In light of the ambitious targets of the Paris Agreement and the Commission’s proposal for Europe to become climate neutral by 2050, a critical question for decision-makers is how to manage the phase-out of coal and lignite as swift as possible while also ensuring security of supply, affordable electricity, and a just transition in regions dependent on coal.

The aim of the workshop was to highlight EU policies and initiatives that assist member states and regions in phasing out coal and lignite in their electricity supply, present the results of recent studies modelling the economic and social effects of coal-phase out in selected EU countries, and to show how Europe’s biggest utilities approach the question in their corporate strategies.