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Mar 22 2024
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The Future of the EU’s Energy Project: Social dimension

By Uncategorized

About

This policy brief considers the social dimension of the EU’s future energy project, with a particular focus on social and territorial inequalities, energy poverty, inflation, jobs and skills.

It zooms in on the current policies and regulations, political context, investments and redistribution, and puts forward a number of political ideas and proposals. By shifting away from a consumption-driven approach, towards a planned, collective one, the authors argue, the EU can create real motivation for citizens to play an active part in the transition.

How?

a. Providing public measures and subsidies to fight energy poverty, while reducing overconsumption and maximising efficiency and sufficiency.

b. Creating new strategies and incentives for an inclusive transition on the labour market and schools.

c. Deploying the highest social and environmental conditionalities, at home and abroad.

d. Delivering the needed investments through a balanced combination of new money, new paradigm and new tax system.

This policy brief is part of the GEF Knowledge Communities. It is our second brief exploring the various dimensions of the EU’s energy project, all based on expert input and discussions. The other three deal with energy security, climate and democracy.

 

Contributors

Benjamin Denis, Core expert of this Knowledge Community, Senior Policy Advisor and Head of Industrial Policy Coordination at IndustriAll Europe.

Joanna Maćkowiak-Pandera, Core expert of this Knowledge Community, Founder and Head of Forum Energii.

Rosa Martinez, Core expert of this Knowledge Community, Green European Journal Board Member and State Secretary for Social Rights in Spain.

Antoine Oger, Core expert of this Knowledge Community and Research Director, Global Challenges and SDGs at the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP).

Jesse Scott, Core expert of this Knowledge Community, Adjunct at Hertie School Berlin and Visiting Fellow at DIW Berlin.

Taube Van Melkebeke, Green European Foundation (GEF)’s Head of Policy and Knowledge Communities lead. For further information, contact her at taube.vanmelkebeke@gef.eu.

 

 

This policy brief has been realised by the Green European Foundation with the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation. The European Parliament is not responsible for the content of this publication.

Feb 29 2024
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Climate Emergency and Welfare States

By Uncategorized

About

This policy brief develops arguments for an urgent evolution of European welfare states. We point out that, to answer the new climate emergency-related risks citizens face, welfare states should be reinvented and expanded. We suggest a set of concrete political proposals that can lead the way, ranging from the systematic decarbonisation of existing welfare state infrastructures to funding of an additional European welfare state sector, to new directives, new forms of European coordination, and the establishment of an EU monitoring body. The proposals have all been selected for their
feasibility and implementability during the next European legislature, as well as for their potential to spark public and political debates surrounding the intersection of the climate emergency and welfare states’ policy.

Contributors

  • Philippe Pochet, GEF fellow and core expert to this Knowledge Community. In the past, he held the position of Director of the Observatoire Social Européen (OSE) for over 15 years. From 2008 to 2023, he served as the General Director of the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI). Currently, he is a Professor at the Catholic University of Louvain and a Visiting Professor at the College of Europe in Bruges. He also holds the position of Affiliate Professor at Sant’Anna School of advanced studies, Pisa. Next to the topic of the Single Market, Philippe is also collaborating with GEF on Climate Emergency and Welfare States.
  • Taube Van Melkebeke, Head of Policy at the Green European Foundation (GEF). She leads the different Knowledge Communities of the foundation. For further information, contact her at taube.vanmelkebeke@gef.eu.

 

This policy brief has been realised by the Green European Foundation with the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation. The European Parliament is not responsible for the content of this publication.

Feb 15 2024
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Women Leaders on the Frontlines

By Uncategorized

Context

Europe’s social economy sector, a highly feminised sector which employs 13.6 million people, representing 6.4% of the workforce, is faced with an increasingly impossible mission: delivering essential services at scale in the face of rising societal challenges, or at least that’s what is currently expected from them. This includes inequality and the climate crisis, to build societal cohesion in a context of increasing polarisation and loneliness, as well as to play a role of initiator and catalyser of the green transition.

