Poland has taken the reins of the rotating EU Council Presidency this month, and has made energy security and transition a priority in its 6-month programme. In alignment with this priority, the City of Katowice (Poland) is contributing to the EU energy transition agenda; the municipality, capital of the region of Silesia and ICLEI Member, has joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA), an international coalition of governments, cities and regions, and businesses committed to coal phase out and acceleration of clean energy.

The region of Silesia has an extensive economic and sociocultural legacy of coal mining, with the sector providing nearly 90,000 direct and indirect jobs, where the regional production is one of the highest in Europe. Like the rest of the region, the impetus towards climate neutrality on the continent has led Katowice to adjust its labour market strategy and diversify its economy, focusing on services, technology and culture. The EU Commission has been supporting coal regions like Silesia with developing and implementing transition projects through instruments like the Just Transition Mechanism and the Initiative for coal regions in transition. ICLEI Europe is part of the Secretariat that runs the Initiative, and has, through the technical assistance facility, guided Silesia’s just transition communication strategy, and other activities.

Katowice’s sustainability journey has been picking up pace in the last few years, in part through local efforts and activism but also through collaboration with international organisations such as ICLEI, Climate Reality Project, CAN Europe, and WWF Poland. The municipality also hosted the 24th UNFCCC Climate Change Conference in 2018 as well as the World Urban Forum (WUF11) in 2022. In 2023, the city released its Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP), to reduce CO2 emissions by 40% relative to 1990, prioritise investments in green infrastructure, and promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Now, as the sixth Polish member of the PPCA after Wielkopolska, Eastern Wielkopolska, Koszalin, Wałbrzych and the utility company ZE PAK, Katowice is doubling down on its commitment to the coal transition. Through the Alliance, which began in 2017, Katowice interfaces with global regions and cities similarly reliant on coal. “Katowice can be a model for other cities pursuing a sustainable transformation. By joining the alliance, we will be able to share our experience with other cities and regions dependent on coal around the world. But it is also a chance for us to learn about the best environmentally friendly solutions,” said Marcin Krupa, Mayor of Katowice City.

By becoming part of the Alliance, Katowice will gradually ease off of coal-fired power generation, through government measures and by involving local businesses; enable clean energy and create a just transition for its community.

As Patryk Białas, a city councilor and chairman of Climate and Environment Commission in City Council and prominent climate activist remarked, “By joining the PPCA, Katowice embraces a leadership role on the international stage and sends a powerful message: transformation is possible, even for cities built on coal. Through determination, collaboration, and innovation, Katowice is proving that sustainable development is not just an aspiration but an achievable reality.”