Call for Papers
The Greyzone of the Green Transition:
Environmental inequalities in Central and Eastern Europe
Location: Câmpu Cetății, Mureș County, Romania
Dates: 18 – 19 May 2026
Organizers: Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu
The Greyzone of the Green Transition is a conference dedicated to advancing conversations on environmental justice in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). It brings together senior , doctoral, and postdoctoral researchers, and activists committed to shedding light on the often-overlooked injustices and forms of resistance emerging in the region. Observing the overlap between post-communist legacies and green transition trajectories, the conference investigates how structural, gradual, and hidden forms of violence emerge in the context of resource struggles and environmental decline. We aim to deepen the theoretical framing of environmental injustice in the region and foster a space for collective reflection and action.
This document serves as the official call for contributions, and includes information on the conference’s main topics and participation details. Regular updates about the event will be shared on the conference webpage: https://grants.ulbsibiu.ro/ecojust/. For any questions regarding the conference or participation, please contact us at: grant.ecojust@ulbsibiu.ro.
We are at a pivotal moment in the global green transition, where accelerating socio-ecological transformations intersect with political polarization, geopolitical instability, and rising inequality. These dynamics often give rise to new forms of marginality and injustice, particularly in the overlooked regions of Central and Eastern Europe. By focusing on CEE, The Greyzone of the Green Transition conference creates a space for dialogue on how extractivism, land grabbing, and energy poverty intersect with structural marginalization and how grassroots resistance is challenging these dynamics. We aim to expand our understanding of Environmental Justice and the Just Transition concepts and frameworks, fostering interdisciplinary conversations across political ecology, political theory, and critical political theory.
We welcome contributions that propose theoretical reflections, empirical insights, and creative expressions on the politics of the green transition in Europe’s Eastern margins. We invite submissions addressing, but not limited to, the following thematic clusters:
1. Toxic environments and marginalized communities
Explorations of how environmental degradation, pollution, and toxicity are normalized and experienced in the everyday lives of marginalized groups.
2. Resistance and eco-politics
Analyses of grassroots movements and other political responses to environmental injustices in post-socialist contexts, such as eco-populism and/or eco-fascism..
3. Governance and participation
Investigations into institutional and non-institutional forms of environmental governance and the barriers to meaningful participation of the affected communities in decision-making.
4. Extractivism, energy, and inequality
Critical perspectives on land use conflicts, energy poverty, and the socio-ecological consequences of extractive industries in CEE.
5. Reimagining justice and transition
Exploring both ideas and real-world practices that make the green transition just—especially by planning ahead, addressing past or ongoing harms, and making overlooked injustices visible in environmental policy making.
Keynote Speakers
We are honored to confirm the participation of:
Stefania Barca, Associate Professor in Contemporary History, “Beatriz Galindo” Distinguished Researcher in the Department of History at Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (Spain)
Erik Swyngedouw, Professor of Human Geography, University of Manchester, England
Andrej Grubačić, Professor of Anthropology and Social Change, California Institute of Integral Studies, USA
Participation & Practical Info
- We invite submissions of research papers and case studies aligning with the themes above and drawing from a variety of fields and practices, including but not limited to: political ecology, environmental humanities, sociology and anthropology, geography and activism.
- Participation is free of charge (no conference fee).
- English will be the language(s) of the conference.
- The conference will be in person only.
- The organizers will facilitate accommodation at affordable cost
How to Apply
Proposals should include a title, abstract (up to 300 words), and a brief biography of the author(s) (up to 200 words). Please specify in your proposal which thematic cluster you opted for.
Please submit your proposals to grant.ecojust@ulbsibiu.ro by September 30th, 2025
Important Dates
Proposal Submission Deadline: September 30, 2025
Notification of Acceptance: December 15, 2025
Final Program Release: February 2026
Conference Dates: 18 -19 May 2026
Scientific committee
- Irina Velicu – Lucian Blaga University Sibiu/ Centre for Social Studies of the University of Coimbra
- George Iordăchescu – Wageningen University
- Minodora Sălcudean – Lucian Blaga University Sibiu
- Camil Ungureanu – Lucian Blaga University Sibiu/Pompeu Fabra University
- Filip Alexandrescu – Lucian Blaga University Sibiu/Research Institute for Quality of Life, Romanian Academy
- Ioan Sebastian Brumă -Lucian Blaga University Sibiu/ “Gh. Zane” Institute for Economic and Social Research, Romanian Academy, Iasi Branch
- Valer Simion Cosma – Lucian Blaga University Sibiu
Organizing committee
- Claudia Șerbănuță – Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu
- Ionuț Codreanu – Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu
- Bogdan Vătavu – Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu
- Ioana Bunescu – Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu
- Ioana Savin – Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu
- Hestia Delibas – Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu
- Oana Rusu – Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu
- Gabriel Girigan – Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu
- Ovio Olaru – Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu
- Carmen Gheorghe – Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu
- Petruț Călinescu – Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu
- Romana Puiuleț – Universitatea de Vest, Timișoara
This event is part of the research project: „Doing Environmental (In)justice: A Theory in Praxis – Eco Just”. This project has received funding from the PNRR funds under the Grant agreement number 760077/23.05.2023,CF 133/15.11.2022. (https://grants.ulbsibiu.ro/ecojust/)