Kozani
EcoZani - EcoZani: Creative, innovative and inclusive ecosystems towards just work transition in Kozani
About the project
EcoZani is a project in Kozani, Greece, focused on facilitating a just transition in the post-coal era by harnessing local social capital and preserving cultural heritage. It targets three main areas: “Talent” to promote youth entrepreneurship; “Technology” to develop sustainable products and establish the UpCycle Creative Reuse Centre; and “Tolerance” to encourage inclusivity through participatory processes. The initiative aims to transform the Carnival of Kozani into the first Zero-waste, Zero-emissions, Zero-exclusion (3Z) event in Europe, integrating green and digital transitions while engaging various local stakeholders.
This approach contributes to Kozani’s ambitions to work towards achieving a climate-neutral and
Challenges
Kozani is the capital of Western Macedonia, Greece’s key coal region, known for lignite (‘brown coal’) mining and power generation, which have considerable negative environmental impacts, but have long contributed significantly to its local and regional economy. However, nowadays it faces the challenge of transitioning away from these polluting industry, whilst facing the highest unemployment rates in the country with a significant gender gap and a population decline, largely due to youth outmigration.
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The coal industry contributes 45% of Western Macedonia's national Gross Domestic Product (GDP), making the transition away from coal a major economic challenge.
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Mine closures will affect 16,000 jobs directly and another 11,000 indirectly, increasing already high unemployment rates.
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Western Macedonia faces the highest youth unemployment in Greece, with 60% among those aged 15-24.
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Kozani is focusing on smart development, but struggles with limited economic diversification and local engagement.
Proposed solutions
EcoZani aims to support a fair workforce transition in Kozani during the coal transition by leveraging local cultural identity, turning a major annual event into a ‘3Z Carnival’, based on the principles of zero waste, zero emissions & zero-exclusion. This is designed to boost local entrepreneurship and support the transition into a climate-neutral city. The project emphasises the 3T framework to foster ecosystems that harness: Talent (skills); Technology (innovation) & Tolerance (inclusivity), employing a participatory approach to engage communities.
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The “Talent” ecosystem supports youth entrepreneurship through business plan competitions, a mentorship programme and start-up incubation.
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The “Technology” ecosystem focuses on creating and applying 3Z products via upcycling in the Municipal Inclusive Circu-Tech Hub.
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The “Tolerance” ecosystem promotes inclusivity through training programmes and city-wide public consultations for sustainable urban interventions.
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EcoZani integrates cultural heritage preservation with climate neutrality and circular economy goals.
Milestones
Groundwork for incubation to boost awareness and engagement around sustainable entrepreneurship
Completion of the designs and renovation plan for the MICTH
Highlighting sustainability, inclusivity & community engagement and testing project initiatives
Urban acupuncture projects, incorporating 3Z principles into city-level interventions
Support and assess the scaling up of new businesses incubated through the project
Development and initial market testing for 3Z prototypes; complete the EcoZani legacy roadmap