“Our big mistake as women leaders in NGOs is the failure to acknowledge that the challenges we are experiencing are not personal, they are systemic.”

 

Objectives

This study, which represents the first-ever study of its kind, aims to take stock of the progress of the last decade, as well as identify remaining barriers and new opportunities for women CSO leaders in achieving systemic change in Europe. The idea for this study grew out of dozens of conversations the authors have had with their peer women leaders over the years. A survey of 148 women leaders was conducted to explore their strategies for managing complex demands, their perspectives on being women in leadership in 2023, their contributions to innovation and cultural transformation in the workplace, and the obstacles they encounter. Through 25 interviews and two focus groups, this study draws out recommendations for donors, organisations, and wider society to support and invest in transformative, feminist women’s leadership.

You can view the authors’ presentation from the study launch here.

This policy study “was commissioned by the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS), with the support of GEF, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, and the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union, with the financial support of the European Parliament to GEF and FEPs.

Jan 12 2024
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Geopolitics of a Post-Growth Europe

By Uncategorized

Context

As it stands, degrowth fails to resonate with experts in foreign and security policy. It is easy to see why. In geopolitics, many determinants of power – trade, aid, tech nology, defence – are closely linked to GDP. If they do not ignore planetary boundaries altogether, geopolitical pundits trumpet the ‘green growth’ narrative so as to reconcile ecological and geopolitical security. It is this very narrative that degrowthers aim to refute.

It is better to manage the end of growth through democratic deliberation than to have it imposed on us by ecological breakdown.

 

Objectives

It is unlikely that we will be able to defuse the climate time bomb, let alone other ecological threats, as long as our economy continues to grow. But what would the end of economic growth mean for geopolitics? Could a European Union that is the first to embrace post-growth still be a global actor? Would it be able to defend itself, its allies, democracy, human rights, and the international rule of law at a time when aggressive autocracies are invading or threatening their democratic neighbours? This report addresses uneasy questions that few have dared to ask.

 

Project Background

This report is produced by the Green European Foundation. It is part of the project Geopolitics of a Post-Growth Europe. The project is led by Wetenschappelijk Bureau GroenLinks (NL) and supported by BlueLink (BG), Center for Green Politics (RS), Etopia (BE), Fondation de l’Écologie Politique (FR), Green House Think Tank (UK), and Transición Verde (ES). Check out www.geopoliticspostgrowth.eu for more interviews, videos, and other project outputs.

 

Available Translations

Dutch

Spanish

Serbian

French

Bulgarian

Czech

Portuguese

This report has been realised by the Green European Foundation with the support of  Wetenschappelijk Bureau GroenLinks and the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation. The European Parliament is not responsible for the content of this publication.

Jun 19 2023
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The Tilting City

By Uncategorized

Context

Three out of four Europeans live in a city. Therefore, cities are essential to lead the transformation to a socially and ecologically just society. This radical change is more urgent than ever, as IPCC reports remind us: already 3.5 billion people are highly vulnerable to climate impacts. Different cities suffer from diverse ecological impacts and will be differently affected by climate change. And within cities, certain groups are more exposed to the effects of air pollution, noise, and extreme temperatures than others. Without thoughtful politics and policies, the most vulnerable will suffer the consequences. In this context, ecological justice is vital. Taking inequalities into account and repairing the damage to these people’s lives but also holding those most responsible for the climate crisis to account.

‘’When imagining cities, we for instance cannot lose sight of the farmer in rural areas feeding urban mouths, or the homeless person at the city centre bus station.’’

Objectives

This publication aims to draw an image of what the city of the future could look like. The authors show alternatives to the current urban models and how they can be future-proof. This text will hopefully serve as a valuable source of information and bring up new thoughts among citizens activist, policymakers and everyone interested in exploring ethical and ecological ways of living in cities in the 21st century.

 

Project Background

This publication is part of Cities as a Place of Hope project of the Green European Foundation. With this project, we aim to create a strong communication network and solidarity network that will enable access to information and policies by compiling experiences and needs on sustainable and green city governments and related policies together with green associations in different cities in Europe. In this study, making the city’s actors effective and visible in city policies is one of our biggest goals.

