IURC CoP 4 Regions Exchange Lessons on Just Transition Governance and Workforce Transformation

On 21 May 2026, regional partners under the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme’s Community of Practice 4 (CoP 4) on Just Transition and Low-Carbon Technologies gathered for the first deep-dive session focused on stakeholder governance, engagement, and workforce transition in the context of just transition. 

The session brought together representatives from Bremen (Germany), Chungcheongnam-do (Republic of Korea), Chungnam Institute (Republic of Korea), Gippsland (Australia), Jeollanam-do Green Energy Institute (Republic of Korea), and the Lodzkie Region (Poland) to exchange perspectives on the governance and social dimensions of energy transition.

Leading the session, Adam Szymański (Department of Entrepreneurship and Just Transition, Lodzkie Region) presented Lodzkie’s experiences in navigating just transition in a historically coal-dependent region. Drawing from the region’s ongoing transformation efforts, he highlighted that just transition is not solely an infrastructure or energy challenge, but equally a social and governance issue. Key themes included depopulation, labour market transformation, youth retention, and the importance of workforce reskilling alongside support for future-oriented industries.

The presentation also highlighted the role of multi-level governance in managing transition, with active consultation involving municipalities, public institutions, and local communities to better understand regional concerns and shape long-term development strategies. Follow-up initiatives focused on policy support, analysis, and public engagement were also introduced as part of the region’s broader transition efforts.

The session evolved into an active discussion among participating regions, covering practical issues such as youth workforce competitiveness, government-academia collaboration, renewable energy priorities, and stakeholder coordination in energy transition projects. While regional contexts differed, the exchange underscored many shared challenges, including balancing infrastructure transformation with community expectations and building long-term economic resilience.

The discussion also opened opportunities for continued cooperation, particularly in the areas of transition governance, workforce development, and clean energy innovation, reinforcing the value of international peer learning in supporting more inclusive and locally grounded transition pathways.

Written by Yejin Lee, Project Associate in CityNet, IURC Korean Helpdesk

(korea.helpdesk@iurc.eu)