Sebastian Tirintica descends 300 meters underground in one of Romania’s oldest coal mines to go to work.
For eight hours, he operates an industrial lift transporting his fellow miners and materials deep under the earth. But in a Europe that’s moving to rapidly decarbonize, it’s a job without a future.
Read Politico’s full article and answer the questions below.
1.1 What is the definition of (to) ‘decarbonize’?
1.2 Why did miner Sebastian Tirintica decide not to make use of the opportunity to be retrained as a technician who is able to fix wind turbine blades?
1.3 What is, according to Poland, the problem of the ‘European Green Deal’?
1.4 Why did the Romanian Wind Energy Association decide to invite ten miners for a skill matching pilot (its long term goal)?
1.5 Why didn’t Sebastian Tirintica seize the opportunity that the Romanian Wind Energy Association offered him?
1.6 What is the Sebastian Tirintica’s and other young miners’ reaction to the energy transition?
1.7 What is the reaction of the older miners to the energy transition?
1.8 Which EU country has the most coal miners? And how many?
1.9 What do miners in Poland expect to happen when the energy transition starts to take shape?
1.10 What is the Just Transmission Mechanism?
1.11 Did the Romanian Wind Energy Association receive EU funding for its reskilling project?
1.12 How should the EU funding for greening the economy be spent according to MP Cristina Prună?
1.13 What does Sebastian Tirintica say about the climate?
The ‘European Green Deal’ is an example of policy change in one area, affecting another: greening the economy (one area) leads to people losing their jobs (another area).
In the article, several positive and negative effects of this policy change were mentioned.
2.1 Think of another POSITIVE effect that this policy change might have.
2.2 Think of another NEGATIVE effect that this policy change might have.
3.1 The ‘European Green Deal’ is a policy change. Think of a policy change that you would like to implement in The Netherlands or in the European Union.
3.2 Policy change in one area (e.g. your policy change, the ‘European Green Deal’, etcetera) can have a big impact on other areas. Name an area that might be effected negatively by your policy change.
3.3 Explain why you think that the positive consequences of your policy change outweigh the negative consequences.
Now, team up with another student.
3.4 Team up with another student and exchange your answers (3.1 – 3.3). Give each other feedback.
3.5 Write down the feedback that you have received from your fellow student(s). Do you agree with the feedback that you have received from your fellow student(s)? Please explain why / why not.
Discover whether you master the essence of this case by completing the corresponding core assignments. If necessary, you can share your answers with your teacher or supervisor.
