions that are impacted by the energy transition. However, just transition is not only about addressing the coal phase out, but it is also about tackling the broader injustices resulting from climate action. It is also about creating enabling frameworks that stimulate the dialogue between decision makers and impacted citizens while acknowledging and tackling existing and new inequalities in the society.
Based on this understanding of the Just Transition, a project is planned to kick-off in 2022; tackling climate, energy and environmental challenges in the region through Just Transition lens.
[1] https://www.ebrd.com/news/2020/greening-the-western-balkans-region.html
[2] https://www.env-health.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Chronic-Coal-Pollution-report.pdf
[3] Matkovic, Vlatka & Gierens, Rosa. (2019). Chronic coal pollution - EU action on the Western Balkans will improve health and economies across Europe.
[4] https://europeanwesternbalkans.com/2021/03/18/pr-no-room-for-coal-fired-thermal-power-plants-and-polluting-industry-in-the-western-balkans-anymore/
[5] https://balkangreenenergynews.com/ten-units-of-western-balkan-thermal-power-plants-must-be-shut-down-by-2023/