Governance of the just transition in the Jiu Valley, Romania

In the effort to achieve carbon reduction targets, the coal phase-out is presented as a necessity. The transition from coal is therefore in full swing throughout the European Union, and the European Commission has set up special funds to protect vulnerable communities, accessible within the institutional framework called "just transition". Conducting a case study in the coal basin of the Jiu Valley, in Romania, this paper addresses issues of governance during just transition. Successful mine closure scenarios involve a continuing human presence with economic returns, therefore deciding upon
the most appropriate closure activity may require years of research and stakeholder consultations. Through JTF and other financial instruments, some development opportunities are opening for mono-industrial regions, but the power relations between local stakeholders may alter the democratic processes needed for designing the green future of a region. Given the magnitude and complexity of the challenges, the faster the state or non-state actors anticipate, accept, and implement the steps to cushion the transition shock, the better the results. If the transition will be a highly disjointed process, the roots of this situation may be found in the divergent interests of the stakeholders.
The Jiu Valley was industrialized far too ambitiously by communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, then chaotically deindustrialized by post-socialist regimes. Just transition could be a chance to relaunch the region on a sustainable basis. However, there is a need for arbitration in the power game between different stakeholders. This paper examines the political and geographical nature of the just transition, as well as the existence of a "carbon regime" that should be investigated in more detail since some actors might intentionally oppose and slow down the transition process.