Just transition lessons from coal-dependent regions: A comparative analysis of Newcastle, Australia and Zonguldak, Türkiye

Ayşenur Demir; Sevil Acar

EN TR

Just transition lessons from coal-dependent regions: A comparative analysis of Newcastle, Australia and Zonguldak, Türkiye

Abstract

The objective of this research is to study the ongoing transition of Newcastle, Australia, from a mining-oriented to a sustainable and diversified economy in order to draw insights to address comparable issues in Zonguldak, Türkiye. The paper analyzes the strategies and initiatives that led to Newcastle's success and recommends implementing the best practices in Zonguldak. The unique challenges faced by Zonguldak due to its specific socio-economic and geographical context are closely examined. The study identifies several practices that can be implemented in the region and suggests policy interventions and strategies to achieve a sustainable economic transition. These strategies include implementing carbon pricing, leveraging Zonguldak's mining heritage to promote tourism, engaging with the community, fostering collaboration between government agencies and private sector entities, and adopting just transition frameworks. The research findings are valuable for policymakers, local communities, and stakeholders seeking to establish resilient, diversified economies in mining-dependent regions.

Keywords

coal exit, just transition, low-carbon transition, mining-dependent regions, sustainable development

Project Number

123K509 No'lu TÜBİTAK 1001 Projesi

Thanks

This study was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TUBITAK) under Grant Number 123K509. The authors thank TUBITAK for their support. We also acknowledge the constructive comments from the above-mentioned project group to a former version of the current study.

Kömüre bağımlı bölgelerden adil geçiş dersleri: Avustralya’nın Newcastle şehri ve Türkiye’nin Zonguldak ili üzerine karşılaştırmalı bir analiz

Abstract

Bu çalışma, Avustralya’nın Newcastle kentinin madenciliğe dayalı ekonomik yapısından sürdürülebilir ve çeşitlendirilmiş bir ekonomiye geçiş sürecini inceleyerek, benzer bir dönüşüm süreciyle karşı karşıya olan Türkiye’nin Zonguldak ili için yol gösterici bilgiler sunmayı amaçlamaktadır. Newcastle’ın bu dönüşümde elde ettiği başarının ardındaki strateji ve uygulamalar analiz edilirken, Zonguldak’ın özgün koşullarına uyarlanabilecek en iyi örneklerin belirlenmesine odaklanılmış; ilin sosyo-ekonomik ve coğrafi yapısından kaynaklanan zorluklar ayrıntılı biçimde ele alınmıştır. Bu analizler doğrultusunda, bölgeye özgü uygulanabilir yaklaşımlar geliştirilmiş ve sürdürülebilir bir iktisadi dönüşüm için çeşitli politika önerileri sunulmuştur. Öne çıkan stratejiler arasında ülke çapında karbon fiyatlandırma mekanizmalarının uygulanması, Zonguldak’ın madencilik mirasının turizme kazandırılması, yerel halkın sürece etkin katılımının sağlanması, kamu ve özel sektör arasında iş birliğinin güçlendirilmesi ve adil geçiş ilkelerinin benimsenmesi yer almaktadır. Elde edilen bulgular, madenciliğe bağımlı bölgelerde dirençli ve çeşitlendirilmiş bir ekonomik yapı kurmayı hedefleyen politika yapıcılar, yerel topluluklar ve diğer paydaşlar için önemli bir kaynak sunmaktadır

Keywords

kömürden çıkış, adil geçiş, düşük karbonlu ekonomiye geçiş, madenciliğe bağımlı bölgeler, sürdürülebilir kalkınma

Project Number

123K509 No'lu TÜBİTAK 1001 Projesi

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Environmental Economy, Sustainable Development, Green Economy, Labor Economics and Economic Demography

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Ayşenur Demir This is me
0000-0002-0514-4957
Türkiye

Sevil Acar ^*
0000-0001-5535-8673
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 30, 2025

Submission Date

May 5, 2025

Acceptance Date

June 25, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 52 Number: 1

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA96HC42FU

APA

Demir, A., & Acar, S. (2025). Just transition lessons from coal-dependent regions: A comparative analysis of Newcastle, Australia and Zonguldak, Türkiye. ODTÜ Gelişme Dergisi, 52(1), 91-118. https://izlik.org/JA96HC42FU

AMA

1.Demir A, Acar S. Just transition lessons from coal-dependent regions: A comparative analysis of Newcastle, Australia and Zonguldak, Türkiye. METUSD. 2025;52(1):91-118. https://izlik.org/JA96HC42FU

Chicago

Demir, Ayşenur, and Sevil Acar. 2025. “Just Transition Lessons from Coal-Dependent Regions: A Comparative Analysis of Newcastle, Australia and Zonguldak, Türkiye”. ODTÜ Gelişme Dergisi 52 (1): 91-118. https://izlik.org/JA96HC42FU.

EndNote

Demir A, Acar S (June 1, 2025) Just transition lessons from coal-dependent regions: A comparative analysis of Newcastle, Australia and Zonguldak, Türkiye. ODTÜ Gelişme Dergisi 52 1 91–118.

IEEE

[1]A. Demir and S. Acar, “Just transition lessons from coal-dependent regions: A comparative analysis of Newcastle, Australia and Zonguldak, Türkiye”, METUSD, vol. 52, no. 1, pp. 91–118, June 2025, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA96HC42FU

ISNAD

Demir, Ayşenur - Acar, Sevil. “Just Transition Lessons from Coal-Dependent Regions: A Comparative Analysis of Newcastle, Australia and Zonguldak, Türkiye”. ODTÜ Gelişme Dergisi 52/1 (June 1, 2025): 91-118. https://izlik.org/JA96HC42FU.

JAMA

1.Demir A, Acar S. Just transition lessons from coal-dependent regions: A comparative analysis of Newcastle, Australia and Zonguldak, Türkiye. METUSD. 2025;52:91–118.

MLA

Demir, Ayşenur, and Sevil Acar. “Just Transition Lessons from Coal-Dependent Regions: A Comparative Analysis of Newcastle, Australia and Zonguldak, Türkiye”. ODTÜ Gelişme Dergisi, vol. 52, no. 1, June 2025, pp. 91-118, https://izlik.org/JA96HC42FU.

Vancouver

1.Ayşenur Demir, Sevil Acar. Just transition lessons from coal-dependent regions: A comparative analysis of Newcastle, Australia and Zonguldak, Türkiye. METUSD [Internet]. 2025 Jun. 1;52(1):91-118. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA96HC42FU

Just transition lessons from coal-dependent regions: A comparative analysis of Newcastle, Australia and Zonguldak, Türkiye

Abstract

Keywords

Project Number

Thanks

Kömüre bağımlı bölgelerden adil geçiş dersleri: Avustralya’nın Newcastle şehri ve Türkiye’nin Zonguldak ili üzerine karşılaştırmalı bir analiz

Abstract

Keywords

Project Number

References

Details

Primary Language

Subjects

Journal Section

Authors

Publication Date

Submission Date

Acceptance Date

Published in Issue

IZ

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