There is clear ambition among representatives from local to European levels for Europe to raise the bar and to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. This requires discussion on how to decarbonise Europe’s energy supply – both within and with its regions, cities and citizens – and necessarily requires multi-level stakeholder involvement.

Given this, what are ways forward for European regions and cities with respect to the energy transition towards a climate neutral Europe by 2050? This question took centre stage during a high-level event on “Implementing the Paris Agreement: EU cities and regions in energy transition” during this year’s European Week of Regions and Cities in ICLEI Member Brussels (Belgium) on 9 October 2019.

The session put a spotlight on opportunities, solutions and possible pathways for a European energy transition, considering different thematic areas and contexts, namely: coal regions, islands, energy poverty, smart cities and energy communities.

Contributions from Jerzy Buzek (European Parliament, ITRE Committee), Witold Stępień (Lódzkie Regional Assembly), Eero Ailio (DG ENER), Yunus Arikan (ICLEI) and Sarah Zamoum (Rise for Climate Belgium) highlighted the need to offer citizens viable alternatives and support to replace incomes from the fossil fuel sector and to unlock assets to the transition. ‘World café’-style discussions sought to define a combination of synchronised short-, medium-, and long-term measures towards this goal. Participants discussed targeted, financial support for coal regions and carbon taxation models, and encouraged the acceleration of demonstration and pilot projects to establish new technologies and bring citizens on board as active stakeholders in the transition.

A clear conclusion emerged that the energy transition must embrace Europe’s multi-level governance mechanisms and diverse preconditions, particularly in coal and island regions. There is a need for a holistic, equitable and ambitious transition strategy that takes into account regional and local perspectives, and makes use of concrete measures and instruments.

Speakers and participants strongly reaffirmed their commitment to multilevel governance processes and to cooperate and exchange on best practices for a fair and just energy transition that is beneficial to all.

Jerzy Buzek described the critical importance of one European measure to ensure a fair transition for all, stating: “A Just Transition Fund to support transition in our coal regions, as the most vulnerable among carbon intensive regions, is even more justified and urgent in light of the EU 2050 long-term climate strategy and the ‘Green Deal’. A separate MFF budget line and new, additional money for the Fund are crucial.”

The session also received contributions from Paul Baker (Coal Regions in Transition), Gustaf Landhal (GrowSmarter), Wioletta Dunin-Majewska (DG ENER), Josh Roberts (Rescoop) and Laura Bazen (Climate Rise Belgium).

The session was organised by the European Committee of the Regions, the European Commission’s DG Energy and the Horizon 2020 C-Track 50 project, in which ICLEI is a partner.

Re-watch the session here, and find a detailed summary of key messages and quotes here.

For more information on C-Track 50, please click here. To read about this and other events in the 3rd newsletter of the C-Track 50 project, click here.