EMPOWERING CHANGE: SITRANS CONSORTIUM MARKS ONE YEAR MILESTONE AND LAUNCHES GLOBAL DIALOGUE FOR A JUST TRANSITION IN STARA ZAGORA

December  10, 2023

Stara Zagora, November 28-30, 2023 - The SITRANS project consortium partners convened in Stara Zagora to mark the 13th month since the project's inception.

The meeting celebrated the one-year milestone, featuring insightful discussions and presentations on the progress made thus far. Partners delved into their respective contributions and explored future milestones, emphasizing the challenges and opportunities for a just transition. 

On the first day, consortium partners shared updates, delving into their roles and discussing the path toward sustainable practices. Emphasis was placed on addressing challenges for an equitable shift to sustainability. 

The second day, November 29, hosted the 4th international Social Policy Dialogue on the Just Transition to Net Zero in Stara Zagora. Scheduled at 9:45 a.m., the event addressed crucial aspects of the global call for sustainable development over the next 30 years.

SITRANS coordinator, Ioannis Bakouros from UoWM, moderated a session featuring Dr Rumyana Grozeva of SZ Reda (Stara Zagora), Dr Lefteris Topaloglou from UoWM, and Francesco Rocchitta from LAORE.

SZ REDA, a key player in the EU De Carb project, leads efforts to develop models for a carbon-neutral economy. The Social Policy Dialogue, stemming from the “Social Dialogue for Public Policies: New Energy Mix” project, spotlights experiences in implementing Territorial Plans for a Just Transition (TPSP).

International partners, mayors, business representatives, and institutions were invited to join the dialogue. The event showcased successful strategies for a low-carbon economy, building on achievements from the Coal Regions in Transition Platform meeting and EU Hydrogen Week. The Social Policy Dialogue aims to foster collaboration for the benefit of Stara Zagora’s development.