Rafal Dzuman, the 49-year-old team leader of the G-2 mining crew, has spent over 20 years working at the Murcki-Staszic coalmine in Katowice, Poland. This mine, which extracts approximately 23,000 tonnes of coal daily, is situated in Upper Silesia, the last coal-mining district in the European Union. As Poland grapples with a mandated transition to a climate-neutral economy by 2049, the local coal industry faces significant challenges. While the region still relies on coal for half of its electricity, the European Union's decarbonisation goals and declining coal prices from abroad threaten the viability of existing mines. Currently, over 200,000 workers are employed in the coal sector, raising concerns about job security as the transition unfolds. Local schools continue to train future miners, yet interest in mining careers is waning, with only 20 young people currently pursuing this path. The region's identity is deeply intertwined with coal mining, making the transition both an economic and cultural challenge. As the geopolitical landscape shifts, questions arise about the adequacy of funds from the European just transition fund to support this transformation.