Invited Lecture
“Lessons Learned from the Implementation of the EU’s Just Transition Mechanism in Poland for the United States“
by Prof. Gabriel Pacyniak
27th January, 9:30 – 11:00
Sala Burszty (first floor), Collegium Historicum
Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 7, 61-614 Poznań
The EU’s Just Transition Mechanism provided dedicated funding and technical support to regions transition away from fossil fuel industries, including several regions in Poland, the second-largest producer of coal in Europe. In order to receive funding, regions had to submit and have approved territorial just transition plans that include deadlines for transitioning away from fossil fuel industry. This policy contrasts with the United States, which has generally provided only small and fragmented funding to fossil-fuel dependent communities without any tie to decarbonization goals, and where fossil fuel communities generally remain strongly opposed to transitioning away from fossil fuels. This case study examines whether and how the opportunity for transition funding conditioned on planning requirements changed stakeholder perceptions, engagement, and investments in the Polish coal regions of Zchodnej Wielkopolska, Sląsk, and Bełchatów.
Gabriel “Gabe” Pacyniak is a professor at the University of New Mexico (UNM) School of Law. Gabe’s scholarship and policy work focuses on climate change and energy issues, with a focus on equity. He also serves as co-director of the Natural Resources and Environmental Law (NREL) clinic and as a co-convenor of UNM’s Just Transition Grand Challenge initiative. Prior to joining academia, Gabe managed the climate change mitigation program at the Georgetown Climate Center. He holds a J.D., cum laude, from Georgetown University School of Law and a B.A. in philosophy from the New College of Florida. He was born in the United States to Polish immigrant parents.
