Energy Democracy is an emergent social, economic, cultural movement aiming to advance energy transitions by resisting the existing fossil-fuel centralised energy agenda. At the same time, the movement reclaims and restructures the energy status quo in a democratic way, by strengthening public participation and integrating technological changes and energy innovations.
Energy Democracy Dialogues, an initiative of INZEB and Electra Energy, is an open platform where energy experts, policymakers, businesses, politicians, academicians, civil society representatives and citizens meet and debate on the critical issue of Energy Democracy. The main aims of the Dialogues are to address the energy transition challenges and to influence the local, regional, national, and continental energy agendas through constructive dialogues.
Within the frame of the Energy Democracy Dialogues initiative, and in partnership with Heinrich Böll Stiftung Greece, the Energy Democracy under the microscope online event is scheduled for Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 May 2021 at 15.00-17.00 CEST/ 16.00-18.00 EEST. The thematic of each day are:
Tuesday 25 May 2021: Exploring Energy Democracy. The worldwide dimension.
Wednesday 26 May 2021: Energy Democracy in the Balkans: Citizens’ and local communities’ role.
The main topics to be discussed and addressed during the two days of the online event are:
- How can Energy Democracy be described in terms of goals and what are the specific actions needed that could enhance the movement in global, regional, and national levels?
- Are there overarching and secondary goals, and if yes, how those are reflected in various regional contexts?
- Can Energy Democracy goals guide the national energy policy designs and what are the requirements for this action? Can national energy policies linked-up with the national social policies?
- What are the available policy instruments worldwide that support the Energy Democracy movement? If those exist, are there concrete outcomes resulting the implementation of those policy instruments?
- What is the role of energy innovation in such social movements?
- What is the role of Energy Democracy advocates and what is the role of citizens and communities?
- Is there an interrelation between energy democracy and gender equality? How is it addressed?
SAVE THE DATE and stay tuned for updates here.
“Energy Communities discuss about Energy Communities. Developments, perspectives, and challenges”
Since the enactment of the law 4513/2018, more than 400 Energy Communities have been established, with the aim of contributing to the energy transition and becoming the vehicles through which citizens, small businesses, and local authorities can have an active role as micro-investors and co-owners of local RES projects.
The 1st event of the Energy Democracy Dialogues series, paved the way through an open discussion, for Energy Communities from all over Greece to present their vision, their plans and to share their concerns and the challenges they face.
Check out the results of the workshop here.