Balkan Green Energy News, the media partner of the 2025 Just Transition Young Voices Awards, is publishing the three winning articles. The Energy Community Secretariat organized the contest in collaboration with Bankwatch, CAN Europe, the CLEW Network, and the Regional Youth Cooperation Office. The aim is to promote young adults set to shape the climate, energy, and social landscape in the years ahead in the Energy Community region. 

Author: Ani Gogokhia

It is the summer of 2045  – unusually hot compared to previous years – but the unbearable heat is not the only problem. I wake up in my small apartment in western Georgia, open the window, and immediately see clouds of exhaust fumes. For me, this is just another part of everyday life.

After a quick breakfast, I step outside for a short walk to wake myself up. The buildings in the city are the only things that remain unchanged. The number of people on the streets is declining. I feel lonely – most of my peers have either moved to the capital, Tbilisi, or left for European countries.

Thinking of them inevitably leads me to reflect on my own career path. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in my region.

Not much choice for young woman

With those thoughts weighing on me, I walk quickly to my first job. I call it my first job because I’ll head to another one later in the afternoon. The commute is long, and public transport only slows me down – so I walk. As I pass the local market, I see vendors, most of them women, standing in the scorching sun.

My job is house cleaning. The pay is just enough to cover groceries and utility bills, but with the cost of living rising daily, I rush to a second cleaning job in the afternoon. Floors, windows, walls – it’s all the same. If you wonder why I chose this line of work, the answer is simple: there wasn’t much choice, especially for a young woman.

The scenario described above could become a regular part of life if we halt progress toward a just transition and neglect it

There’s little to say about the workday. I return home as the sun begins to set, carrying groceries in both hands. As I unpack, I wait for my family. Everyone works – my mother and father in a factory, and my sister at a hospital. We gather for dinner and talk about current events: rising tensions, protests over low wages, unemployment, and deepening poverty.

But these conversations always end the same way – with my mother’s cancer. She developed the disease after years of exposure to harmful substances at the factory, yet she still can’t stop working. We simply can’t afford her treatment otherwise.

The scenario described above could become a regular part of life if we halt progress toward a just transition and neglect it. For the energy transition to be truly just, it must include rural areas, too, creating fair opportunities for people across Georgia.

A just transition refers to a series of policies that ensure fair and equal opportunities for everyone as we shift to a greener economy in the fight against climate change. It’s a process meant to align energy systems with modern, sustainable standards. Local governments play a vital role, though many factors – such as geography and ethnicity – can affect how smoothly this transition occurs.

Just transition in Georgia

Georgia is working to stay aligned with global green trends through international cooperation. Hydropower dominates its energy sector, but the country is slowly incorporating wind and solar systems. Since joining the Energy Community in 2017, Georgia has made notable strides toward harmonizing its legislation with the European Union’s energy standards.

This alignment has attracted major investments in renewable energy. Projects like the Kartli wind farm and a national roadmap for a circular economy – supported by the EU4Environment program – are steps in the right direction.

The city of Zugdidi is among the trailblazers in Georgia in the energy efficiency segment, youth engagement and environmental education

These national achievements are significant, but what about rural areas far from the capital? Each region presents unique challenges and opportunities in the just transition. In western Georgia, Zugdidi has started participating in this process. Although large-scale renewable projects remain concentrated elsewhere, the city has seen pilot initiatives in energy efficiency, youth engagement, and environmental education supported by the EU.

The rural development programs of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Zugdidi focus on inclusive economic participation, especially for youth, and promote eco-tourism and sustainable agriculture to curb outward migration. One noteworthy initiative involved using hazelnut shells to heat school greenhouses – a clever use of a crop central to local livelihoods. Educational projects and international partnerships have also helped raise awareness about the green economy, yet challenges remain.

Chiatura craves economic diversification away from mining

Take, for example, Chiatura – a mining town east of Zugdidi, known for its manganese industry since Soviet times. Chiatura’s economy has long depended on mining, with consequences such as environmental degradation, poor working conditions, and economic stagnation when mining activity declines. Without economic diversification, residents remain vulnerable and largely excluded from sustainable development benefits.

In 2024, Georgian news outlets reported: “The hunger strike entered its 22nd day on July 10, involving eight miners, three of whom have sewn their mouths shut.“ The unrest stems from decisions to shut down underground mining operations, leaving workers desperate and uncertain about their futures.

While Zugdidi explores decentralized, eco-friendly solutions like biomass heating, Chiatura still lags in implementing alternatives – clean industries, green technologies, or renewable energy – deepening the divide between regions.

Youth massively moving to capital Tbilisi

Unfortunately, Georgia’s development remains overly centralized. Most opportunities are clustered in Tbilisi, causing a massive youth outflow from other regions into the capital.

Geographic and infrastructural limitations in rural and mountainous areas also pose serious barriers. For example, eastern Georgia has high solar radiation – perfect for photovoltaic panels – but varied terrain complicates installation. Wind energy prospects are greater in the east, as western regions are less windy.

A just transition also demands inclusive participation, especially from women. As of 2024, women make up just 28% of the global STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) workforce – a glaring underrepresentation. In Georgia, the meaningful inclusion of women in the just transition remains a significant challenge. Empowering women – politically, economically, and socially – is key.

A difficult past marked by political instability and conflict has left its mark, but the more women engage in public life, the greater their chances of economic empowerment, entry into traditionally male-dominated professions and establishing decent place in economy.

What must be done

While Georgia has made substantial headway towards its climate goals, it is key for the country to create a unified national policy that addresses all regions equitably. We need robust educational campaigns, targeted support for rural areas, and most importantly, greater inclusion of women and minority groups in the just transition.

Only then can we build a fair, resilient society capable of meeting the challenges of the 21st century.