Despoina Kanteler

This chapter reports findings from ERASMUS+ EcoHarmony, a multinational initiative co-funded by the European Union that advances a comprehensive strategy to embed sustainable – and explicitly regenerative tourism within European higher education. Using a sequential mixed-methods design (9 focus groups across Spain, Croatia, Turkey, Italy, Greece, and the Netherlands; n = 70; followed by a cross-European survey; n = 198), the chapter examines: (1) The extent of sustainability and regenerative integration in curricula; (2) pedagogical, institutional, and technological barriers and enablers; and (3) scalable strategies to align programmes with 21st-century demands. Guided by systems thinking, transformative learning, and a regenerative tourism lens (towards regenerative justice), and attentive to digital transformation (AI/VR/blockchain), the analysis finds progress but fragmentation: Roughly 75% of institutions offer sustainability content, yet holistic, cross-curricular embedding is rare; familiarity with regeneration remains limited (≈20–25%). Barriers include legacy programme architectures, constrained faculty development, weak institutional support, and misaligned assessment practices. Enablers include rising student demand, motivated educators, and non-governmental organisations–industry–government partnerships. The chapter proposes a practical roadmap, intentional interdisciplinarity, assessment reform (systems/ethics/collaboration), quality-assured micro-credentials, and hybrid experiential learning that blends digital simulations with fieldwork and internships, to shift institutions from incremental improvements to systemic transformation.

As energy systems in Europe have changed over the years, so too have the underlying economies, jobs and patterns of land-use. In turn, these changes present a multitude of challenges for supporting an energy system that is equitable, socially sustainable and which provides access to all. This paper explores the connection between place-based methodologies for developing energy supply chains and the notion of a “just transition”, and considers how European regions can achieve climate neutrality while enhancing the development of their economies, societies, and territories. The research integrates place-based development theory with spatial justice and just transition perspectives that are relevant to energy transition governance. By linking these approaches, the study provides a foundation for designing interventions that are grounded in local environmental, socio-economic, and institutional conditions, while the concept of spatial justice facilitates the analysis of the ethical and distributive impacts of uneven regional development. Empirically, the study is based on a comparative analysis of three European transition regions – namely, Western Macedonia (Greece), Silesia (Poland), and Stara Zagora (Bulgaria), conducted within the JT-OBSERVATORY project. The methodology combines qualitative fieldwork, including semistructured interviews, questionnaires, and co-creation workshops, with participatory modelling techniques, notably Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping (FCM), across the three case studies. These data were complemented by regional socio-economic indicators and spatial analysis, enabling triangulation between governance structures, stakeholder perceptions, and territorial outcomes. The findings reveal persistent deficits in procedural, distributive, and recognition justice across all three regions, expressed through distinct governance configurations. Centralised decision-making, limited earlystage participation, and weak feedback mechanisms undermine trust and social acceptance of transition policies, This paper argues that integrating territorial sensitivity with justice principles strengthens the legitimacy, effectiveness, and resilience of transition strategies. Such an approach enables the energy transition to function not only as an environmental imperative but also as an opportunity to advance a more cohesive and equitable European development model.

Energy Transition Regions (ETRs) face the dual challenge of phasing out carbon-intensive activities while ensuring economic viability, social stability, and climate resilience. This study operationalises the Resilience–Investment–Land Nexus (RILN) to examine how climate vulnerability, investment decision-making, land-use planning, and governance capacity interact to shape transition outcomes. An expert survey conducted in three European ETRs, Western Macedonia (Greece), Silesia (Poland), and Stara Zagora (Bulgaria), assesses perceptions of optimal investment and land-use strategies (OILUS) alongside the political and local governance framework (PLGF) enabling their implementation. A radar-based multi-criteria diagnostic analysis reveals a consistent implementation gap: strong strategic alignment on climate-resilient planning coexists with weaker institutional capacity, coordination, financial resources, and data availability. Cross-country differences indicate that these constraints are shaped by context-specific governance structures rather than uniform technical barriers. Formal heterogeneity analysis using nonparametric tests and ordinal regression models reveals limited divergence in strategic priorities but substantial variation in governance capacity perceptions across countries. The findings highlight governance readiness as a critical determinant of whether climate-resilient investment strategies can be translated into actionable policies. By providing an empirically grounded operationalisation of the RILN framework, the study offers a diagnostic approach for identifying institutional bottlenecks and informing more feasible transition pathways in regions undergoing structural energy transformation.

