Who is the transition manager, and what are his or her responsibilities? This question was the main focus of the discussion at the Key energy workshop, where various stakeholders examined this role within the context of the Emilia-Romagna region.
The debate was framed around the Pilot experience of the Plan4Cet project, which developed the ME.TA training program for Transition Managers, designed for professionals in the public administration of municipalities in the Province of Parma. The workshop opened with remarks from Claudia Romano (Director of the Energy and Green Economy Area of the Emilia-Romagna Region) who emphasized the importance of systemic actions, particularly training, as one of the main key instruments for facilitating territorial transition towards carbon neutrality.
According to Patrizia Bianconi (Specialist in Ecological Transition Policies, Climate Change and Sustainable Development and Coordinator of the Permanent Forum on Climate Change for the Emilia-Romagna Region) the role of the Transition Manager in public administration should be of a coordinator, facilitating the engagement through sectoral experts. Nevertheless, to fulfill this coordinating role effectively, this position should be formally integrated into the organizational structure of public administrations.
A different perspective was offered by Enzo Bertolotti (Head of the Energy and Climate Operational Structure of the Municipality of Parma). While presenting the PLAN4CET project, he highlighted the need for broad based training on transition related topics, ensuring that a larger segment of public administration personnel is equipped with the necessary knowledge to accelerate transition processes across various administrative sectors.
Sara Picone from AESS presented the ME.TA training program, conducted for the municipalities of the Province of Parma between September and November 2024 and introduced the first 50 transition managers. A key challenge encountered during the course was reconciling the needs and perspectives of institutions of different sizes and competencies, from small municipalities to the provincial capital, including technical staff from the Province. The recordings of the lessons are available online (link).
Several participants in the ME.TA training program, representing various roles and public administrations, shared their experiences. Cristina Muzzi (Head of Building Heritage for the Municipality of Collecchio) noted that the course provided valuable insights into integrating sustainability considerations into municipal planning. She also highlighted how multidisciplinary discussions on urban transformation projects proved to be particularly educational. Simona Berzieri (Head of the Roads and Traffic Safety Office of the Province of Parma) expressed enthusiasm for attending a training course specifically focused on transition topics, an area she recognized as crucial, particularly regarding Minimum Environmental Criteria (CAM). Similarly, Matteo Piovani from the School Building Office of the Province of Parma also gave positive feedback on the program.
From a decision-maker’s perspective, Silvia Franzini (Councilor for Schools, Childhood, Youth, Social Affairs, and Equal Opportunities for the Municipality of Palanzano) shared insights from a small mountain municipality’s viewpoint. She emphasized the importance of involving smaller territories in the transition process and praised the course for its practical relevance in clarifying concepts and actions related to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The discussion also raised two additional considerations:
- The role of municipal unions, which are encouraged at the regional level but overlooked at the national level.
- The involvement of private stakeholders, whose participation could further drive public administration-led initiatives, such as the Territorial Alliance for Carbon Neutrality of the Province of Parma as a common practice to share.
In her concluding remarks, Francesca Poli, Head of the Ecological Transition Area at AESS, reaffirmed the central role of training in equipping public administration professionals with the necessary expertise for the transition process.