Bankwatch Romania in partnership with 2Celsius Association launches the project “The challenges of the energy transition in Romania” through which the two organizations aim to involve civil society and encourage democratic participation in the transformation process of the energy system. The project is carried out with the financial support of Active Citizens Fund Romania, a program funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants 2014-2021.
The project has three main objectives:
- Improving public policies on renewable energy, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions reduction through advocacy and watchdog activities,
- Promoting a participatory and inclusive regional development model in Gorj County leading to a strategy for phasing out coal use in the energy sector and a just transition, with as little social impact as possible on workers and their communities, and
- Ensuring proper implementation of environmental protection legislation applicable in the energy sector, by monitoring violations of legislation, informing communities about their rights and training at least 20 future and current lawyers or magistrates in this field.
„In Romania, 66% of greenhouse gas emissions are produced by the energy system. In order to reduce the climate change effects that we feel more intense in our life, we need a fundamental transformation of the way we produce and consume energy. This transformation must be carried out with special attention to the social and environmental implications. It is a challenge for the entire society, that is why we intend to collaborate with authorities and civil societymembers through advocacy activities and promote a participatory and inclusive regional development model.
Citizens have the right to be informed and consulted on projects that have an impact on the environment or which bring about a profound change in society. We must go beyond the barriers of formal consultations, find time and space for the voices of society to contribute to decision-making, for environmental legislation to be truly enforced, for the well-being of citizens to become a priority”, said Ioana Ciută, President of Bankwatch Romania.
During the 36 months of the project, the two organizations aim to bring together the civil society in Gorj County in a coalition to actively participate in the process of just transition, to establish a legal clinic for environmental law in order to train professionals to fight the negative environmental effects of energy projects and to inform the general public about public policies developed by the authorities for the renewable energy progress, energy efficiency and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
About Bankwatch Romania
Bankwatch Romania is a NGO established in 2012, whose purpose is to prevent the negative environmental and social impact of public and private projects and to promote sustainable alternatives and public participation in decision making. The main area of activity is pollution reduction in the energy sector, with an emphasis on decreasing the use of fossil fuels.
About 2Celsius
2Celsius is a Romanian environmental non-profit organization, founded in 2010, focused on improving climate and energy policies at national and EU level. 2C is a member of large European environmental networks, such as Transport&Environment, the European Environmental Bureau and CAN Europe.
About Active Citizens Fund Romania
The Active Citizens Fund Romania programme is funded through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The overall objective of the Grants is to reduce economic and social disparities, and to strengthen bilateral relations between 15 beneficiary countries and the Donor States (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). The programme is administered by a consortium composed of Civil Society Development Foundation, Romanian Environmental Partnership Foundation, Resource Center for Roma Communities, PACT Foundation and Frivillighet Norge, acting as Fund Operator designated by FMO – Financial Mechanism Office of the EEA and Norway Grants. The objectives of the Active Citizens Fund Romania are to strengthen civil society and active citizenship and to empower vulnerable groups. With a total allocation of 46,000,000 euro, the programme pursues a long-term development of the civil society sector sustainability and capacity, stepping up its role in promoting democratic participation, active citizenship and human rights, while strengthening bilateral relations with organizations from the Donor States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. For more information about the Active Citizens Fund in Romania, please go to www.activecitizensfund.ro. For more information about the EEA and Norway Grants, go to www.eeagrants.org.