Energy transition regions (ETRs) face simultaneous pressures as decarbonisation policies intersect climate hazards, land-use constraints, and economic uncertainty. Although research on renewable energy deployment, climate vulnerability, spatial planning, and investment behaviour has expanded, these topics often remain disconnected, limiting their usefulness for guiding regional energy strategies. This review applies a structured, PRISMA-informed (but not protocol-registered) search and screening process, combining bibliometric mapping with qualitative thematic synthesis. In total, 231 peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025 were analysed to identify how climate-related risks, financial conditions, and territorial constraints jointly influence energy system choices in ETRs. Four major themes emerge: climate risk and infrastructure vulnerability, investment dynamics and policy stability, land-use governance and siting conflicts, and renewable energy system integration. Across these areas, common challenges include the impact of extreme events on system reliability, the influence of policy uncertainty on capital flows, and the role of land scarcity in shaping technology mixes. To link these dimensions, this study proposes the Resilience–Investment–Land Nexus (RILN), a framework that describes how climate exposure, investment risk, spatial suitability, and social acceptance interact to shape transition pathways. The results highlight the need for climate-informed planning, stable regulatory environments, and stronger spatial decision-support tools. It also identifies gaps in integrating climate risk, land-use modelling, and investment analysis and offers directions for future work on resilient, region-specific energy transitions.

This chapter explores the economic impacts of EU just energy transition policies in three phasing-out regions in Greece, Bulgaria and Poland. It specifically focuses on regional specialization, sectoral development and regional competitiveness. Through a comparative regional analysis approach, social and economic indicators that shape the conditions for regional resilience are examined. Emphasis is placed on the transformation of the coal industry, renewable energy and green technology. By integrating economic data analysis and the critical assessment of energy policies, the article explores employment trends and productivity dynamics. The analysis also examines the critical factors shaping regional competitiveness. The trajectory of sectoral development over time shows a differentiation between the regions examined in terms of the speed and effectiveness of adaptation and regional resilience. The findings of the article provide policymakers and researchers with beneficial information for promoting sustainable, equitable and resilient energy transitions at the regional level.

This abstract presents the methodological approach employed in a comprehensive study focusing on decision making in a collaborative manner in disaster management, with a specific emphasis on cross-border disasters in the Balkan region. Disasters, characterized by their sudden and profound impacts on human life, property, and the environment, necessitate a well-coordinated response. Emergency management, which encompasses preparation, response, and recovery phases, relies on the collective efforts of diverse agencies, organizations, and individuals to ensure an efficient response. The preparedness phase is particularly vital, entailing the formulation and execution of plans, policies, and procedures to effectively respond to disasters. Cross-border disasters, which transcend international borders and affect multiple countries and communities, present unique challenges due to the need for coordination and cooperation among various national governments and organizations. This research addresses the multifaceted aspects of disaster preparedness and cross-border disaster management within the intricate context of the Balkan region. The management of disasters demands a coordinated and proactive approach, especially when dealing with cross-border disasters. International cooperation and effective communication are essential for an effective response and minimizing the disaster’s impact on affected communities. Consequently, it is imperative to establish collaborative frameworks that enhance cross-border disaster risk reduction on various levels. To construct the components of a cross-border emergency preparedness framework, an extensive literature review was conducted, identifying ten essential pillars for disaster management. Subsequently, 129 recommendations formed the initial framework, which became the subject of a Delphi study. In this study, 104 experts from 12 participating Balkan countries aimed to reach a consensus on the framework’s elements. The study unveiled common aspects necessary for a cross-border preparedness framework tailored to the Balkans’ geographical characteristics. This framework was jointly endorsed by various emergency management experts with distinct functions and roles in disaster response. The process and results of this thesis underscore the critical need among Balkan countries to establish a tangible and sustained collaborative environment. This environment should foster a shared mindset and create a pathway towards resilient and sustainable cross-border emergency management cooperation and unity among Balkan countries.