 

Dowload

Available in Turkish

Available in Polish

Available in Greek

This report has been realised by the Green European Foundation with the support of  Oikos, Green Though Association and the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation. The European Parliament is not responsible for the content of this publication.

Jun 19 2023
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Sketches of a New City

By Uncategorized

Context

While no city is the same, one thing all have in common is the challenge of creating a society that is fit for the future. Some of the most present problems citizens living in cities are experiencing are the effects of climate change–such as rising heat or lack of water. On a political level, cities often lack opportunities for citizens to actively engage and be part of decision-making processes on citie’s future.

Far too often, big and ambitious projects end with failures. We want to start in the opposite way – with small sketches; with working material that can in time develop into something durable and resilient’’

Objectives

In this publication, researchers, scholars, practitioners and activists share their insights gained through the direct experience and empirical evidence on the daily struggle of key changemakers at the municipal level aiming to inspire and educate citizens all over the world.

 

Project Background

This publication is one of the results of IPE’s participation in the GEF transnational project “Cities as Places of Hope – Resilient Cities”, where we aimed to vividly illustrate the most recent developments in some European cities and trace the pathways through which they can develop resilience, increase the well-being of citizens, reach ecological sustainability, and achieve more social justice.

Available in

Translations

Available in Macedonian

Available in Greek

 

This report has been realised by the Green European Foundation with the support of the Institute for Political Ecology, and the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation. The European Parliament is not responsible for the content of this publication.

May 30 2023
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Diversity and Inclusion (DEI): A Starting Guide

By Uncategorized

Context

There is no quick fix to the dangers democratic systems are facing, but one thing is certain: building an open and inclusive society will take consolidated efforts to restore civic participation and dialogue which goes way beyond election day.

Diversity and inclusion start at the organisational level, by adopting adequate policies that helps attract and retain a diverse set of talent.

 

Objectives

With this short pocket-guide, you are invited to dive into the topic of diversity and inclusion, a mental framework which invites for self- and organisational- reflection. While not pursuing the ambition of an all-encompassing guide, it aims to pose the question: “Are you, your team and your organisation ready to engage in open, respectful, and inclusive dialogue with diverse groups in society?”

 

This publication has been realized with the financial support of the European Parliament and the Robert Bosch Stiftung. The European Parliament and the Robert Bosch Stiftung are not responsible for the content of this publication.

Apr 21 2023
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Regional Responses to Climate Change Through Regional Adaptations

By Uncategorized

Context

In its European Adaption to Climate Change, the EU presents the objective suggested to support 150 European regions and communities  working on climate resilience measures until 2023. It particularly takes into account the different ways that regions all over European are affected by Climate Change and how the European Union can support regions and local communities in the process of adjusting to the already existing and predicted effects of climate change on the daily lives of different communities.

The European Union should orient its climate change policy towards a policy mix that includes both Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change. The former implies a more passive and reactive approach to mitigating the effects of Climate Change, while the latter indicates an active mitigation response.

Objectives

Based on the outcomes of the project Regional Responses to Climate Change,  this study offers insights on the implementation and response to the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Plans in the context of Greece and proposes a potential regional and local response to the predicted impacts of climate change .

Project Background

The “Regional Responses to Climate Change” project explores what a regional climate adaptation-resilience Plan would look like through a rethinking of policies for a new concept of infrastructure investments.

The creation of the publication has been possible thanks to the input from a large number of contributors, including: Panagiotis Panagos, Stavros Solomos, Demosthenes Sarigiannis, Rigas Tsiakiris, Panagiotis Vouros, Ilias Gianniris,  Elias Gianniris, Mirto Garis, Rigas Tsiakiris, Michael Bakas, Philippos Ganoulis, Nikos Poutsiakas and Costas Papakonstantinou.

 

This Publication is also available in Greek

This report has been realised by the Green European Foundation with the support of the Greek Green Institute, and the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation. The European Parliament is not responsible for the content of this publication.

