Panda Labs for a Just Transition

Coal regions in Bulgaria, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia have been under severe economic strain and face severe social issues as Europe embarks on a course for rapid decarbonisation. Funding to ensure a Just Transition is often made available, yet a critical ingredient is missing in all four countries: the human and social capital, future vision, and entrepreneurship potential of a young generation, which is rapidly moving to large cities and Western European countries in search of better economic opportunities.

The project team targeted young people living in coal regions affected by structural change. The project focussed on one coal region in each country and worked with high school students, university students and young entrepreneurs. 

The aim of the project was to raise these people's awareness of the challenges of a just structural change in coal regions and to actively involve them in solving the problem. To this end, they established a culture of innovation that encouraged young people to become climate-conscious entrepreneurs and create green jobs and sustainable livelihoods in the regions.  

The project team designed and implemented an educational programme for young people that promoted their entrepreneurial skills. For example, the team developed a curriculum for high schools and created a pipeline for young entrepreneurship, specifically for people between the ages of 15 and 25, in the coal regions. The team received support from school administrators, local authorities, professionals driving green technologies and climate innovation, and mentors in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). The programme drew on a proven methodology used by WWF in its EUKI project Panda Labs to develop innovative solutions. This included concepts such as design thinking, learning by doing and the transnational exchange of young people on green innovations. 

In the long-term, this enabled the establishment of local networks of green entrepreneurs, who would tackle the technological and social problems of transitioning their local economies away from coal mining economy.

• Long-term educational programmes:As part of the project, 887 young people in Bulgaria, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia were trained in green innovation and green entrepreneurship. Many of them now work in companies in the region that focus on green and sustainable business ideas. Even after the end of the project, students and pupils will continue to be trained in the green transformation of coal regions using the educational programmes for universities and schools developed by the project team.
  • The project developed transferable educational programmes, including ten school modules and a university curriculum, which were made available to all partners. 
• Network for forward-looking ideas: The project partners established an online network with over 450 members, which has already generated over 100 ideas for green innovations as part of the just transition in coal regions in Bulgaria, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.  
• Bridge to Brussels: As part of the project, a partnership was established with the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria, which included two study visits to Brussels. Fourteen Bulgarian participants met with representatives of the European Commission's Directorate-General and exchanged views on just transition in coal regions. 
• Innovative knowledge building: Simulations of Economic Social Council meetings introduced around 270 young people to political processes. They were able to increase their knowledge of climate policy and just transition processes by at least 25 per cent.