Coal mining has created deep ecological, economic, and social dependencies in Colombia, a
country heavily affected by declining global coal demand. To support a just transition, the
government launched Just Transition pilot regions in late 2022, aiming to rebuild trust
through inclusive dialogue and international cooperation.
The project enables the development of local expertise through an innovative pilot project in
the Colombian coal regions of Cesar and Magdalena. The novelty of this pilot lies in the dual
use of photovoltaic modules, which provide partial shade for traditional agroecology,
allowing food to be grown for local communities—everything installed and maintained by
women and marginalized groups from the coal region, with the intention of continuing
beyond the project duration. The project generates new knowledge and strengthens both local
and international cooperation and mutual trust. In this process, various stakeholders from the
Colombian coal regions jointly develop an initial vision for a sustainable and livable life after
coal. This lays the foundation for the successful implementation of future regional
development plans along a necessary Just Transition.
The project provides practical solutions within the context of the forthcoming Just Transition:
a JT Atlas identifies and maps the potential of municipalities; a JT Academy trains local
communities in the coal region, with a focus on women and underrepresented groups; an
Agri-Photovoltaic JT pilot project is co-developed with the community; and a JT dialogue
involving stakeholders creates an inclusive space to develop a bottom-up vision for life
beyond coal.
The project advises the national and subnational governments on concrete policy measures,
some of which are implemented directly. The knowledge gained is documented in (academic)
publications and shared globally via social networks, increasing the project’s reach,
transparency, and therefore its acceptance and impact. At the same time, the findings can be
locally adapted and replicated in other coal-producing countries of the Global South.