Since the European Green Deal was launched in 2019, Europe is on a path of no return towards a zero-carbon economy by 2050. A major challenge and a key pillar of the EU’s new development strategy for 2050 is to make this transition in a socially just way.
As the decarbonization of electricity production is the spearhead of the EGD, the 96 coal/lignite regions of the EU-27 were the first to face the challenge of a Just Transition. These include two regions in Greece, Western Macedonia and Megalopolis.
However, achieving climate neutrality is impossible without the contribution of all sectors of the economy. The implementation of carbon policies in the building sector, road transport and agriculture has already brought to surface issues of social justice in terms of sharing the burden of transition.
The Green Tank aims at strengthening the Just Transition in Greece and Europe, through research, analysis, policy recommendations and actions in Greece’s lignite regions, in collaboration with local communities and stakeholders.
Reports & Briefs
News
The Just Transition Fund must continue during the next programming period (2028-2034), highlights Ioanna Theodosiou in an op-ed
Ιn an op-ed published on the Sustainable Views newsletter of the Financial Times (16/9), the leaders of the
The number of energy communities in Greece that are set up purely for self-production of electricity is constantly
The Green Tank approved the amendment to the financing program for energy communities, first published in September 2023.
The Green Tank poll on the future of heating and district heating in Western Macedonia - where it
In the last five years, Western Macedonia has to solve the difficult puzzle of transforming its economic model
Unemployment, brain drain, exclusion from decisions about their future. These are the main challenges faced by the youth
The Green Tank’s seventh newsletter for the developments of the last six months (January – July 2024) related
PRESS RELEASE Covering the heating and district heating needs of citizens in the lignite municipalities of Western Macedonia (Kozani,
In an article for Romanian portal ΙnfoClima, Ioanna Theodosiou – The Green Tank’s policy associate - examines the
Just Transition must remain at the heart of European politics after the European Elections, Ioanna Theodosiou, The Green
On the occasion of World Environment Day (5 June), Ioli Christopoulou presented the work of Green Tank in
The need for energy communities - both in Greece in general and in Western Macedonia in particular -
At a time when the European Green Deal is moving from one major challenge to another, the question
Strategic Environmental Impact Assessments of the Special Urban Plans for the three main cores of the Greek Decarbonization
The question of youth participation in the Just Transition has been a crucial and persisting one across the
Delving into the crucial realm of fostering a just transition within Greece's lignite regions, Nikos Mantzaris shares insights
Drawing on recent joint analyses by The Green Tank on energy communities, Stelios Psomas and Nikos Mantzaris explain
Ioanna Theodosiou, The Green Tank's policy associate, participated in the first open panel discussion of the "What will KOSMOS
"Self-production will be tested", Nikos Mantzaris warned about the end of net metering and its replacement by net
Youth unemployment and youth drain in the lignite region of Western Macedonia is one of the most crucial
P R E S S R E L E A S E In 2023, self-production by households, farmers, businesses,
The Green Tank, as a member of the Monitoring Committee of the Just Development Transition Program 2021-27, voted
Almost four years since the announcement to phase out lignite, energy transition in Greece’s lignite regions offers valuable
The Green Tank for the support of the programs for SMEs and large enterprises in the lignite regions
The Green Tank, as a member of the Monitoring Committee of the Just Development Transition Program 2021-27, voted
P R E S S R E L E A S E The EU Emissions Trading System provides resources
At the initiative of Electra Energy Cooperative and EKPOIZO, 16 Energy Communities and Civil Society Organizations, including The
Following the workshop "Community energy law in Greece, Serbia, Poland, and Bulgaria. Stock taking and bottlenecks" which was
The sixth newsletter of the Green Tank for the developments of the last six months (July – December
Ioanna Theodosiou and Nikos Mantzaris from the Green Tank participated in the second annual meeting of the Monitoring
Lessons learnt from Greece show that Just Transition in the Western Balkans should first translate into a concrete
Since 2018, energy communities have taken a central role in the Greece's energy transition as a tool to
Nikos Mantzaris spoke on the ERT3 news show "Synora" with journalist Kalli Zarali about the need for a
In her article entitled “The paradox of Western Macedonia: Energy transition in a bottleneck”, Alexia Kalaitzi, journalist for