Apr 03 2023
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Fair and Carbon Free Tourism – Serbian Research Reports

By Uncategorized

Context

The research for these papers was conducted in 2021 by the Organisation for Political Ecology – PolEkol as part of the GEF transnational project named “Fair and Carbon Free Tourism”. The aim of the project was to identify and create conditions for

collective action against the detrimental social and environmental impacts of tourism, which are often underestimated while pursuing different economic activities. Throughout 2020, this project entailed events, desk research, several local site visits as well as public debates to increase visibility and build a community around this topic. In 2021 and 2022, it followed up with larger study trips and further research to expand this knowledge and connect further with stakeholders, affected audiences and policymakers on the local but also the European level.

Sustainable Spa Tourism in Serbia

The tourism sector is a highly lucrative branch of the economy, and one that the Republic of Serbia has identified explicitly as a priority area for growth. With a history of spas that dates back to Roman times, wellness tourism is particularly interesting for international visitors and foreign investment. This research report considers the current situation, some of the challenges and risks that come with tourism development, and lays out a series of recommendations to ensure that this happens in a fair and sustainable way. Particular attention is paid to the idea of water as a public good, and the importance of protecting water access and quality for local communities and the natural world.

OPEN PDF VERSION

Sustainable Tourism on the Balkan Mountains

The tourism sector is a highly lucrative branch of the economy, and one that the Republic of Serbia has identified explicitly as a priority area for growth. At the same time, tourism is a significant driver of climate change and environmental harm, and the Covid-19 crisis highlighted the precarity of jobs and communities that depend on it. This research report explored local tourism in the Balkan Mountains as a potential model to do things differently. It looks at how community-led, small-scale tourism can not just avoid harm but actively enhance environmental protection, and offers rural populations a way to maintain their village lives with diversified sources of income. However, this requires careful investment in infrastructure and social and communal services, not just opening up the area to be a playground for private investors.

OPEN PDF VERSION

 

These reports have been realised by the Green European Foundation with the support of Polekol foundation (Serbia), and the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation. The European Parliament is not responsible for the content of this publication.

Mar 16 2023
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The Future of Eastern Europe and Eco-Democracy

By Uncategorized

Context & Objectives

Democracy in Eastern Europe is hanging by a thread. Authoritarianism is growing and nationalist narratives are reopening old conflicts. The pandemic has exposed governments’ inefficiencies to react to any sort of crisis and contributed to heighten polarisation in an already polarised society. On the other side, hope is on the horizon as progressive movements are gaining relevance locally, and mobilisation around environmental issues is rapidly growing. In this context, this publication aims to explore how to leverage these small steps and use them to strengthen the Green movement in the region. This publication is part of the Transnational Project The Future of Eastern Europe and Eco democracy.

“At least two to three generations of humans have now lived through some of the fastest changes with regards to the climate crisis and species extinction. It is up to us to reinvent politics, disrupt the status quo and create a solid foundation not only for us but also for the continued existence of biodiversity on our planet…”

 

Download

Also available in Greek.

Also available in Turkish.

 

This publication has been published by the Green European Foundation with the support of Cooperation Development Networks Eastern Europe (CDNEE), Green Thought Association (Turkey), Sustainable Development Forum Green Window (Croatia), Green Institute (Greece) and Ecopolis Foundation (Hungary).

Feb 08 2023
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Feminists in the Environmental Movement

By Uncategorized

Context

Through an ecofeminist lense, this publication explores the connection between feminism, youth, and the environmental struggles in Central and Eastern Europe. As part of the Feminists in the Environmental Movement project, we have explored these concepts within urban areas, but the struggle in rural and de-urbanised areas remained under-examined. While green successes and support often concentrate in urban centres, engaging and mobilising rural communities is crucial to achieve a socially just green transition.

 

Objectives

This publication includes an extensive research on the lives of young female activists in rural and de-urbanised areas, the stories of their struggles, victories and hopes for the future. It aims to raise voices of people who are usually unheard in the European landscape. While reading the different articles, you will explore the lives of women in rural areas, their perspectives and tools to cope with the local issues, and the multiple forms of oppression they face.

