Green dreams, local realities: Complexities of the European Union's energy transition to ensure local health and well-being in a fossil fuel-based industrial region

• DOI: 10.1016/j.eiar.2024.107520
• Publication Date: 2024-05-04T06:11:43Z
• Authors: Usha Dahal; Kati Orru; Hans Orru; Martin Dijst
• Keywords: Energy transition

European Union's Green Deal is a legal obligation to EU countries shift towards environment-friendly energy systems from fossil-fuel-based systems. This transition will bring significant global health benefits by combating climate change, but it crucial understand the so far understudied impacts on local communities' lives and, thus, their and well-being. The study proposes novel conceptual framework based socio-technical theory production of space identify interacting points between well-being in context. tested Estonia's transitioning fossil fuel oil-shale-based system four focus group discussions, ten expert interviews, document analysis. We innovatively pinpoint pathways, including feedback loops, through causal loop diagram (CLD) impacting inhabitants' interplay analysis indicates that protecting promoting has been challenge not only due disruption created process also accumulated problems regarding socioeconomic conditions, environmental impacts, at level. compound effects multiple existing emerging issues, divergent interpretations lack holistic support mechanisms for inhabitants navigate changes sociocultural economic space, can harm locals' developed provides an important theoretical background mental physical health, social well-being, living industrial area. CLD using this demonstrates avoid unintended consequences transition.