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Centre for Climate and Energy Transformation (CET)
Research Project

CINTRAN

CINTRAN explores the challenges of structural change in response to decarbonisation in carbon-intensive regions.

pollution coming out of two pipes
CINTRAN Carbon Intensive Regions in Transition - Unravelling the Challenges of Structural Change
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Main content

Regions that economically depend on fossil fuel extraction or energy-intensive industries will be disproportionately affected by the decarbonisation of industry and the economy. The CINTRAN project studies the complex patterns and dynamics of structural change in those carbon-intensive regions across Europe. It examines the pace of transformation and the regions’ capacity to cope and adapt proactively through highly integrated, inter- and transdisciplinary research working in close collaboration with regional stakeholders from four highly fossil-fuel dependent regions: Western Macedonia (Greece), Silesia (Poland), Ida-Virumaa (Estonia) and the Rhenish mining area (Germany). This knowledge will inform more effective, just and inclusive governance of regional transformations.

The CINTRAN project aims at closing the research gap by systematically studying the patterns and dynamics of decarbonization at the regional level as well as the conditions of a region’s capacity to adapt to the related structural changes. At the theoretical level, we will seek answers to three major research questions:

  • What are enablers, drivers and barriers for transforming carbon-intensive industries?
  • What are the system overlaps between the carbon-intensive industry under transformation and the regional economic and social systems?
  • And what makes a transition and subsequent structural adjustments “successful” from a normative perspective?

Work packages

WP1: Theories and framework

WP2: Patterns and Dynamics of transformations

WP3: Charting transformations

WP4: Responses and impacts

WP5: Transferability, capacity, building and exploitation.

WP6: Dissemination

Publications

Nacke, L. Cherp, A. &, Jewell, J. (2022). Phases of fossil fuel decline: Diagnostic framework for policy sequencing and feasible transition pathways in resource dependent regions. Oxford Open Energy. Open Access. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ooenergy/oiac002

Yazar, M., & Haarstad, H. (2023). Populist far right discursive-institutional tactics in European regional decarbonization. Political Geography, 105, 102936.

Yazar et al., (2023). Comparative analysis of socio-political dynamics in carbon intensive regions. Horizon2020 CINTRAN Project Final Report for WP2.2. https://coaltransitions.org/publications/7595/ 

Yazar, M., & Haarstad, H. (2023). Policy briefs: New Challenges to Democracy. Policy briefs: New Challenges to Democracy | The UiB Brussels Office | UiB

Yazar, M., Hermwille, L., & Haarstad, H. (2022). Right-wing and populist support for climate mitigation policies: Evidence from Poland and its carbon-intensive Silesia region. Regional Sustainability, 3(4), 281-293.