A just transition has not started and will not be just, these are some of the findings of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Eko-team and Da žavivi selo, analyzing the results of in-depth interviews with women employed in the Pljevlja Coal Mine and Thermal Power Plant.
This was announced by the Eco team.
"A total of 50 women, employed in the thermal energy sector, answered questions from the questionnaire and gave their opinion regarding the importance of environmental protection, pollution in the environment, familiarity with the terms 'energy transition' and 'just transition', expectations in regarding the outcome of the just transition and numerous other topics," said Andrija Krivokapić, from the Eco-team.
The announcement adds that the majority of respondents (84 percent) believe that the transition will have a negative impact on Pljevlja, while 76 percent of them believe that a fair transition will have a negative impact on both themselves and their families.
Eco-team stated that although they perceive the just transition negatively, 54 percent of the respondents have no desire to be involved in the just transition process.
"The presented results of in-depth interviews with women employed in the thermo-energy chain indicate the distrust that citizens have in the process of just transition. The reason for this state of affairs is the insufficient actualization of just transition in the Pljevlja region by decision-makers, which results in the presence of fear and insecurity among respondents", adds Krivokapić.
Eco-team said that 66 percent of respondents perceive that Pljevlja has no future without the Coal Mine and the Thermal Power Plant, while 56 percent of them cannot imagine their future in Pljevlja if the Mine and the Thermal Power Plant stop working.
"The absence of a clear vision of the development of Pljevlja after the cessation of further use of coal, political instability and an insufficiently good understanding of the just transition and its benefits, affects the fear of losing basic nature and future existence among women, employed in the Pljevlja Mine and Thermal Power Plant. Due to all of the above, inclusion in the process of all interested parties with strong institutional support for the just transition process is imperative if we want this process to go as painlessly as possible and without the losers of the transition," Krivokapić said.
The announcement states that the implementation of in-depth interviews with employees in the thermal energy sector in Pljevlja was made possible through the project "Steps towards a just transition in Pljevlja", which is implemented by the Eco-team in cooperation with the NGO Da zavivi selo, and which is supported by a grant of the "Public Advocacy" scheme, as part of the "Supported = Empowered" program.
"The 'For Support To emPowerment' program (FSTP-For Support To emPowerment) is implemented by the Fund for Active Citizenship - FAKT, in partnership with the Foundation for Local Community Development 'Slagalica' from Croatia, with the financial support of the European Union of the Ministry of Public Administration", it is concluded in announcement of the Eco-team.
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