In recent years, the need for gradual decarbonisation of the economy has also prompted discussions, strategies and plans for a just transition across Europe, including Romania. The closure of mines, one of the main components of phasing coal out from the economy, is however a reality that has been affecting communities in the Jiu Valley, where the economy is mainly based on a single industry, since 1997, with massive restructuring in the mining sector. The way in which the process was undertaken fell far short of the idea of a just transition, with a lack of advanced, rigorous planning, and measures tailored to the specifics of the area and the needs of the workers in the affected towns. The ways of intervention adopted so far, through economic and social protection measures, have been exclusively addressed to individuals who have worked in mines (mainly men). At the same time, current strategies, plans, and actions lack gender perspective when it comes to measures to be implemented in the following years. By assessing how the transition to decarbonisation has affected the lives of women in the mining area of the Jiu Valley, the report aims to highlight that efforts towards a just transition and those for gender equality can only go hand in hand.
The report is an exploratory research, documenting the quality of life of women in the Jiu Valley. It is based on a comprehensive approach, attempting to address all aspects of women’s lives in the valley, but it is not an exhaustive approach, as its scope cannot encompass all possible experiences. Specific to exploratory research, the methodology is qualitative.
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