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Key Themes: Just Transition Challenges & Framework, Participatory Governance, Community Ownership, Energy (in)justice
The IURC Community of Practice 4 (CoP4) convened its second Deep-Dive Session, “Just Transition Frameworks and Energy Transition Cases from Germany and Australia,” on 25 June 2026. The online session brought together 19 representatives from regional governments, research institutes, and the IURC network to explore practical pathways toward a just transition, exchange international experiences, and identify approaches for strengthening regional governance and stakeholder participation through comparative case studies from Bremen (Germany) and Gippsland (Australia).
Case Study: Bremen
The first part of the session featured a presentation by Stefanie Baasch (University of Bremen), focusing on Bremen’s experience in advancing a decentralised energy transition through strong local governance and citizen participation. The presentation traced how Germany’s energy transition evolved from grassroots initiatives into a nationally supported framework through policies such as the Renewable Energy Act (EEG).
Particular attention was given to the role of municipalities in managing energy systems, the growth of citizen energy cooperatives, and community ownership as mechanisms for increasing public participation and acceptance. The discussion also addressed Bremen’s efforts to decarbonise its industrial sector, particularly steel production, while acknowledging ongoing challenges related to green hydrogen, infrastructure investment, and market uncertainty.
The presentation underscored that local ownership, recognition of community interests, and inclusive governance are essential components of a successful energy transition, demonstrating that the energy transition is not only a technological challenge but also a social and governance process.
Case Study: Gippsland
The session then turned to Karen Cain (Gippsland) and Jessica Reeves (Federation University Australia), who presented Gippsland’s approach to a just transition through case studies from the Latrobe Valley. The presentation introduced the region’s Response, Recovery, and Re-set framework, emphasizing that a successful transition requires not only economic support but also attention to the psychological impacts experienced by local communities.
Speakers also highlighted collaborative land-use planning, ongoing transition research in Yarram, and preparations for Australia’s emerging offshore wind industry, illustrating how long-term community engagement can strengthen regional resilience during industrial transformation.
Through both the Latrobe Valley and Yarram case studies, speakers demonstrated that a successful transition depends not only on economic diversification, but also on long-term community engagement, collaborative governance, and attention to the social and psychological impacts experienced by local communities.
“It is important to understand why people perceive a transition as just or unjust. These perceptions are shaped not only by rational considerations, but also by emotions, lived experiences, and cultural, social, and individual values.“
(Stefanie Baasch, University of Bremen)
Drawing lessons from both regions, the session emphasised that a just transition extends beyond technological change. Presenters highlighted that decarbonisation policies can create diverse social, economic, environmental, and spatial inequalities, making justice a multidimensional concept encompassing distributive, procedural, and recognition justice.
To better understand these complexities, the session introduced a Just Transition Framework combining Sociotechnical Imaginaries and Multiple Energy Justices. The framework encouraged participants to consider how governance structures, community values, and lived experiences shape perceptions of fairness throughout the transition process.
Building on these discussions, participants explored how international case studies can inform future joint project development across partner regions. The exchange highlighted the importance of strengthening regulatory frameworks, promoting participatory governance, and designing inclusive decision-making processes that enable meaningful citizen and stakeholder involvement throughout the transition.
The session concluded with an interactive discussion, during which participants exchanged perspectives on the key challenges facing their respective regions, shared experiences of citizen participation and co-ownership, and reflected on practical approaches to fostering fair and inclusive energy transitions.
Written by Yejin Lee, Project Associate in CityNet, IURC Korean Helpdesk
(korea.helpdesk@iurc.eu)