Workshop
Part I: Albania’s readiness for Just Transition
In the first part of the workshop the study JUST TRANSITION ASSESSMENT OF ALBANIA; Sector Decarbonization and the Just Transition Framework Applied to Coal Mining with its findings and recommendations was introduced to the Albanian stakeholders, as well as to the foreign experts and practitioners participating in the event remotely. Presentation of the document was made by Mr. Hans Rüdiger Lange, UNECE International Consultant, and the principal author of the report.
To provide the context and compare the UNECE’s document to other approaches on Just Transition adopted by the scholars and practitioners in that field, attendees were also provided with the ILO’s perspective on the concept of Just Transitions and the approaches that ILO adopts in Central and Eastern Europe to mitigate the employment and social impacts of the transition on the communities that currently depend on coal-mining operations for their livelihoods. The presentation was delivered by Ms. Daniela Zampini, Senior Employment Specialist, ILO Office for Central and Eastern Europe.
Part II: Brainstorming
The second part of the workshop was dedicated to discussing the document and identifying best ways for implementing its recommendations. That part was moderated by Mr. Hans Rüdiger Lange, UNECE International Consultant, and the principal author of the report.
A competition on identifying ideas for the potential projects that might be implemented in the post-coal mining areas in Albania was introduced, with the goal of engaging in the work on the local just transition process students from the relevant faculties of the Polytechnic University of Tirana. A course requiring students to research the discussed field and develop project proposals is to take place next semester.
At the conclusion of this segment Mr. Raymond Pilcher, Chair, UNECE Group of Experts on Coal Mine Methane and Just Transition, provided a summary of the discussion and pointed to opportunities for further cooperation in that field between Albania and UNECE.
Part III: Innovative solutions facilitating Just Transition
The third part of the workshop featured 2 presentations introducing concepts that might affect the process of transition of post-coal mining areas in Albania.
At the beginning Ms. Bardhyl Muceku from the Polytechnic University of Tirana spoke about the recent discovery of white hydrogen in Albania and explained how a deep reservoir for hydrogen drives intense degassing in the Bulqizë ophiolite.
That intervention was followed by a presentation on the approach advocated by the UNECE Group of Experts on Coal Mine Methane and Just Transition and perceiving coalmining as a multipurpose resource platform that can serve the needs of the green economy, which was provided by the Chair of the UNECE Group of Experts on Coal Mine Methane and Just Transition, Mr. Raymond Pilcher.
The third part ended with a brief Q&A session.
Please visit also a webpage dedicated to the project and a webpage dedicated to the study.