Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/223232 
Year of Publication: 
2019
Citation: 
[Journal:] sustainability [ISSN:] 2071-1050 [Volume:] 11 [Issue:] 21 [Article No.:] 5991 [Publisher:] MDPI [Place:] Basel [Year:] 2019
Publisher: 
MDPI, Basel
Abstract: 
This paper recalls the development of the German lignite regions Rhineland and Lusatia since 1945 to allow for a better understanding of their situation in 2019. We analyze their economic resilience, defined as adaptive capacity, using Holling’s adaptive cycle model. We find that the Rhineland is currently in the conservation phase, while Lusatia experiences a reorganization phase following the economic shock of the German reunification. Key policy recommendations for the upcoming coal phase-out are to foster innovation within the Rhineland’s infrastructures to avoid overconnection, and to expand digital and transportation infrastructure in Lusatia so that the structurally weak region can enter the exploitation phase. Future policymaking should take into consideration the differences between the two regions in order to enable a just and timely transition during which lasting adaptive capacity can be built.
Subjects: 
coal phase-out
energy transition
coal transition
sustainability transition
Energiewende
just transition
structural change
regional economic resilience
adaptive cycle model
Germany
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Creative Commons License: 
cc-by Logo
Document Type: 
Article
Document Version: 
Published Version

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