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Energy transition in rural areas

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  • Rural Pact
  • Rural Revitalisation Platform
    • European Union created on English
    European Union created on English

    • 34 Members

    • 0 Discussions

    Description

    Description

    Local and regional authorities have a key role in the implementation of energy and climate targets to achieve climate neutrality in the EU by 2050, as recognised by recent EU frameworks. However, local policymakers, especially in rural communities, often do not have adequate knowledge, nor technical capacity to undertake socially just energy planning processes. 

    This Community Group (CG), which originated from the ENTRACK project funded under the EU LIFE programme, addresses the urgent need to bridge the knowledge and capacity gaps of local authorities. It provides support for the co-design of social energy plans that respond to the real energy needs of regional and local stakeholders, including vulnerable citizens, while safeguarding compliance with European and national energy policy frameworks. 

    Objectives
    • Empower rural municipalities to develop fair and sustainable energy transition plans, and raise awareness of their importance in implementing energy and climate targets to achieve climate neutrality in the EU by 2050.
    • Raise awareness of the challenges that rural municipalities face when creating and implementing social energy policies and plans that address climate goals while ensuring the needs of all stakeholders are met, including those of marginalised groups.
    • Establish a community of practitioners (CoP) to work with stakeholders in order to identify the key factors and conditions necessary to foster energy transition in rural areas. This will enable and promote a collective learning process between all stakeholders involved in the community of practice, based on real experience and lessons learnt.
    • Build the capacity of the CG members by enabling the sharing of knowledge, tools, examples and publications, and by establishing an inclusive, open and respectful space for discussion and co-creation.
    • Align European energy policies with local needs and knowledge in both directions.
    • Create opportunities to develop collective projects and initiatives related to rural energy transition, or to engage with transnational organisations that support the development of rural municipalities.
    Expected outcomes
    • Engage a broad set of stakeholders in a Community of Practice (CoP) through a programme of activities, including online community conversations (open and interactive meetings) where participants can share and exchange information on just energy transition processes.
    • Exchange of best practices and policy recommendations to guide rural municipalities in creating and implementing social energy policies and plans. This illustrates the social (and market) advantages and benefits of properly co-designed energy plans and provides operative tools and resources for co-design implementation.
    • Share knowledge on co-designing transition plans on energy efficiency among Community Group members.
    Group coordinators

    Topics

    Stronger Rural Areas Democracy and participation Governance Buildings Research and innovation LEADER/CLLD Resilient rural areas Energy Climate Nature and environment Women Social inclusion Prosperous rural areas Social economy