BOLSTER

🌍 Join us for the “Practical Lessons & Tools for a Successful Just Transition” Workshop! 💡 We’re excited to invite you to our upcoming workshop that moves beyond theory and dives into the practical tools and methodologies developed by the BOLSTER project. This workshop will focus on fostering inclusive, collaborative, and effective Just Transition processes. 📅 Date: 25-26th March 2025 📍 Location: Kyustendil, Bulgaria ⚠️ Limited Capacity: Spaces are limited, so while registering doesn’t guarantee a spot, you’ll receive a confirmation email within one week to confirm your attendance. Key Themes: 💠 Practical governance models for engaging marginalized communities in decision-making. 💠Strengthening collaboration across local, national, and European stakeholders. 💠Aligning climate policies with the realities of vulnerable groups. 💠Ensuring Just Transition-funded projects benefit the most vulnerable. This is a great opportunity to learn from those directly working with marginalized groups and explore BOLSTER’s innovative models in action. Plus, connect with a network of professionals in the Just Transition community via the Crowdhelix platform. 👉 Express your interest here: https://lnkd.in/d3nQhNhE Looking forward to seeing you there! 🌱 #JustTransition #Sustainability #InclusiveDevelopment #BOLSTER #EUinmyRegion #Workshop #Kyustendil #Bulgaria #marginalizedcommunities

📣 New Research Article Published: The Discursive Politics of Marginalisation in European Just Transition Plans 🌍 Anaëlle Bueno Patin, currently pursuing her PhD as part of the BOLSTER project, in collaboration with Michiel Stapper, the project coordinator, have just published a research article in the prestigious Environmental Politics Journal! 🎉 The article, titled "The discursive politics of marginalisation: an intersectional analysis of European just transition plans", applies an intersectional lens and a comparative approach to examine how marginalisation is framed in European Just Transition Plans. 📖 Key findings: 🔶 Marginalisation is conceptualised in three main ways: through simplification, labour, and/or diversity discourses. 🔶 While the diversity discourse acknowledges intersecting identities, marginalised groups often lack agency in shaping these narratives. 💡 This research provides valuable insights into the discursive dynamics of just transitions and underscores the importance of empowering marginalised communities in these processes. 📂 The article is open access and can be read here: https://lnkd.in/dQ4biVcc Congratulations to our partners from Tilburg University for this significant academic achievement! 👏 #JustTransition #EnvironmentalPolitics #BOLSTER #Research #OpenAccess #HorizonEurope #Horizonproject #Academicresearch #Phd #Communities #Marginalisation #Europe

☕ Citizens' Café: Conversations Driving Change 🌍 Last autumn, nine cities in Silesia, Poland, hosted Citizens' Cafés, creating spaces for meaningful discussions about the region’s transition from a coal-based economy. Led by Marcin Baron and other parners from the University of Economics in Katowice, the events brought together residents of all ages - students, retirees, entrepreneurs, and officials - to talk about 🌱 climate policy, 💼 job opportunities, and 🌟 quality of life. 💡 Ideas like community gardens, educational campaigns, and shared spaces emerged—proof that big change often starts with small, thoughtful conversations. Together, Silesia’s citizens are building a more sustainable future. 👇 Read the blogpost to learn more below or here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dXXMjf5F #JustTransition #Silesia #CommunityEngagement #Sustainability #ClimateAction

Holiday Greetings 🎄✨ As we approach the final year of the BOLSTER project, we also step into a new year that will be filled with new beginnings and successes. There is still much work ahead, and our team remains fully committed to ensuring that no one is left behind in the just transition processes happening across Europe 🤗 Here’s to success and health for all of you in 2025 ✨ #HappyHolidays #BOLSTER #JustTransition #2025 #HorizonEurope #HorizonProjects

🌍 The BOLSTER Project Gains Recognition in the Bulgarian Media🌱 We are thrilled to share that the impactful work of the University of National and World Economy (UNWE), led by Prof. Christina Nikolova and her team, has recently been highlighted in local and nacional media outlets in Bulgaria! 📰 🟢 The Green City Eco-Competition, organized as part of the BOLSTER project and funded by the European Commission, brought together over 150 participants from 7 schools to showcase their creativity around the theme “The Green City.” The event, held at the XI Primary School “Nikolay Liliev,” celebrated the fantastic efforts of young students in areas such as projects, drawings, poems, videos, and presentations🎨 The event was attended by the Deputy Mayor of Stara Zagora, Pavlina Delcheva, and Regional Governor Metodi Markov, who presented the awards to the winners 💯. The competition, organized by the World Without Borders Association and UNWE’s Youth Initiative Group, is an inspiring example of how the BOLSTER project is engaging young minds in environmental and sustainability initiatives. Prof. Christina Nikolova praised the students’ enthusiasm for the green cause, while Pavlina Delcheva emphasized the importance of nurturing the creativity of young people for the future of our planet. The awards ceremony was a joyous celebration of the students’ hard work and commitment to the environment 🍃 This event marks the third in a series of BOLSTER project initiatives, which are driving meaningful change across Stara Zagora through engagement, education, and hands-on environmental actions. We look forward to more projects that continue to empower local communities and inspire the next generation of leaders in sustainability! You can read more about the event in the local news here: 🔺 https://lnkd.in/dfsTKKdt #BOLSTER #Sustainability #GreenCity #YouthEngagement #JustTransition #UNWE #StaraZagora #EUfunded #LocalImpact #HorizonEurope #HorizonProjects

