ECO RESET Bitola
Association for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency
Project
“Youth involvement to Just Transition process”
A Beginner’s Guide to a Just Transition
Supported by
ECO RESET Bitola
The energy transition is one of the biggest challenges of today and cannot be solved by passive actors and countries closed in bureaucracy. The Just Transition Mechanism is a key tool to ensure that the transition to a climate-neutral economy takes place in a fair way, leaving no one behind. It is essential to involve young people in the transition process because it is not possible to create the future economy without involving those who will live the future. Young people have an internationally recognized right to participate in decision-making that affects their future. No one knows the challenges, needs and aspirations of young people living in a transition region better than the young people themselves. Young people can become a bridge in raising awareness about the transition, its causes and consequences. A successful transition will only be where real revitalization and hope for the future of communities is offered.
The European Union is designing a tool for youth participation in the Just Transition Fund. This toolkit was created to foster the mission of inviting young people to the table for the co-governance of the Just Transition, also the toolkit aims to encourage more ambitious, meaningful and numerous youth participation processes in the target regions. Just transition, and the effects of such processes will lead to better quality strategies and interventions that address the challenges of just transition.
The toolkit is particularly relevant to regional and local policy makers responsible for the implementation of the Just Transition Fund, as well as other stakeholders involved in the process. Its purpose is to support and guide how to organize meaningful participation of young people. In addition, it offers examples of how certain techniques have been used successfully in the past. The toolkit is based on extensive desk work, a review of relevant literature and engagement and interviews with experts and stakeholders in the field of youth engagement and/or climate transition. In addition, the project sought to directly involve young people, policy makers, youth organizations and academics in shaping the main design elements of the toolkit, to ensure that the toolkit is as useful and as possible closer to the real needs and challenges of both young people and the authorities working on the Just Transition Fund. A major co-creative workshop was held during the European Week of Regions and Citizens 2020 on many of the topics covered by the handbook.
ETC.