Nikos Mantzaris participated in the Energy Community Forum co-organized by the University of Western Macedonia, the Regional Association
Drawing on data from The Green Tank's new review on energy communities in Greece and its lignite areas,
Increase in self-produced energy hindered by lack of grid space and delays in resources mobilization
P R E S S R E L E A S E Almost twice as many self-production projects
With the question “whether Athens can achieve energy autonomy”, Elvira Krithari, journalist for the Greek newspaper Kathimerini, talked
As Western Balkan countries face the need to decarbonize their energy systems, local communities face the challenge to
Stressing that the youth of Kozani and all of Greece’s the lignite regions of the country should be
Ιn view of the October 2023 local elections, The Green Tank sent an open letter to all candidates
P R E S S R E L E A S E In recent years, self-production through energy communities
As a member of the Monitoring Committee of the Just Development Transition Program (PDAM) 2021-27, the Green Tank
The Green Tank participated with comments in the 3rd written process of the Just Transition Development Program (JTDP)
A negative vote was given by The Green Tank in the draft Evaluation Plan of the Just Transition
The fifth newsletter of the Green Tank for the developments of the last six months (January – June
Ioanna Theodosiou participated in the fourth Annual Political Dialogue of the EU Initiative for Coal Regions in Transition,
As energy communities become a vital tool for citizen participation in the energy transition, both in Europe and
In the midst of the energy crisis, energy communities and citizen participation in the use of energy resources
In her contribution to the webinar “Navigating the just transition: role of energy communities”, organized by CEE Bankwatch,
Ιn view of the new national elections of June 2023, Ioanna Theodosiou, in her article entitled “The success
The Green Tank and the Association of Active Youths of Florina - OENEF successfully co-organized a "Youth Empowerment
Drawing from The Green Tank's policy paper “National Resources for the Just Transition” and local government representatives, journalist
Under a policy measure introduced in 2018, part of the public revenues of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission allowances
Five years of Energy Communities in Greece and The Green Tank launches its Community Energy Watch. Citizens can produce
The sustainability of investments and the role of Taxonomy in the common path towards the green transition, especially
In 2022, amidst the energy crisis, it was a playing field for fossil fuels and renewables in Greece.
The Green Tank contributed with comments to the public consultation on the draft bill of the Ministry of
“During the energy crisis, the citizens of Central Macedonia turned to self-production through energy communities and this is
The Green Tank voted in favor of the 2021 – 2027 Just Transition Development Program (JTDP) actions that
Within one year (November 2021-November 2022), applications for virtual net metering projects by energy communities multiplied by a
The fourth newsletter of the Green Tank for the developments of the last six months (July - December
The Monitoring Committee of the Just Transition Development Program (JTDP) 2021-2027 held its first meeting on October 18,
Ioanna Theodosiou participated in the latest episode of the podcast series by Women on Top, titled “But what
Nikos Mantzaris spoke at the 1st ENAP forum on Public Policies and Creative Public Service on the impacts
Intended to promote the active participation of young people of the Region of Western Macedonia in the energy
The experience gained so far from the preparation of the Just Transition Territorial Plans as well as public
Bringing into the spotlight the role of Municipalities in creating energy communities and ensuring the energy autonomy of
In the city of Kozani, in Western Macedonia, the heart of Greece’s energy transition, local authorities, entrepreneurs, members
The energy crisis has brought to the fore how Renewable Energy Sources (RES) enable citizens not only to
The article by Nikos Mantzaris titled “Europe’s Gas Shortage is No Reason to Halt Coal Phase-out” lists the
The Region of Western Macedonia and The Green Tank co-organize the workshop “Energy Communities: Local authorities, enterprises and
When reducing energy costs becomes an imperative, local communities turn increasingly to renewable energy sources to meet their
A massive roll out of renewable energy in Greece’s regions in transition has quickly turned a bleak future
As the EU seeks ways to secure energy supplies for the coming winter, in her article titled “Building
The third newsletter of the Green Tank for the developments of the last six months (January-June 2022) related
Ioanna Theodosiou, policy officer at The Green Tank, participated in the conference “Rethink! Ideas Forum”, in the session
