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Public letter, about the views of the local authorities on the conditions for the just transition
Published on 04 June 2021
Slovenia
Vzhodna Slovenija
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About this good practice
The mayor of the City Municipality of Velenje Mr. Peter Dermol (together with his colleagues) launched an initiative to inform the local citizens about the conditions (demanded by the local authorities) to be considered by the state for the purpose of ensuring a just transition. The local authorities have designed a public letter (leaflet) in which they clearly presented their view on the restructuring of the region, conditions to be met by the state (during the restructuring process) and their guidelines for the future of the region’s decarbonisation. The urge for the public understanding was critical at the time, as some important policy instruments (as is the National strategy for phasing out coal and restructuring of the coal intensive regions in accordance with the principles of a just transition) were adopted during the period, which were only briefly discussed in public consultation process. However, public understanding was not only necessary for understanding the National strategy and other political instruments but also for the right local response to the stormy media coverage, which was triggered by the vast number of meetings, events, and discussions, held on the subject of the state and regional restructuring at the time. It was essential that the citizens completely understood and supported the work of the local authorities. The public letter was distributed to households, by the local post office. More than ten thousand of public letters were distributed.
Resources needed
The data on the expenditure of the action is kept by the administration of the City Municipality of Velenje.
Evidence of success
The action was carried out by the mayor's office, with the help of other colleagues. The mayor Peter Dermol prepared a strong and decisive speech, which was summarised in the letter. The office ordered, to send out more than 10.000 letter to the local households. The letter was very well received as the public interest in restructuring has grown greatly (judging by social network activity, and public phone calls). The citizens started to feel that there are measures beeing taken for the cause.
Potential for learning or transfer
Strong and decisive public-relations actions are always a good and right dissemination choice in the times of need, such is the region’s restructuring process, when the local government needs clear, strong, and united support from the local citizens. The local population can be also informed about other ongoing initiatives, ideas in development, regional and interregional projects, work, and effort made by the local government on the subject. The practice was encouraged by the Slovenian DeCarb partners. Our region strives for a higher level of public discourse, so that the citizens of the SAŠA region support the effort of the local politics and its decision-makers, and at the same time help the region’s restructuring process itself. A very good example of cooperation with the local authorities can be summarized according to the Danish model, where decision-makers have open street offices, and this is one of the good practices that Slovenian DeCarb partners have learned from Danish.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
Organisation
City Municipality of Velenje
Slovenia
Vzhodna Slovenija
Contact
Project manager