Post by Net Zero Economy Authority

🔶 CEO Post – Learning from Germany’s energy transition 🔶 This week, I had the privilege of speaking with Professor Barbara Praetorius and Michael Vassiliadis, who both played pivotal roles in the German Coal Commission. Professor Praetorius previously served as Co-Chair of Germany’s Coal Commission - formally known as the Commission on Growth, Structural Change and Employment. Mr Vassiliadis was also a member of the Commission and is a leader in the German and European trade union movement. The Commission’s recommendations have helped guide Germany’s energy transition in a way that addresses the significant social and economic shifts for coal communities in Germany. Germany’s industrial strength owes much to coal, and the Commission rightly recognised that the workers behind that industry were critical to the nation’s prosperity. As we’ve seen in Australia, industries don’t just grow economies - they shape communities, culture and opportunity, through the efforts of workers across generations. This conversation gave us a valuable window into Germany’s transition journey. I look forward to sharing more as we continue to learn from international best practice - evolving not just what we do, but how we do it. David Shankey 📌 For those interested, the Commission’s final report, published in 2019 by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, is available here: http://srkr.io/60495pc