🚀 Just Transition Platform Groundwork Technical Regional Forum in Croatia 🌍 The European Commission's Just Transition Platform (JTP), in collaboration with the Regional Coordinator of Sisak-Moslavina County, hosted a two-day Groundwork Technical Regional Forum in Zagreb (Nov 27) and Novska (Nov 28). The focus was "How the IT sector can transform the local economy". 💻✨ Experts and stakeholders from various sectors gathered to explore sustainable development opportunities in #Croatia. The BOLSTER project was represented by Prof. Sabina Hodzic and Tanja Fatur Šikić from the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management, who actively contributed to the discussions. With over €180 million allocated through the #JustTransitionFund (JTF), Croatia is accelerating its transition to a #lowcarbon economy, focusing on Istria and Sisak-Moslavina County. Key highlights from the forum: 🔹 Discussions on JTF fund utilization, with examples from Poland (KatoHub) and Romania (Jiu Valley Robotics). 🔹 Local initiatives showcased, including PISMO Incubator (Novska), Artificial Intelligence Center (Lipik), and Drone-IN Center (Petrinja). 🔹 Workshops on the role of IT in a just transition, education, and retraining. 🔹 A hackathon for high school students, who developed innovative IT solutions for local government. 💡 A fantastic opportunity to explore how the IT sector can contribute to Croatia's sustainable future! 🌱 #JustTransition #SustainableDevelopment #ITInnovation #JTF #EUinmyRegion #HorizonEurope #HorizonProjects #EuropeanCommission #JustTransitionPlatform #Event

🌍 Our sister project, Adjust, is hosting an upcoming webinar titled "Is the Social Climate Fund Enough to Ensure a Just Transition?" and we’re sure it’s worth attending! With expert speaker Xaquin Garcia (BC3), the webinar will explore key insights on the role of social climate funding in ensuring a #justtransition. 📅 Date: December 19, 2024 🕒 Time: 03:00 PM 🎟️ Registration is still open – don’t miss it! #JustTransition #SocialClimateFund #Sustainability #Adjust #BOLSTER #JustTransitionCluster #HorizonEurope #Horizonproject #sisterprojects #EUinmyRegion CMCC Foundation - Centro Euro Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici

🌱 Building Resilient Communities in Saxony-Anhalt 🌍 Our Re-Activate Campaign in Halle and Zeitz is fostering sustainability, empowerment, and connection! Highlights include: 👉 A vibrant community garden in Halle teaching gardening, food preservation, and cooking skills while strengthening social bonds. 👉Action Days (ZAK) in Zeitz, showcasing sustainable ideas, fostering networks, and sparking dialogue on green transitions in a shrinking city. 🌟These initiatives empower individuals, promote social cohesion, and drive local green transitions. 👇 Read the blogpost to learn more below or here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dNifGHBv Dr. Ammalia Podlaszewska CULTURE GOES EUROPE (CGE) - Soziokulturelle Initiative Erfurt e.V. (CGE Erfurt e.V.) #JustTransition #GreenTransition #Sustainability #EUFunding #LocalDevelopment #BOLSTERProject #SocialEquity #ClimateAction

🌍 Building a Just Transition: Why Local Voices Matter 🍃 How can the green transition truly serve communities? Alexandra Lulache explores this in a new article based on the BOLSTER project, showing how the EU’s Just Transition Fund could better address local needs through a place-based approach. 🗝️ Key takeaway: A one-size-fits-all policy risks missing what matters most - addressing local inequalities and supporting marginalised groups. By engaging communities and tailoring investments to their realities, we can ensure no one is left behind. 👇 Read the blogpost to see how Romania’s experience offers lessons for equitable transitions below or here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dBez3cMh #JustTransition #GreenTransition #Sustainability #EUFunding #LocalDevelopment #BOLSTERProject #SocialEquity #ClimateAction

🌍 Reviving Post-Carbon Communities 🌱 In León, Spain, the coal phase-out left towns searching for new opportunities. While many wait for large-scale industry, others—especially women and youth—are driving micro-visions of change: small businesses, community projects, and efforts to restore local resources. Programs like Fabero Verde XII provide valuable skills in forestry and gardening, but initiatives like QUERCUS show the power of grassroots action. From planting gardens to forming cooperatives, these efforts highlight the potential of bottom-up solutions in just transitions. The challenge? Empowering more people with resources to turn their ideas into transformative change. 👇 Read the blogpost to know more about León below or here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dwGKwS8W Nevelina Pachova RMIT Europe #JustTransition #SocialInnovation #Sustainability