Let’s stand in solidarity and truly “leave no one behind” in our path towards a just society!

Download

Turkish (Please note this translation is an abridged version of the original publication).

This publication has been produced by the Green European Foundation with the support of Cooperation and Development Network Eastern Eu-rope (CDN) and with the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation.

Feb 01 2023
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Rethinking Heating and Cooling

By Uncategorized

Context

Climate impacts became more apparent within Europe through the record high temperatures in the summer of 2022. This has converged with a cost-of-living crisis exacerbated by the war in Ukraine and consequent shortages of Russian gas and an unprecedented increase in energy prices. Whilst governments in some countries have shown imaginative thinking to deal with the immediate energy crisis, this thinking needs to be extended with a view to long-term changes of behaviour, practices and social norms. Change is essential to limit energy demand in the future as a critical response to the climate crisis.

Ensuring everyone has a living space that they can maintain at temperatures safe for human health should be a government priority.

 

Objectives

This publication argues for a broad rethink of the demand for heating and cooling buildings that goes beyond calls for widespread retrofit. It draws from the earlier ‘Rethinking Energy Demand’ report (October 2022) and the interviews conducted for that report with academics and thought-leaders across Europe. The earlier report considered the need and means to sufficiently reduce energy demand. This policy briefing invites policy makers to extend their thinking beyond the immediate crisis towards a longer-term strategy for delivering the human need for thermal comfort whilst eliminating carbon emissions. The briefing comprises 6 sections and offers 16 policy recommendations, across both efficiency and sufficiency measures.

 

Translations

Available in Spanish

Available in Greek

 

This publication has been realised by the Green European Foundation and Green House Think Tank with the financial support of the European Parliament. The European Parliament is not responsible for the content of this publication.

Jan 31 2023
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Nuclear Power

By Uncategorized

Context

The nuclear power lobby is stronger today than ever. The lobbyists have succeeded in creating an enormous disparity in the perception of what to believe and reality. The post-Chernobyl generation is increasingly falling prey to the fairy tale of modern, safe, cheap and CO2 neutral nuclear power. These arguments can be quickly refuted and often only serve to conceal the ulterior motive: to increase the stockpile of nuclear armaments. Nuclear power will most definitely not save the environment.

Objectives

This publications argues that nuclear power is not the solution to climate change including a critical analysis of the main ten misconceptions about “green” nuclear power. It has been written in close cooperation with Martin Litschauer, Member of the Austrian Parliament and Anti-nuclear Spokesman of the Austrian Greens, and Maria Niedertscheider, Expert Assistant, Austrian Federal Environmental Agency. Th purpose of the brochures is to serve as guidance for a broad European discussion and as a concise summary of the narrative on nuclear power as a supposedly bridge technology.

If we want to protect ourselves and save the environment, we have to use solar, wind and geothermal energy, because these are the fastest and safest ways to achieve the energy transition.

Translations

Available in Turkish

Available in Slovenian

This publication, originally published by FREDA, has been realised by the Green European Foundation and FREDA with the financial support of the European Parliament. The European Parliament is not responsible for the content of this publication.

Oct 26 2022
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Rethinking Energy Demand

By Uncategorized

Context

Scientists are clear that Europe must significantly reduce its overall energy demand to meet the targets for carbon reduction necessary to limit climate danger. In its latest report on climate mitigation, the IPCC has, for the first time, included a chapter dedicated to reducing demand. This chapter concludes that calling for individual action is insufficient and that a society-wide approach is needed for significant impact, delivering up to 70% decarbonisation.

However, there is a dangerous silence on this matter within the public sphere. Politicians are hesitant to speak on this point, fearing the disruption that this will cause. (2) However, disruption is an inevitable part of any economic change and there is still time to make a choice about the form this disruption takes. Avoiding the topic closes off all options around how to address the impacts.

Objectives

This report explores the need to rethink energy demand in terms of policies, politics and economics. It draws on interviews and round-table discussions with academics researching energy reduction and sufficiency, and post-growth and macroeconomics, and with green politicians.

