Youth unemployment and youth drain in the lignite region of Western Macedonia is one of the most crucial challenges of Greece’s decarbonization, and a significant indicator for the success of the Just Transition. This is reflected in the alarming demographic and social characteristics of the region, but also by groups of young people claiming their own voice in their future. In her article published in the Huffington Post titled “Youth at the forefront of the Just Transition”, Elena Psyllakou, Communications Officer at The Green Tank, attempts to map the demands of young people by drawing on youth actions in the region of Florina and Kozani.
Among other, the article mentions the Youth Empowerment Workshop for the Just Transition that took place in May 2023 in Florina, in cooperation of The Green Tank with the Association of Active Youths of Florina – OENEF. As part of this workshop, young participants identified the threats that they face; threats that bring to surface the lack of institutional interventions that could strengthen the youth living in the region.
On the other hand, as the article points out, “more and more groups are taking initiatives to use available resources and bring the Just Transition into their daily lives”. Through these initiatives, they formulate their ideas on ways of bottom up organizing, information, and training and they need to be heard by the relevant authorities both in the lignite regions and all over the country.
The article was published on February 29, 2024. It is available in Greek at huffingtonpost.gr.
