Did you know that well over 70 coal community mayors, from 11 European countries, have now signed a declaration in support of a sustainable, zero-carbon future?
For several years, with the support of WWF, mayors have been exchanging experiences and concerns related to the process of leaving coal under the ‘Forum of Mayors on Just Transition’.
Their fourth meeting, organised by WWF, will be hosted by the city of Stara Zagora, Bulgaria on 29-30 September 2021. Speakers will include EU Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans, as well as mayors from coal regions with on-the-ground experience of just transition.
The meeting couldn’t be more timely. The EU is currently working on a series of climate and energy laws for 2030, and local communities are developing applications for EU funding to help a socially fair shift towards climate neutrality.
This is a crucial opportunity for coal communities and anyone working in the field of just transition to learn, exchange and share their experiences.
The full agenda is here, and you can register here. Several of the sessions – including the keynote session with a recorded address from VP Timmermans – are open to media. The event will be online with limited in-person attendance possible at the event hub “Zachary Knyazheski” Regional Library, Amphitheatre Hall, 6000 Stara Zagora, 44 Ruski Blvd. The online sessions will be held on Zoom and the link will be sent to all registered participants.
Simultaneous translation in English, Bulgarian, Polish, and Greek will be provided.
The event and forum are part of the Regions and Municipalities for a Just Transition project supported by the European Climate Initiative (EUKI) and is co-organised by WWF Bulgaria local partners Stara Zagora Regional Economic Development Agency and Black Sea Energy Research Centre.