Τhe Green Tank co-organized a special session on “Community Energy and Just Transition in coal regions” in the
A new report by The Green Tank titled “Just Transition in Practice: Sustainable projects in coal regions” presents
Ioli Christopoulou participated in “The Seventh Value” six-episode podcast series presented by the Evens Foundation as part of
Tassos Chatzieleftheriou, energy policy analyst at Τhe Green Tank, participated in the Stakeholder Forum titled “Make energy transition
Nikos Mantzaris participated in an international conference on the just transition of lignite regions in North Macedonia, organized
Nikos Mantzaris, Senior Policy Analyst at The Green Tank, comments on the financial loss for the regions of
Tassos Chatzieleftheriou, Energy Policy Analyst at The Green Tank, participated in the “2nd Meeting on Green Finance in
Ioanna Theodosiou, policy officer at The Green Tank, contributed to OIKOTOPIA’s special digital issue on energy with the
An article by Ioanna Theodosiou presenting recommendations for the improvement of the development framework for energy communities in
Comments by Nikos Mantzaris on the future of lignite and the solutions for the conversion of former lignite
Nikos Mantzaris gave an interview to Peni Halatsi and the website "Insider" on the lignite phase-out and other
Comment by Nikos Mantzaris on the downfall of lignite in Greece, in an article by Machi Tratsa. The
J O I N T P R E S S R E L E A S E The
The second newsletter of the Green Tank for the developments of the last six months related to the
A comment by Nikos Mantzaris on the necessity of including representatives of the local communities of the lignite
The Green Tank presented its positions on the bill of the Ministry of Development and Investments "Just Development
Nikos Mantzaris spoke in the second annual policy conference titled “Ne to. 0!” organized by the RES Foundation,
Nikos Mantzaris participated in the special news show "Coal phase-out hour zero" with Synthia Sapika. Deputy Minister of Development
An article by Ioanna Theodosiou presenting the possibility of laying down a state aid scheme specifically for energy
An increased interest for the development of energy communities in Greece’s lignite regions, noting that most are for
Ioanna Theodosiou participated in a session of the Just Transition Platform, organized by the European Commission, dedicated on
Nikos Mantzaris participated in an online meeting of the programme "DeCarb: Supporting the clean energy transition of coal-intensive
Nikos Mantzaris, participated in the show FYSIKA, dedicated to the theme "Western Macedonia facing the post-lignite era", as
Comment by Ioanna Theodosiou on the recent developments concerning the development of energy communities in an article by
An article by Nikos Mantzaris about the need to channel a specific percentage of the proceeds from the
Nikos Mantzaris participated in the event "Scaling up energy communities in Bulgaria", on October 21, 2021. The event
The Green Tank submitted its comments to the public consultation on the new bill of the Ministry of
Participation of Othon Kaminiaris in the 19th Youth International Conference of the NGO Youth Alliance - Krusevo of
On September 29, 2021, Nikos Mantzaris participated virtually in the Montenegrin “National Conference on Just Transition”, organized by
On September 14 and September 17, 2021, Green Tank with Nikos Mantzaris participated in two events that focused
Comment by Nikos Mantzaris on the air pollution caused by the operation of 18 coal power plants in
The Green Tank contributed with comments to the European Commission’s public consultation on the revised Climate, Environmental protection
Article by Ioanna Theodosiou and Othon Kaminiaris on the importance of the Just Transition governance mechanism in the
The first newsletter of the Green Tank for the developments of the last six months related to the
The new report of the Green Tank presents a critical assessment and recommendations for the improvement of the
Ioli Christopoulou participated in the online public hearing at the Standing Committee of Production and Trade of the
Nikos Mantzaris shared his views on the evolution of Greece's Just Transition Development Program, in an article by
The Green Tank submitted detailed comments on the 2nd drafts of the Greek Just Transition Development Program and
Ioanna Theodosiou presents recommendations to support the deployment of Energy Communities in order to ovecome existing problems, in
Article by Ioanna Theodosiou on the results of the Digital Consultation Workshops regarding the course of Just Transition
Aiming to contribute to the public debate at the crucial period of Just Transition planning in Greece and
Nikos Mantzaris participated in the online event "Just or 'Fast' Transition in North Macedonia" of the Environmental Charter
On June 4, 2021, Nikos Mantzaris participated in the event "Lignite Phase Out - A Policy Choice at
