Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ENTRANCES (ENergy TRANsitions from Coal and carbon: Effects on Societies)
Reporting period: 2021-11-01 to 2023-10-31
The European Union has already adopted a binding target to cut emissions by at least 55% below 1990 levels by 2030. Furthermore, to achieve the goal set by the Paris Agreement, the EU is planning to reach greenhouse gas emissions neutrality by 2050. To achieve these targets, it will be necessary to accelerate the energy transition and rapidly decarbonise the energy sector, which is responsible for about 75% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions. While there is broad agreement on the general aim of reaching carbon neutrality in Europe by 2050, when it comes to planning and implementing consequent policies, a set of practical, economic, social, political, and cultural problems arise. Among them, one of the more debated issues is how to manage the decarbonisation process for those regions that are still heavily dependent on fossil-fuel-based industries or the extraction of fossil fuels, i.e. Coal- and Carbon-Intensive Regions (CCIRs). In such regions, the decarbonisation policy implies a de-industrialisation of their economy, a prominent effect of which is job losses and unemployment.
ENTRANCES addresses these challenges by integrating in a single research framework and in a Cross-European study focused on 13 CCIRs, socio-economic factors, political dynamics, and deep territorial transformations linked to the energy transition. In the perspective adopted by the project, the CET does not pose only a technical challenge for CCIRs, but a wide set of socio-economic, socio-cultural, socio-psychological, and socio-political issues. The underestimation of these aspects and, more in general, the difficulty of dealing with the complex nature of the social dynamics of the energy transition may: i) weaken the capacity to effectively face the risks connected with de-territorialisation and with the rise of the so-called populist movements; ii) delay, stop, or even reverse the process of CET.
The overall goal of this project has been to develop a theoretically-based and empirically-grounded understanding of cross-cutting issues related to SSH aspects (e.g. socioeconomic, socio-technical, socio-ecological, socio-cultural, socio-political, and socio-psychological, and gender aspects) of the CET in European CCIRs so as to formulate a set of recommendations able to tackle these issues. This overall objective has been articulated in the following specific objectives:
• Produce comprehensive and detailed knowledge on the SSH aspects of the CET as they emerge in the 13 CCIRs analysed in the project.
• Develop a better understanding of the differentiated challenges faced by European CCIRs in transition and the coping strategies developed by them.
• Co-create a set of recommendations reflecting the lessons learned from the project as well as the views of relevant stakeholders from the selected CCIRs.
• Contribute to promoting a common vision of the societal implications and opportunities of the CET.
• Uncover gender disparities in the CCIRs and recommend measures to bridge the gender gap in these regions.
ENTRANCES addresses these challenges by integrating in a single research framework and in a Cross-European study focused on 13 CCIRs, socio-economic factors, political dynamics, and deep territorial transformations linked to the energy transition. In the perspective adopted by the project, the CET does not pose only a technical challenge for CCIRs, but a wide set of socio-economic, socio-cultural, socio-psychological, and socio-political issues. The underestimation of these aspects and, more in general, the difficulty of dealing with the complex nature of the social dynamics of the energy transition may: i) weaken the capacity to effectively face the risks connected with de-territorialisation and with the rise of the so-called populist movements; ii) delay, stop, or even reverse the process of CET.
The overall goal of this project has been to develop a theoretically-based and empirically-grounded understanding of cross-cutting issues related to SSH aspects (e.g. socioeconomic, socio-technical, socio-ecological, socio-cultural, socio-political, and socio-psychological, and gender aspects) of the CET in European CCIRs so as to formulate a set of recommendations able to tackle these issues. This overall objective has been articulated in the following specific objectives:
• Produce comprehensive and detailed knowledge on the SSH aspects of the CET as they emerge in the 13 CCIRs analysed in the project.
• Develop a better understanding of the differentiated challenges faced by European CCIRs in transition and the coping strategies developed by them.
• Co-create a set of recommendations reflecting the lessons learned from the project as well as the views of relevant stakeholders from the selected CCIRs.
• Contribute to promoting a common vision of the societal implications and opportunities of the CET.
• Uncover gender disparities in the CCIRs and recommend measures to bridge the gender gap in these regions.
In the first half of the ENTRANCES Project, the following results have been achieved:
1. WP1 developed the Multidimensional Analytical Framework of the project.
2. In WP2, a detailed methodological framework was developed to translate the theoretical approaches developed in WP1.
3. A state of the art analysis report has been drafted for each of the 13 case studies
4. Data collection for each case study.
5. The first EU policy co-creation meeting was held on 10 June 2021.
6. Dissemination of results and creation of a website and social media for the project.
In the second half of the ENTRANCES Project the following results have been achieved:
1) Formation of cross-case database
2) Comparative analysis (Quantitative and Qualitative) at the case study level.
3) Inventory of changes, challenges, and coping strategies.
4) Gender analysis report.
5) Multidimensional Taxonomy of challenges and coping strategies.
6) Multi-disciplinary Co-creation meeting.
7) Socio-economic simulations for all case studies.
8) Socio-ecological and technical scenarios for all case studies.
9) Regional Co-creation meeting for all case studies.
10) Policy recommendations at EU level.
11) Practical recommendations at regional level.
12) Outline of Ideas for SSH cross-disciplinary work
13) Knowledge co-production report
Dissemination activities
1) Two case study videos were produced to show the main results of all case study reports.
2) Fifteen evidence-based Policy Briefs are developed throughout the project lifespan.
3) Six newsletters were published during the lifetime of the project.
4) A Synopsis video was prepared to show the final outcomes of the project.
