In 2023, the Slovak Republic will end coal power generation at the last remaining coal power plant in the Upper Nitra region, resulting in an annual decrease of 1.2 million tonnes in its carbon dioxide emissions – around 4% of national emissions.
This milestone achievement was driven by the recognition that the best way to support Slovakia’s coal mining region (Upper Nitra region) and regions vulnerable to the low-carbon transition (Košice and Banská Bystrica region) in their pathway to climate neutrality is to develop new economic opportunities and thus deliver a fair and just transition.
Delivering a just transition away from coal means more than transitioning one industrial sector. The Slovak Republic has demonstrated that, if well managed, by placing workers and communities at the centre of effective social dialogue, a just transition can provide environmental, social, and economic benefits for all.