Energy demand is just a subset of how humanity is exceeding planetary boundaries.

 

The report focuses on the barriers, opportunities and where sufficient changes could be unlocked through new governance, policies and communication, rather than on specific policies for specific sectors.  Whilst this report focuses specifically on reducing direct energy demand, much of the report’s findings could be applied to much wider challenges, including the indirect energy embodied in supply chains, which also need to be reduced if we are to address the interlocking climate and ecological crises. The report is written to inform and provide a resource for policy makers, politicians, climate campaigners and the general public who are motivated to respond to the climate change threat.

Download

Available in Greek

Available in Catalan

Available in Spanish

This publication has been realised by the Green European Foundation and Green House Think Tank with the financial support of the European Parliament. The European Parliament is not responsible for the content of this publication.

Sep 22 2022
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A Green New Deal for Leeds City Region

By Uncategorized

GALBA’s Vision for a Sustainable Local Economy (Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport)

Context

The Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport (GALBA) is a group of concerned citizens in West Yorkshire. They came together from a range of backgrounds and across the political spectrum to stop the proposed expansion of Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA), which they managed to do in 2022.  Learn more here.

Following the COP26 Climate Conference in Glasgow, the Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport (GALBA) launched their new report: ‘A Green New Deal for Leeds City Region: GALBA’s Vision for a Sustainable Local Economy’.

We believe that local jobs and our fragile climate are best safeguarded by investing in a new green economy that supports sustainability whilst making sure our communities are employed in secure, productive and meaningful work.

Objectives

This report sets out concerns about the claims being made by Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) around job creation.  GALBA propose a more forward-looking, ambitious and achievable economy that reduces reliance on aviation and encourages investment in local communities, whilst addressing the other key challenges faced around transport, energy and food supply. “Our generation has seen the emergence of a human-created climate emergency. We must also be the generation to fix this, by making best use of our most precious resource–our people”.

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Also available in Spanish.

This report is published by the Green European Foundation with the support of Green House Think Tank and the financial support of the European Parliament. The European Parliament is not responsible for the content of this project.

Sep 21 2022
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A Just Transition in Britain: Navigating “Actually Existing Regionalisms”

By Uncategorized

About

Back in July, GEF alongside Green House Think Tank launched an essay competition for students and young writers on the political potential of the Just Transition in the UK. We’re now delighted to announce the winner of our Just Transition essay competition: Matthew Hull.

For as long as the vocabulary of just transition has existed, it has attended to regional inequality and ‘spatial justice’.6 This arises from the common-sense observation that regions whose economies are especially reliant on fossil-fuelled industries, and whose opportunities for economic diversification are limited, will be particularly vulnerable during any transition.

 

Objectives

Matthew looks at two decades of regional development in the UK, from New Labour’s ‘new regionalism’ to Metro Mayors and devolution in Wales. Exploring how ‘actually existing regionalism’ has accommodated ecological objectives over time, and through narratives from networks to ‘Levelling Up’, Matthew contrasts a history of weakness with an emerging political potential. “The regionalist genie may be out of the bottle,” his excellent essay concludes, “and centralising governments may struggle to put it back in.”

 

This essay has been published by the Green European Foundation with the support of Green House think tank and with the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation. The European Parliament is not responsible for the content of this content.

Jul 15 2022
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Fighting Conspiracy Theories on TikTok

By Uncategorized

Context

TikTok has become a primary social media platform. It has allured many young social media users (under the age of 18), at an age when conspiracy theories are more likely than ever to take hold. With a never-ending newsfeed and easy redistribution tools, the platform has become a breeding ground for fake news, conspiracy theories and theorists, for long under the radar.  But since it is now a key actor in our social media landscape, used more and more for political objectives, non-profit organisations and activists need to address this dangerous trends .

Since it is getting increasingly harder to find reliable information online where the lines between reality and fiction blur, what can we do about this, especially in a digital age when everyone has access and is exposed to conspiracy theories?

