Designing Sustainable Change in Coal Regions

In conjunction with the energy transition and decarbonisation, coal-mining regions in particular are facing enormous dynamics of change. Despite immense challenges, they can become model and showcase regions for the great transformation toward sustainability. But is this assumption correct? And how can the current and upcoming processes in the affected regions be designed in such a way that they are purposefully directed toward sustainability? Regions that need to organise the phase-out of lignite open-cast mining are contributing to the achievement of national and international goals for the reduction of greenhouse gases. This self-designed structural change on the local and regional levels is part of an overarching transformation strategy on higher levels of scale. Nevertheless, the structural change associated with the coal phase-out and the great transformation toward sustainability are different concerns – with different motivations and dynamics. Structural change is a process of socio-economic change, usually perceived as a crisis, due to changes in external conditions. To cushion the socioeconomic consequences in particular, structural policy rescue packages and aid programmes are launched. Transformation toward sustainability is understood as a desired path and system shift to bring about deliberate change. This raises the question of whether and under what conditions it is possible to attach a normative ambition to unavoidable processes of change in regions that do not tend to have favourable conditions for transformation. In coal regions in particular, one can assume a lack of openness among actors and the local population, as they have fears about job losses and living conditions. Furthermore, coal, energy and related industries tend to be organised centrally and hierarchically with a low diversity of sectors and thus must overcome gridlocked structures and lock-in effects. At the same time, a forward-looking structural policy adapted to regional sensitivities can provide resources and build capacities to embark on new paths in the affected regions. However, what stimulus for transformation can be created where, and by whom? Should these stimuli come from outside or within? And in general, how can transformation in coal regions be initiated, coordinated and stabilised? With this special issue, we are particularly interested in the role of space when addressing the questions above. What is the relationship between different fields of transformation and spatial challenges as well as resources within these regions? Transformative approaches are often sector-oriented with little reference to space. Therefore, the spatial dimension is often neglected – both in research and policy-making. However, we assume that spatial thinking and strategy-making are key to the transformation of coal regions. Neighbourhoods, industrial areas, cities, and productive landscapes are ‘landing places’ for innovation. Space exerts an integrative momentum for the range of technological and societal initiatives that are urgently needed to address structural change. Furthermore, quality of life is closely linked to the quality of regions, which are required to embed themselves closely in regional networks and Professor Antje Matern is a Professor of Regional Development at the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt. She worked as a senior researcher in the BMBF project for scientific support of the transformation process in Lusatia at the Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development. Her research focuses on the sustainable transformation of cities and regions and the role of spatial planning in the governance of transformation processes.