Lusatia, a coal-rich region in Germany, is undergoing a profound transformation as the country phases out its reliance on fossil fuels. This blog post explores the complexities and obstacles in Lusatia’s journey towards environmental sustainability, as revealed by a recent study. It examines the role of government funding, the integration of sustainability goals, and the need for a more comprehensive approach to achieve lasting change. The post includes relevant links to Lusatia and the concept of sustainable development.
While Funding Flows, Sustainability Lags
The biggest human and economic consequences of its exit are already being felt in Lusatia, a German coal region on the country’s eastern periphery that has been lavished with billions in government funding to support its transition from mining. According to the study, federal funding of 10.3 billion euros has been made available for this structural change as well as several hundred million from state sources.
But the authors of the study published in the Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning remain doubtful about whether or not the region is moving towards genuine environmental sustainability. And, although companies are pumping huge sums into the area, sustainability aims frequently play a secondary role in decision-making. Not even the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Germany’s own National Sustainable Development Strategy seem to be able to significantly shape the transition projects financed and implemented in Lusatia.
Sustainability Concepts Still Fragile
When it comes to transforming Lusatia, a project that would certainly be considered “sustainable,” as far as Gürtler and his co-author David Löw-Beer can tell, there are already plenty of stakeholders who don’t really know what this means. Therefore, choices made by them are not largely reinforced by sustainability considerations.
The researchers pinpointed several examples of projects that support particular sustainability dimensions, such as emissions reduction or a mix of climate protection technologies and improvements to educational and health infrastructure; but many gaps persist in areas such as nature conservation, water management and sustainable consumption. Rather, the pattern of funded initiatives has skewed towards economic growth, diversification and job creation — all important outcomes but not necessarily compatible with a holistic sustainability agenda.
A Truly Transformative Transition
The researchers suggest that the federal and state governments would be wise to jointly attack this problem and work more closely together to create a sustainable future for Lusatia. At present, all ministries as they are related to the transition set priorities for their perspective path and accordingly little of it fits together or is correlated with the sustainability objectives.
It could also facilitate progress further if rigorous monitoring and evaluation systems were put in place: that would improve transparency and allow for effective follow-up. Moreover creating the programs to involve civil society, citizens, children and young people would create a much weightier sustainability of ongoing regional transformation.
Considering the massive amount of money earmarked to finance a transition from coal in Lusatia, its imperative that policy makers recognize and capitalize on some of the principal areas of action toward an integrated sustainability pathway. The transformations in this area could shape and further support other locations within Germany (and beyond) in future structural reforms.