 

This toolkit was drafted after the implementation of the “Anti-conspiracy theories on TikTok” project in January 2022, looking at how could young European activists and non-profits use TikTok to combat existing conspiracy theories and prevent the rise of new ones. And this is a new tool, a starting point for anyone interested in learning about this platform and in debunking and combatting fake news  on social media in general.

 

Download

Also available in Turkish

Also available in Croatian

May 17 2022
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The Good Story – Green Narratives from the Balkans

By Uncategorized

Context

The Good Story gathers contributions from experts and activists who participated in the GEF Green Horizons Academy in Serbia. The publication explores the different approaches to how green narratives can reach a broader audience, in Serbian and English language

If there ever was an actor who could contest peripheral neoliberal capitalism and nationalism effectively in the past 30 years, this is the green actor. This is not because green politics is superior to other ones, but because no one expected it to occur and especially not at this level of organization and public support.

 

Objectives

What makes a good story? A compelling narrative, a powerful beginning, an interesting hook? The convincing and trustworthy messenger?

This text zooms in on eco-politic struggles faced in Serbia in the last few years. Serbia has been the field site of an unprecedented environmental mobilization. It explores Serbian activist movements, green populism and reflects on wider tensions at the heart of the Balkans’ ecopolitics and potential solutions for the future.

 

Download

Available in Greek

This report has been published by the Green Europe Foundation with the support of Polekol and with the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation. The European Parliament is not responsible for the content of this report.

Apr 06 2022
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A guide to engaging aviation workers and trade unions

By Uncategorized

Context

Climate campaigners are coalescing around an agenda of no expansion of airports and the need for a long-term reduction of aviation. However, not all of these campaigns have incorporated worker perspectives to better understand the impact on jobs and changes to local and national economies.

We don’t just want to get the industry back to where it was in 2018, but decarbonised. Because that wasn’t a good industry for workers. Transport had become too cheap, it was market driven. There is a need to embark on a huge transformation of the industry.

Objectives

This short guide explores how campaigns can connect better with aviation workers and the trade unions that represent them – to build mutual support, win those campaigns and advance a rapid and just transition for workers in the sector.

About the project

This publication is part of the project “Just Transition in the Aviation Sector” that explores how the concept of a just transition could look like when applied to the aviation sector in the UK. It focuses on the loss of jobs in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the potential of the green job creation. In this context, a case study of the Gatwick airport was conducted.  

Just Transition in the Aviation Sector explored the topic of the Aviation sector adaptation through several formats, including the development of infographics, events with an inclusive European dimension. As a part of the project, GEF implemented an online event called Green jobs and airport expansion campaigns, gathering experts and politicians to debate the topic in a panel format.  

The initial research and debates within the project scope culminated in this report.  

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Available in Spanish

This publication has been realized with the support of Green House Think Tank and the financial support of the European Parliament. The European Parliament is not responsible for the content of this publication. 

Apr 06 2022
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Albanian Green Academy Report

By Uncategorized

Context and Objectives

This report was prepared based on the trainings, workshops and lectures organized at the Albanian Green Academy in 2021. The overarching themes of the events focused on the European Green Deal and Climate Justice at local, national and European levels. The aim of the report is to promote green thinking in political, social and environmental aspects in Albania and the region.

About the Albanian Green Academy:

The Albanian Green Academy 2021 was held on 10-12thSeptember and 1-3rdOctober. It was divided in two phases. The main theme and focus of this first phase of the academy was “European Green Deal”. The main theme and focus of this second phase of the acade my was “Climate Change. In this series of 6-day training the topics of European Green Deal and Climate Change were addressed in the context of national and European conditions. Avery important objective of this project was to bring together, equip with information and build cooperation between different groups to achieve an environmental society.

Climate change is already happening: temperatures are rising, droughts and wildfires are starting to happen more often, rainfall patterns are changing, glaciers and snow are melting and the average global sea level is rising. To mitigate climate change, we must reduce or prevent emissions related to human activities.

Download

Digital version in Albanian is available here

This report has been published by the Green Europe Foundation with the support ofthe Albanian Green Institute and with the financial support of the EuropeanParliament to the Green European Foundation. The European Parliament is notresponsible for the content of this report.