Ioanna Theodosiou participated in the event titled “ Non- profit energy communities: Their role in energy democracy and
Opinion piece by Ioanna Theodosiou about the new reality Renewable Energy Communities need to confront. The upcoming transposition
Interview of Nikos Mantzaris with Antonis Mavridis, journalist of ERT Kozani, regarding the resources of Greece's Just Transition
The Green Tank participated in the public consultation for the concept paper of the Greek Just Transition Development
Nikos Mantzaris participated in an online discussion organized by SYRIZA -Progressive Alliance MEP Petros Kokkalis on Thursday, April
Article by Nikos Mantzaris on the opportunity arising from the escalation of carbon prices to fund the Just
The Green Tank submits to the public debate its comments on Greece's National Recovery and Resilience Plan. In the
The NGOs that are actively involved in the Territorial Just Transition Plans (TJTPs) drafting processes in several regions
The Green Tank submitted comments and specific recommendations on the Territorial Just Transition Plan (TJTP) of Western Macedonia. The
Quote by Nikos Mantzaris in Euractiv regarding the significance of the decision to phase out lignite and the
Ioanna Theodosiou participated in the online event under the title “West Macedonia at the post-lignite era: Are there
Nikos Mantzaris participated in the online event organized by the International Sustainable Finance Centre – ISFC, entitled “Filling
Nikos Mantzaris's article "The bet of the transition to the postlignite era" is included in the book "At
Nikos Mantzaris participated in the online event "Sustainable Development & Green Entrepreneurship" in Western Macedonia organized by the
Opinion piece by Ioanna Theodosiou about the role of the Renewable Energy Communities in the Territorial Just Transition
Interview of Nikos Mantzaris with Nina Maria Paschalidou on the show “ECOagents” of pod.gr on February 13, 2021
The online event about the green path towards Just Transition in Western Macedonia, was realized on Tuesday, 26th
The Green Tank in collaboration with the Heinrich Boll Stiftung Greece are publishing a feature on the contemporary
The Green Tank in collaboration with the Heinrich Boll Stiftung Greece are publishing a feature on the contemporary
The environmental think tank "The Green Tank" and the Greek office of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung invite you to an
Nikos Mantzaris participated in the online event titled "«In my beginning is my end…», a narrative of the
Nikos Mantzaris was quoted in an article by Energy Monitor investigating the challenges associated with Greece’s transition away
Οpinion piece by Nikos Mantzaris on the main elements of the agreement on the European Just Transition Fund. The article
Article by energy portal energypress about the event organized by dianeosis on November 30, 2020, where Nikos Mantzaris
Nikos Mantzaris participated in the online event organized by diaNEOsis entitled "The Greek Green Deal" on Monday, November
Ioanna Theodosiou participated in the Greenwave Festival session titled "Economy, Environment and Piece: the multifaceted crisis, today's dead-ends
The Green Tank’s analysis of the public poll conducted by MARC in the period 21-29 October 2020 with
Nikos Mantzaris, Green Tank's senior policy analyst, participated in the two-day conference "Renewable & Storage Forum" organized successfully
Green Tank’s Nikos Mantzaris participated in the pan-European conference of Client Earth, an organization of environmental lawyers, on
Nikos Mantzaris spoke about the developments related to the Just Transition of lignite regions in Greece and the
Nikos Mantzaris participated in the online forum "Western Macedonia-Megalopolis: Transition to the post-lignite era and new business opportunities"
The Green Tank submitted comments and specific recommendations to the public consultation on the Master Plan for the
Ioanna Theodosiou and Nikos Mantzaris from The Green Tank participated in the 3rd Forum of Mayors on Just
Nikos Mantzaris gave a presentation on the role of Non-Governmental Organizations in the Just Transition of lignite regions
It is one year since the Greek Prime Minister announced the historic commitment that Greece is to completely
Nikos Mantzaris spoke to journalist Machie Tratsa about the fossil gas investments that are included in the Master
Nikos Mantzaris spoke to journalist Machie Tratsa about the fossil gas investments that are included in the Master
Opinion piece by Ioanna Theodosiou on the coal phase-out Master Plan and the transition of Western Macedonia and
Opinion piece by Nikos Mantzaris on the results of the voting on the amendments on the Just Transition
Opinion article by Nikos Mantzaris on the necessity to correct the choice of fossil gas investments in the
Nikos Mantzaris spoke to pv magazine and columnist Ilias Tsagas about the Just Transition Regulation and the allocation
