Introducing the GloCha APP: Enriching citizens to shape a sustainable future
Discover the new GloCha app from the JETforCE project, empowering citizens to shape a sustainable future through innovative digital solutions. Learn how this tool is addressing energy transition challenges in Central Europe.
Illustration : LEASP
In view of the increasing global temperatures and the exhaustion of our natural resources, there is an urgent clarion call for deep systemic innovation. This imperative goes beyond technological progress; it requires a harmonious mix of social, institutional and technological innovations to effectively manage multifaceted challenges.
GloCha (Global Challenges App) was founded with the support of the European Union JETforCE (Just Energy Transition for Central Europe) project as an important step towards promoting a sustainable energy transition in Central Europe. This innovative application serves as a key tool in addressing the multifaceted challenges associated with the energy transition process, ensuring that no community is left behind.
Empowering Communities through Digital Innovation
The primary purpose of the GloCha app is to enable citizens to report and gain insights into the challenges, problems, and uncertainties they face in the energy transition within their localities or municipalities. The application categorizes these challenges into five key areas:
Supply of Energy Services: Users can report issues related to the availability and cost of energy services, including electricity, gas and district heating.
Energy Poverty: This category focuses on collecting data on the risk of energy poverty, particularly affecting vulnerable groups such as pensioners, the unemployed, and people with disabilities.
Involvement of Citizens: The app gathers insights on the need for greater citizen involvement in local decision-making processes, ensuring that community voices are heard and considered.
Media-Institutional Cooperation: This section facilitates collaboration between citizens and institutions to solve problems that require institutional support, promoting effective policy implementation.
Equity/Inequality: Users can highlight issues related to social inequalities, transparency, and equity, advocating for fair and inclusive energy transition policies.
The JETforCE project has been instrumental in the creation of the GloCha app, providing the necessary framework and resources to develop this transformative digital tool. JETforCE aims to ensure that energy policies and investments in Central Europe are just and equitable, minimizing adverse socio-economic impacts on vulnerable territories and demographics.
A Collaborative Effort
GloCha’s success and its agreement with JETforCE goals is proof of the joint efforts of several stakeholders in Central Europe. By harnessing digitalization, JETforCE and GloCha together promote increased citizen trust in policy measures, fostering a sense of ownership and positively impacting individual behaviour towards energy efficiency and sustainability.
LEASP’s Role in JETforCE and GloCha
Local Energy Agency Spodnje Podravje (LEASP) is one of the key partners in the JETforCE project and is actively participating in all transnational activities, contributing significantly to project communication and development with the pilot testing of the app in the Municipality of Dornava. Their involvement in the co-creation of project tools and citizen engagement strategies is crucial in shaping the functionalities of the GloCHA app.
Plans for future
The establishment of the GloCHA app marks a significant milestone in the journey towards a just energy transition in Central Europe. By providing a platform for citizens to actively participate in the energy transition process, the app ensures that the transition is inclusive, transparent, and equitable. As GloCha continues to evolve, it is ready to play a vital role in shaping sustainable energy futures across the region.
JETforCE information: The JETforCE project is financed by Interreg Central Europe with a total budget of 2.27 million Euros, of which 1.9 million Euros are ERDF funds, and is led by BORA94. The project started in April 2023 and will end in March 2026. For more information about the project, please visit the JETforCE project website: https://www.interreg-central.eu/projects/jetforce/.
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