5) ENTRANCES consortium also participated in several external events of the most relevance.
6) The final conference was held in Brussels, on September 5-6, 2023.
7) ENTRANCES researchers have published several articles in open access journals.
1. WP1 developed the Multidimensional Analytical Framework of the project.
2. In WP2, a detailed methodological framework was developed to translate the theoretical approaches developed in WP1.
3. A state of the art analysis report has been drafted for each of the 13 case studies
4. Data collection for each case study.
5. The first EU policy co-creation meeting was held on 10 June 2021.
6. Dissemination of results and creation of a website and social media for the project.
In the second half of the ENTRANCES Project the following results have been achieved:
1) Formation of cross-case database
2) Comparative analysis (Quantitative and Qualitative) at the case study level.
3) Inventory of changes, challenges, and coping strategies.
4) Gender analysis report.
5) Multidimensional Taxonomy of challenges and coping strategies.
6) Multi-disciplinary Co-creation meeting.
7) Socio-economic simulations for all case studies.
8) Socio-ecological and technical scenarios for all case studies.
9) Regional Co-creation meeting for all case studies.
10) Policy recommendations at EU level.
11) Practical recommendations at regional level.
12) Outline of Ideas for SSH cross-disciplinary work
13) Knowledge co-production report
Dissemination activities
1) Two case study videos were produced to show the main results of all case study reports.
2) Fifteen evidence-based Policy Briefs are developed throughout the project lifespan.
3) Six newsletters were published during the lifetime of the project.
4) A Synopsis video was prepared to show the final outcomes of the project.
5) ENTRANCES consortium also participated in several external events of the most relevance.
6) The final conference was held in Brussels, on September 5-6, 2023.
7) ENTRANCES researchers have published several articles in open access journals.
Main Outputs
ENTRANCES researchers have:
1) Contributed to the creation of new knowledge on the factors, dynamics, and patterns related to the decarbonization and energy transition processes.
2) Developed a multi-dimension analytical framework that provides an essential framework to study the different aspects of CET through different components.
3) Performed a comprehensive diagnosis of all the CCIRs and identified major challenges and the coping strategies adopted by them.
4) Done a detailed analysis of the gender dimension of the energy transition in CCIRs.
5) Produced socio-economic scenarios for all the CCIRs.
6) Produced socio-ecological and technical scenarios for all the CCIRs, showing the transformative capacity of these regions to deal with the challenges posed by decarbonization.
7) Co-created new policy insights on the different societal dimensions of the CET from the perspective of different stakeholders.
8) Produced practical recommendations at the regional level.
9) Produced a report on the ‘Outline of Ideas for SSH Cross-Disciplinary work’, showing the benefits and challenges of cross-disciplinary work in the social sciences and humanities.
10) Produced a knowledge co-production report that describes all the co-creation activities conducted during the project.
Potential impacts
ENTRANCES researchers have:
1) Broadened the debate on the SSH aspects of the decarbonization process.
2) Developed a new research dimension and broadened methodologies to study different SSH of the energy transition.
3) Expanded critical knowledge and understanding of the challenges and opportunities of the CCIRs in transition to formulate region-specific policies.
4) Highlighted the gender dimension of the energy transition and its impact on the changing gender roles and relations in the EU CCIRs.
5) Provided policymakers at the EU and regional levels with evidence-based policy and practical recommendations to deal with the adverse impacts of the energy transition and bring a just transition to all the CCIRs.
6) Produced new ideas for researchers doing cross-disciplinary research on the social sciences and humanitarian aspects of the energy transition.
7) Highlighted the importance of the co-creation activities in involving key stakeholders in the research and generating evidence-based policy and practical recommendations.
ENTRANCES researchers have:
1) Contributed to the creation of new knowledge on the factors, dynamics, and patterns related to the decarbonization and energy transition processes.
2) Developed a multi-dimension analytical framework that provides an essential framework to study the different aspects of CET through different components.
3) Performed a comprehensive diagnosis of all the CCIRs and identified major challenges and the coping strategies adopted by them.
4) Done a detailed analysis of the gender dimension of the energy transition in CCIRs.
5) Produced socio-economic scenarios for all the CCIRs.
6) Produced socio-ecological and technical scenarios for all the CCIRs, showing the transformative capacity of these regions to deal with the challenges posed by decarbonization.
7) Co-created new policy insights on the different societal dimensions of the CET from the perspective of different stakeholders.
8) Produced practical recommendations at the regional level.
9) Produced a report on the ‘Outline of Ideas for SSH Cross-Disciplinary work’, showing the benefits and challenges of cross-disciplinary work in the social sciences and humanities.
10) Produced a knowledge co-production report that describes all the co-creation activities conducted during the project.
Potential impacts
ENTRANCES researchers have:
1) Broadened the debate on the SSH aspects of the decarbonization process.
2) Developed a new research dimension and broadened methodologies to study different SSH of the energy transition.
3) Expanded critical knowledge and understanding of the challenges and opportunities of the CCIRs in transition to formulate region-specific policies.
4) Highlighted the gender dimension of the energy transition and its impact on the changing gender roles and relations in the EU CCIRs.
5) Provided policymakers at the EU and regional levels with evidence-based policy and practical recommendations to deal with the adverse impacts of the energy transition and bring a just transition to all the CCIRs.
6) Produced new ideas for researchers doing cross-disciplinary research on the social sciences and humanitarian aspects of the energy transition.
7) Highlighted the importance of the co-creation activities in involving key stakeholders in the research and generating evidence-based policy and practical recommendations.