The policy developments surrounding Just Transition in Greece and Europe from 2015 to date, the conclusions drawn and
In an interview to ERT Kozani, Nikos Mantzaris analyzed the consequences for Western Macedonia of the agreement reached
Interview of Nikos Mantzaris to the newspaper Chronos Kozanis and journalist Argyro Xanthopoulou on how the decisions of
Nikos Mantzaris is quoted in an article in the German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel which analyzes the coal-phase out
A follow up answer to Paris Koukoulopoulos' continuation of the public dispute with Nikos Mantzaris. The answer was published
The Green Tank submitted detailed comments on the proposed plan of the municipality of Kozani for its transition
Nikos Mantzaris spoke in the show “ECO News” of SKAI channel and Katerina Christofilidou, about the latest developments
The potential of making the allocation of the Just Transition Fund among the EU-27 Member States more just
Nikos Mantzaris responds to the personal attack by former MP and former mayor of Kozani, Paris Koukoulopoulos regarding
Nikos Mantzaris spoke to pv magazine and columnist Ilias Tsagas about the European Green Deal, the EU recovery
On the occasion of the 2020 World Environment Day, Nikos Mantzaris and Ioli Christopoulou discuss the challenges that
Article by Nikos Mantzaris in “Proinos Logos Kozani” regarding the available resources for the Just Transition of Greece’s
Nikos Mantzaris was invited to the second discussion organized by the TEDxAUEB Homemade Sustainability Discussions. During an online
Analysis by Nikos Mantzaris on the state of play regarding the negotiation for the European Just Transition Fund The
Nikos Mantzaris stressed the need for Just Transition, as a core component of the European Green Deal, to
Opinion piece by Ioanna Theodosiou on energy communities and the role they should and must play in the
Nikos Mantzaris referred to the need for a revision of the allocation criteria for the, currently under nergotiation,
Nikos Mantzaris participated in Tasos Teloglou’s show “Special Report” on decision to phase out lignite, its causes,
The significance of Greece demanding a change in the criteria used to allocate funds of the new European
The lignite phase out by 2023 and the recent announcement of the European Commission's proposal for the new
Participation of Ioli Christopoulou in a panel discussion on the European Green Deal hosted by Matroni Dikaiakou’s "Karta
Talk by Ioli Christopoulou titled “The critical decade – Financing for a sustainable future” during the National Conference
Opinion article by Nikos Mantzaris on the new Just Transition Mechanism aiming at supporting the transition of EU
Shortly before the dawn of the new decade, Ioli Christopoulou presents the 8+1 environmental trends from Greece and
A brief overview of the detailed comments the Green Tank submitted to the public consultation regarding the country's
Participation in the research conducted by the team of journalists “The Manifold”, around the challenges of Just Transition
Will Western Macedonia look to the future or try to remain attached to an obsolete past? Journalists Socrates Moutidis
Interview by Nikos Mantzaris to Dimitra Krayianni and the newspaper “Tharros” regarding the challenges of the transition of
Nikos Mantzaris represented the Green Tank at the Balkan Clean Energy Transition (BCET) Conference held in Kozani on
Opinion piece by Nikos Mantzaris on the main political asks related to the transition of lignite regions in
Nikos Mantzaris participated in the 2nd Forum of Just Transition Mayors organized by the Mayor of Weisswasser, Germany
Every region and every community is different. As EU countries wake up to the climate emergency and the
Article by Ioli Christopoulou on two lignite villages, Akrini and Anargiroi, in Western Macedonia, awaiting for years to
8 environmental organizations (Europe Beyond Coal, Polish Green Network, Priatelia Zeme CEPA, Greenpeace, WWF, CEE Bankwatch, CAN Europe and the
Talk by Nikos Mantzaris titled “The time has come: Lignite phase-out!” in the context of the open discussion
Nikos Mantzaris from the Green Tank participated in the 4th Working Group Meeting of the Coal Regions in Transition
On February 19, 2019, the Green Tank together with the European NGO networks Europe Beyond Coal, Climate Action
On February 18, 2019, the Green Tank participated in a consultation with World Bank experts on the development
Response by Nikos Mantzaris to George Adamidis, President of the trade union of PPC workers (GENOP-DEI). The response was
Interview of Nikos Mantzaris on January 31, 2019 to kozani.tv regarding the distortions caused by the insistence to
Comment on the UNFCCC COP24 in Katowice, Poland and the inconsistency between the proposed Greek Energy and Climate
On December 3, 2018, the Green Tank submitted detailed comments to the public consultation on the draft National
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