August 10, 2023 – The “Innovation Regions for a Just Energy Transition” Project (IKI JET) announced a groundbreaking initiative for knowledge exchange and collaboration. The launch of the “Communities of Practice” (CoPs) marks a significant milestone in the project’s mission to support and accelerate the transition from coal-based energy system and local economies to the low-carbon, climate resilience energy system and sustainable and just local economies.

The launch was scheduled virtually online with the participation of governmental organizations, public institution representatives, trade unions, women associations, environmental organizations, civil society groups, private sectors, fossil fuel companies, academia from Germany, Colombia, Chile, South Africa, Indonesia, Viet Nam, Thailand, and Mongolia. It was opened by insightful remarks from Sarah Rieseberg (BMWK Policy Officer), and Joscha Rosenbusch (IKI JET Project Director), and enriched by country context presentations from Nizhar Marizi (Director of Energy Resources, Mineral and Mining, Bappenas Indonesia), Zimasa Vazi (Manager Partnerships and Stakeholder Relations, Presidential Climate Commission South Africa) and Patchareepan Duangmusit (Head of Smart Energy Section Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand).

“We have shared goals and shared problems. The CoPs and peer-to-peer exchanges are fundamental to IKI JET. We have to talk among each other and with different stakeholders. It’s relevant to emphasize how valuable all different groups are”, said Sarah Rieseberg, BMWK Policy Officer. She believed: “Governmental organizations, public institutions representatives, trade unions, women associations, environmental organizations, civil society groups, in general, private sectors, fossil fuel companies, academia, …all have different perspectives and things to share. And everyone brings their skills to the table and helps us obtain a just economy, people have a prosperous living in the coal regions”.

Representing the government sector, Supriono, Regional Assistant of South Sumatra Provincial Government, Indonesia remarked: “We are happy to connect with CoPs to address challenges facing local governments, such as declining fossil fuel production will influence economic development and job creation in the region. By joining the CoPs, the governments can learn to develop effective strategies for mines, green job development and mitigate negative socio-economic impacts”.

The CoPs are platforms that will foster collaboration, reciprocity, network, idea, resource sharing, goal alignment, listening, open & honest discussions, workshops and campaigns among the coal regions in Colombia, Chile, South Africa, Indonesia, Viet Nam, Thailand, and Mongolia. Members of CoPs can strengthen strategies mindset, knowledge and harvest good practices to implement a just energy transition.

The CoPs will cover the following thematic pathways for a Just Energy Transition, addressing various questions on the process.

JET Strategy: What kind of policy and regulatory framework is needed to create an efficient and participatory Just Energy Transition process that leads to a socially just strategy and implementation plan?

Green and Just Economy: How can the establishment of new industry sectors and business models based on regional assets be fostered to reduce the economic dependency on coal and to create green and decent jobs that increase social protection in the region?

Energy and Justice: How can the technical energy transition be used to improve living conditions, increase social justice, and include the interest and needs of marginalized groups?

Mine closure: How can former coal mining areas be regenerated and repurposed in a just manner, thus benefitting people, climate, biodiversity, and the regional economy?

The IKI JET project is jointly funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) under the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) for the Just Energy Transition in Coal Regions Interregional Platform (JET-CR). The project is implemented by a consortium of six organizations led by GIZ as Joint Project Coordinator and with the Climate Action Network (CAN), International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), International Labour Organization (ILO), International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)/Just Transition Centre, and Wuppertal Institute für Klima, Umwelt, Energie gGmbH as implementing partners.

For more information, please visit: Innovation Regions for a Just Energy Transition – giz.de

Stay tuned for our upcoming activities!