Heritage and culture tourism involve features that commemorate a valued past. Mining heritage tourism allows visitors to experience the past, guided by former mining landscapes and engaging interactively with material artifacts. This paper introduces the CoalHeritage European project, focusing on the promotion of coal mining heritage through the production and design of the European Visual Map Journal (EVMJ). The EVMJ is a user-friendly, web-based, interactive storytelling platform that supports the transfer of industrial and geoheritage from former coal mining areas. It aims to collect and disseminate heritage assets from post-mining coal areas, informing stakeholders and promoting these sites as tourist destinations. To further enhance public awareness, several ESRI StoryMaps web apps are being created to highlight specific features of each case study across Europe. The aim of this work is to introduce coal mining heritage as a new term, present the coal heritage platform and its importance for disseminating coal heritage aspects to the public, describe the methodology used for its design, and provide a brief overview of its evolving content.

Purpose: in the cognitive space, the article focuses on cybersecurity as one of the top priorities of the European Commission and a cornerstone of a digital and connected Europe. The increase in cyberattacks during the coronavirus crisis has shown how important it is to protect hospitals, research centers and other infrastructure. Decisive action is needed in this area to future-proof the EU's economy and society. Therefore, cybersecurity is a key element to ensure the safe and effective implementation of the European Green Deal plan. Methodology: the theses presented in the article were verified using the following methods: literature review, critical analysis of literature, analysis and comparison of documents and an example of good practices. Result: the results of analyzes and research clearly revealed that cyberattacks do not stop at state borders, therefore it is necessary to strengthen cooperation between EU Member States, exchange information on threats and develop common standards and best practices in the field of cybersecurity. This allows for effective protection against attacks and minimization of risk to critical infrastructure related to the European Green Deal. Originality: in the perspective described in the article, important and significant challenges arise in the field of protecting critical infrastructure against cyber threats. One of them is the transformation of underground workings of hard coal mines into facilities critical for national cybersecurity. The theses presented in the article were verified using the following methods: literature review, critical analysis of literature, analysis and comparison of documents and examples of good practices. Keywords: transforming, coal, cyber security.

The main aim of the article is to determine the impact of mine closure on the local environment, with particular emphasis on the social, economic and environmental problems that arise when mining activities are limited or discontinued. Ultimately, the closure of the mine may affect the entire economy of the region, as it will cause changes in the structure of the labor market and in the local and regional economy. In order to better understand the processes related to the preparation of employees and their representatives, as well as employers for the upcoming changes related to the closure of mines, implemented qualitative field research was carried out. Two methods were used in the research. The first was a moderated discussion and the second was an in-depth expert interview. In total, eight moderated discussions and four in-depth expert interviews were conducted. Moderated discussions and in-depth expert interviews were conducted in eight subregions of the Silesian Voivodeship: Bielsko, Bytom, Częstochowa, Gliwice, Katowice, Rybnik, Sosnowiec and Tychy. The research results clearly indicate that coordinated action by the government, local government, enterprises, local communities and other stakeholders focused on strategic planning, cooperation and a sustainable approach to the mine closure process can guarantee lasting success.

Purpose: The aim of the article is to present the results of research on public participation tools as a method of engaging stakeholders in the Just Transition process. Design/methodology/approach: Based on a comparative analysis of the results of qualitative and quantitative research carried out as part of the Regional Observatory Transformation Process, ROPT project, the effectiveness of individual tools of social participation, in the opinion of the surveyed entities of the Silesian Voivodeship has been discussed. Findings: The key conclusions from the conducted research indicate that the readiness and knowledge, especially of entrepreneurs, for the transformation process towards a green economy is insufficient. There is a need for greater involvement of entrepreneurs in the energy and socio-economic transformation process as entities that know the market best and are the driving force behind economic change. It is essential to communicate details about this process and use a vast range of public participation tools to ensure stakeholders are effectively involved. Research limitations/implications: If research is reported on in the paper this section must be completed and should include suggestions for future research and any identified limitations in the research process. Originality/value: The paper refers to original research within the ROPT project. The conclusions and recommendations were the basis for the methodological assumptions to support the Just Transition process in the second edition of the ROPT2 project to strengthen the idea of the public participation for Just Transition. Keywords: social participation, engagement, mining region, just transition. Category of the paper: Research paper.

The European Union’s climate-neutrality objective is reshaping coal-dependent regions, but transition pathways differ according to historical coal dependence, institutional capacity, national energy systems, and regional economic structures. Coal phase-outs represent not merely a sector-specific energy shift, but a systemic socio-spatial transformation that reconfigures regional planning and territorial dynamics. This study examines how governance coordination, phase-out clarity, labour-market instruments, innovation strategies, and post-mining land reuse operate across three major Central European coal regions: the Ruhr Area (Germany), Upper Silesia (Poland), and the Moravian–Silesian Region (Czechia). It applies a qualitative, structured comparative review based on academic literature, policy and strategic documents, official statistics, and three flagship redevelopment cases within the framework of the EU RFCS-funded RAISING project. The comparison shows that the Ruhr Area’s long-term, corporatist coordination has facilitated structural diversification and land reuse over several decades, though challenges regarding job quality and socio-spatial inequalities persist. In Upper Silesia, negotiated agreements foster regional consensus, while the multi-decade transition timeline reflects national energy-security priorities, supply-security constraints, and institutional complexity. In the Moravian–Silesian Region, early reactive restructuring in the 1990s contrasts with a more coordinated contemporary phase leveraging EU transition funding and strategic investment. Across all three cases, transition outcomes are mediated by place-specific conditions rather than formal closure speed alone. The study demonstrates that while core principles of early planning, multi-level coordination, and integrated asset reuse offer valuable insights, their application remains context-dependent, highlighting the necessity for place-sensitive European and national transition policies.