The need for phasing out peat to reduce climate crises: Latvia’s challenges and opportunities
March 25, 2025
The most significant uses of peat in the world are for the creation of soil substrates and the production of energy. In 2022, the peat sector was responsible for 10.7 per cent of Latvia’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Peatlands store twice as much carbon as forests worldwide.
Jiříkov’s path to a clean energy future
March 20, 2025
The profound transformation of Europe’s energy sector in response to climate change and the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions is having a particularly significant impact on regions that have long relied on fossil fuels, especially coal mining.
Preparing municipalities for the future: A guide to decarbonisation solutions
March 18, 2025
This guide provides an overview of possible funding streams and necessary steps to secure decarbonisation solutions for municipalities.
What’s holding back community energy in Estonia’s just transition region?
March 5, 2025
Community energy and energy cooperatives in Estonia are still in the early stages of development, but interest in the field is growing steadily. In recent years, several small cooperatives have been established, with some communities taking the initiative to develop solar and wind energy projects. However, in the county of Ida–Viru, the heart of Estonia’s just transition, there are no fully functioning renewable energy cooperatives to inspire and mobilise local communities.
RePowering the regions: A comparative analysis of decarbonisation strategies in nine central and eastern European countries
December 18, 2024
This comparative analysis of decarbonisation strategies in nine central and eastern European countries aims to enhance knowledge of decarbonisation pathways.
Jobs after Coal: The Just Transition Fund makes its first major move in Poland
October 18, 2024
Launched in May 2024, the Jobs after Coal programme, a pioneering initiative funded by the Just Transition Fund, is designed to address the socio-economic challenges of transitioning away from coal in Eastern Wielkopolska.
Bridging the mobility gap: Tackling transport poverty in rural Latvia
October 2, 2024
On 18 September, I and my fellow colleagues from the Latvian-based environmental organisation Green Liberty teamed up with a researcher from Riga Technical University to visit Viļāni, a small town in eastern Latvia. We met with 20 local people to discuss issues with transport poverty.
Repower the regions: How to make a heating and cooling plan for municipalities. A methodology for creating a sustainable and just plan for district heating decarbonisation
September 27, 2024
The methodology proposed in this study for local heating and cooling planning at the local level is supplemented by a set of specific legislative and regulatory recommendations at the state level.
Even with hard work, a just transition needs long-term support
August 8, 2024
The small town of Turceni in southwest Romania has long been a lignite stronghold. But its enormous coal power plant is gradually being closed. A team from Bankwatch recently visited and spoke to the deputy mayor about the town’s efforts to ensure a just transition.
From coal to clean energy: A Romanian initiative for sustainable employment
August 5, 2024
The transition to a low-carbon economic model is a radical paradigm shift that requires transformation at all levels, from individual behaviour to entire economic sectors. But it’s also an unprecedented opportunity to reinvent our relationship with the economy, one that respects nature and planetary boundaries.
