29th of September 2025

To mark the end of the RevierUPGRADE project – We. Now. Sustainable. – the project team from BUNDjugend and UfU has published a brochure. In it, various stakeholders have their say and highlight approaches for socio-ecological change in the East German lignite mining areas. This highlights both the diverse challenges that exist and the promising prospects for future developments in the Central German and Lusatian mining regions.

As part of RevierUPGRADE, we worked with young people from the regions to implement a variety of creative, engaging, colourful and lively educational and empowerment formats. These ranged from formats such as group coaching to content-based workshops focusing on topics such as ‘The Cottbus Baltic Sea’ or ‘Sustainable Chemical Industry,’ and repeatedly returned to the concrete question: How can I, as a young person, get involved locally and nationally and help shape the future? In addition to raising awareness of problem areas (examples: outsourcing of coal-related costs, the state of the climate crisis and aspects of climate justice, etc.), we have repeatedly worked to identify and develop perspectives and possible approaches for socio-ecological developments, for example through inspiring excursions and discussions with progressive actors or practical activities such as building rain benches.

Under the motto ‘Coal. Change. Perspectives’, the brochure reflects various impressions, encounters and fragments from our activities. In the process, we have found some answers – but perhaps even more questions. The publication is available both online and as a print copy to browse through. If you are interested in print copies, please contact the RevierUPGRADE project team.

COAL

The decision in 2020 to phase out coal by 2038 was the starting point for the three-year cooperation project between the BUNDjugend Bundesverband, BUNDjugend Brandenburg and UfU. Coal, a fossil fuel that took millions of years to form, is still burned today as a highly climate-damaging resource, while its extraction has created lunar landscapes and open-cast mining pits in the areas where it is mined. What are the stories behind the Cottbus Baltic Sea and the Geiseltal Lake, for example? Which towns disappeared almost without a trace, and to what extent is the flooding of open-cast mining pits actually a sustainable solution?

The term coal can also be understood as money. This also plays an important role in structural change and raises questions of fairness and distribution. After all, a lot of money flows into the regions through complicated subsidy schemes. But who really benefits from this money, and to what extent are young people involved in decisions about it or in its effects? How do they benefit from the (desired) development of the regions, and why are many young women in particular leaving them?

CHANGE

Even if the loss of well-paid jobs in the coal industry is problematic for many, phasing out this technology – sooner rather than later – is absolutely necessary and indispensable for climate protection and thus also for our human future. And even now, there are many signs pointing to a shortage of skilled workers rather than jobs.

The transition has long since begun. It was and remains important to us to see these changes as an opportunity – for social and ecological developments and forward-looking developments at the local level that bring us a small step closer to a good life for all. For opportunities to help shape the future, to experience (collective) self-efficacy and to draw courage.

PERSPECTIVES

In creative workshops, we explored both personal perspectives and potential development opportunities for cities and regions.

How do I want to get involved personally? What is my utopia for my city? What ‘tools’ do I need to achieve this? Where can I acquire them? How can I motivate my fellow campaigners? (…)

The prospects in the east, which – like almost the entire Federal Republic – continues to drift to the far right, are not rosy. Economic and social challenges remain, including in relation to demographic developments. We have also encountered stories of marginalisation, trauma and struggles to be heard. We believe that looking ahead without simply repressing frustrating experiences is a constructive approach.

And finally, we should also mention our own very specific perspective in the project: the activities will continue. With RevierUPGRADE 2.0, we will continue to be active in Halle (Saale) in the Central German mining region and in Cottbus in the Lusatian mining region. Proven activities will be continued and expanded, while other formats will be adapted or added.

More information will follow shortly, so stay tuned! We can already reveal that the topic of water and water justice will take on greater importance.