The European Green Deal sets out Europe’s ambition to become the first
climate-neutral continent by
2050. We have no choice but to succeed in this effort.
In order to achieve the European Green Deal’s
ambitious objectives, the
Just Transition Fund was created with the aim to balance the socio-economic
impacts of the transition to a climate-neutral economy specifically in fossil-fuel dependent and carbon-intensive regions such as Moravian-Silesian region.
Our region has been in the process of transformation since the 1990s. 200 years of coal exploitation are
coming to the end by 2022. Former steel heart of the Czechia offers a lot of inspiring stories on change
of persons life and mindset, substantial shift of economy from coal mining to data mining, transforming
the industrial heritage to new sites for creative industries and many others.
Just Transition Fund and
Mechanism bring a new opportunity to finalize the transformation process just in time to support
efforts of local people and organizations to deal with the end of coal mining and transfer to a new low-carbon economy.
This process has been governed under the umbrella of a Regional Development Strategy which had
been created with a broad involvement of stakeholders and approved by the Regional Assembly in
2019. There are 3 super priorities – ECOSYSTEM FOR ENTERPRENEURSHIP, WELL-EDUCATED PEOPLE
AND ATTRACTIVE ENVIRONMENT which are linked to workshop’s thematic blocs.
Successful transition
requires improvement of regional image from coal region to region of competent people, clean and
attractive environment and good job opportunities aiming to prevent brain drain of young talented
people or offer them an attractive place to return to.
There are several reasons why participation of young people in Just Transition is crucial. Nobody knows
the challenges, needs and aspirations of young people living in a transition region better than youth
themselves. It is essential that young people are actively involved in Just Transition because a
successful transformation story in Moravian-Silesian region cannot happen without involving those
who will live and shape the future.
The future of young people will be directly affected by the upcoming
transition, and their needs, opinions, fears and hopes are an important part of today´s discussion
within the Conference on the Future of Europe as well as presentations of projects and activities that
are being prepared from Just Transition Fund and could make a needed positive change for future
generations.
The workshop was held in English and chaired by Mgr. Zdeněk Karásek, Deputy Member of the European Committee of the Regions.
Key speakers included:
- Věra Jourová, EC Vice-president for Values and Transparency
- Ivo Vondrák, Governor of the Moravian-Silesian Region
- Igor Ivan, Vice-rector, VSB-Technical University of Ostrava
- Adéla Hradilová, RIS manager and Board Member, Moravian-Silesian
Innovation Centre Ostrava
- Petr Koudela, director, Moravian-Silesian Tourism
#TheFutureisYours
#YouthforJustTransition
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