Like the whole Europe our region is in the process of transformation towards more sustainable and safer development. One of our major goals is to achieve climate neutrality in 2050. Work is being carried out in many different areas. One of them is to move away from coal. Reducing the extraction of this non-renewable source of energy in favour of renewable ones like wind and hydropower is the goal of Greater Poland region.
What does a just transition mean?
Just Transition means such actions for sustainable development that will create change and decent work opportunities in the most fair and inclusive way possible, leaving no one behind.
Eastern Greater Poland is preparing for major economic and social transformations. One of the SDG Labs Project Partners, the SNRSS (Association of Social Cooperatives of Poland), is actively involved in such transformations and it is worth to underline that we are the only ones who represent social economy sector in this process. The organization is the social side of the transformations in the region in which it operates.
At the end of September, a cross-sectoral meeting was held that included local government representatives, SMEs, non-governmental organizations and mining industry workers. The common objectives were to discuss the possibilities and opportunities for cooperation for a better and fair transition away from coal. Including, very importantly, ensuring good conditions for the social and professional development of this professional group of miners.
Importantly, the meeting discussed the role of social enterprises in implementing this joint venture.
It’s a start, but a very successful one. According to the organizers, the workshop identified many areas to work on. Among the many solutions as innovative is the creation of good jobs in the social economy, including social cooperatives. The meeting was also an opportunity to present the major assumptions and results of the SDG Labs project as we are convinced that some of them may be extremely useful in the future works.
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