From 3 to 6 December 2024, the ENTRA-Lab team, represented by the Director, Associate Professor Dr. Lefteris Topaloglou, Associate Researcher Dr. Despoina Kanteler, and PhD Candidates and Associate Researchers Fenia Pliatsika and Konstantina Nikolaidou, traveled to Poland to conduct field research for the Just Transition Observatory Project (JT-OBSERVATORY). The trip focused on gathering insights and building collaborations related to energy transition policies, particularly addressing public engagement and stakeholder perspectives across Poland, Greece, and Bulgaria.
The team began their visit at the Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute (MEERI) of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Krakow, where they organized focus groups and conducted interviews with local stakeholders. These discussions provided valuable context for understanding Poland’s approach to energy transition and sustainability.
A key component of the trip was the dissemination of a questionnaire led by Fenia Pliatsika, a PhD candidate at ENTRA-Lab, who focused on collecting data on public engagement with energy transition policies. This questionnaire, part of her ongoing doctoral research, was distributed to students at the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow and at the Politechnika Slaska University in Zabrze. The data gathered through this effort will contribute to a broader study that includes the general population of Bulgaria, Greece, and Poland, aiming to explore how citizens in these countries perceive and engage with energy transition policies.
In addition to meetings at AGH University, the team visited the MPEC Heating Center of Krakow, where they engaged with Dr. Pawel Jastrzebski, the Innovation Director, to discuss energy innovation and sustainable practices in the region. The team also had productive meetings at Politechnika Slaska University in Zabrze, where Assoc. Prof. Lefteris Topaloglou presented a lecture to students. A fruitful meeting followed with faculty members, including Prof. Henry Kretek and Prof. Aleksandra Kuzior, to discuss further collaboration opportunities.
In Katowice, the team continued their discussions with key academic scholars, including Prof. Malgorzata Dziembala from the University of Economics and Prof. Adam Drobniak from the Faculty of Spatial Economy and Regions in Transition at the University of Katowice. These discussions focused on regional development strategies, sustainable energy transition, and how Poland is adapting its policies to meet the challenges of a just energy transition.
The visit was an important step in advancing the goals of the JT-OBSERVATORY project. The collaboration with local stakeholders, academic institutions, and energy experts in Poland was instrumental in deepening the team’s understanding of energy transition policies and public engagement in the region. The data collected during this field research will help shape future recommendations for creating more inclusive, sustainable, and just energy policies across Europe.
ENTRA-Lab’s team expresses their appreciation to all the institutions and individuals involved in the visit for their hospitality and valuable contributions. The field research in Poland is a crucial component of ENTRA-Lab’s ongoing efforts to support the development of equitable energy transition policies.
