When the coal mines closed in Loos-en-Gohelle in the 1980s, it created not just an economic crisis but an identity crisis. "People said to themselves: 'What is our use now?'" recalls a town official.
Rather than erase their mining heritage, the town embraced it while putting citizens at the heart of an ambitious green transformation. By 2021, enough solar panels had been installed on municipal buildings to power 90% of public energy needs.
“"People said to themselves: 'What is our use now?”
The old slag heaps became a nature reserve and paragliding site. A "50/50" program lets residents propose community projects and receive support from the municipality. The inclusive approach has earned the mayor massive support — re-elected repeatedly with up to 82% of the vote.
How did this story make you feel?
📎 Cite this article
Good News Good Vibes. (2026, February 5). A French Coal Town's Remarkable Transformation Into a Sustainability Model. Retrieved from https://goodnewsgoodvibes.com/en/article/france-coal-town-sustainable-transition
https://goodnewsgoodvibes.com/en/article/france-coal-town-sustainable-transition
Editorial Team
Our editorial team curates and verifies positive news from credible sources worldwide.
Last reviewed: February 5, 2026
Trending
A Tiny Device Brings Quantum Entanglement to Room Temperature
Science · 5 min
A Louisville Restaurant Gives Away 100% of Its Profits — and Topped $100,000 in Year One
Community · 4 min
Oregon Zoo Sets a Record With 15 California Condor Chicks in One Year
Animals · 5 min
Europe Tears Down a Record 603 River Barriers, Setting Its Waters Free
Environment · 5 min
DeepMind unveils Co-Scientist, an AI research partner that already helped find a liver-disease drug candidate
Artificial Intelligence · 5 min
