The 2016 European Parliament Handbook on Energy Poverty, was originally published by the Greens/EFA and the Buildings Performance Institute Europe in 2016 with a view to examining the causes and effects of energy poverty. This updated version expands upon the findings of the original to consider the best practices that can be employed to tackle the issue, in parallel with the causes and effects of energy poverty. It was developed together with key stakeholders – including the Right to Energy Coalition, in which EAPN is member.
The 22 contributions come from organisations in both climate and social spheres. They include those working in housing, poverty, workers’ and consumer rights, the clean energy transition, and those working with municipalities, energy agencies, citizens cooperatives and projects dedicated to energy poverty alleviation. The handbook goes some way to illustrate the breadth of the organisations that make up today’s European energy poverty movement. The articles offer a range of analysis, policy assessment, recommendations, initiatives, and case studies to tackle the energy poverty crisis in Europe. We present two distinct sets of articles, the first offering an academic perspective and the second drawing on case-studies and promising initiatives. Each article aims to make Europe a better place by ensuring:
Part 1: Decent, safe and affordable housing for all
Part 2: Clean, affordable energy as a human right
Part 3: Social justice and an end to the cost of living crisis
EAPN contributed 2 chapters in Part 3 which looks at energy poverty and the energy transition in the context of broader household budget considerations and social justice. The two chapters provide cautionary tales on the risks to increase socio-economic inequalities when transition policies are poorly planned and timed. The article by Sabrina Iannazzone, EAPN Policy Officer, is entitled A Fair Decarbonisation: A Structural Change is needed at EU level. She also edited the article involving a testimony from EAPN Greece on the Impact of a Socially Unjust Decarbonisation in Greece. Recommendations span the areas of energy market reform, prioritisation of clean energy and building renovation, tax justice and adequate minimum wages and working conditions.
Access Sabrina Iannazzone’s presentation on Measuring Energy Poverty to ensure a socially fair green transition at the joint workshop organised with the Climate Alliance and the Joint Research Centre. This was part of the EU Regions Week in October 2022.
For more information contact Sabrina Iannazzone, EAPN Policy Officer – sabrina.iannazzone@eapn.eu