About: energy poverty
Parliament drafts energy poverty definition as part of EU social climate fund overhaul
The two lawmakers in charge of drafting the European Parliament’s position on the EU's new social climate fund have gone a step further than the European Commission's initial proposal by drafting a definition of both energy and transport poverty.
Europe ‘can eradicate energy poverty’ by quitting fossil fuels: EU official
While EU member states provide financial support to poor households affected by rising energy bills, the European Commission is focusing on long term solutions like energy efficiency and renewables, which have the potential to “eradicate energy poverty” once and for all, an EU official dealing with the issue has said.
Tackling high energy prices and fighting energy poverty – a view from Poland
Citizens across Europe are currently struggling with the challenge of skyrocketing energy prices. Over the last year, the prices of coal have risen nearly three times, the prices of natural gas in European markets have risen even ten times in this period.
Europe’s energy price hike fuelled by speculators, Spain and Poland say
In the face of rising energy prices, Spain and Poland have called for trading limits to be placed on the world’s largest carbon market, the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). Market analysts, however, say speculative positions are currently too small to be statistically significant.
Europe’s social climate fund too small to make a difference, critics say
The European Commission proposed a "social climate fund" to protect vulnerable people from changes brought by the energy transition. Still, it is not fit for purpose, according to researchers and policymakers in the European Parliament.
Consumer group: ‘Middle class people are also very much affected by rising energy prices’
The energy crunch has highlighted the high share of taxes paid by consumers for their gas and electricity. With the energy transition expected to cause further volatility on fossil fuel markets, a shift in energy taxation is now becoming an urgent priority, according to rights group Euroconsumers.
Energy poverty
Around 31 million Europeans were living in energy poverty in 2019, a figure that is set to rise this year because of the coronavirus crisis and soaring energy prices, affecting the most vulnerable in society.
Energy crisis could worsen poverty for millions of Europeans
Energy prices have skyrocketed in the past months, increasing the concern that millions of Europeans will have to choose between paying their bills and putting food on the table this winter.
Irish minister: Europe needs to move away from foreign-controlled fossil fuels
The EU needs to increase its renewable energy capacity, become more self-sufficient in energy production and move away from foreign-controlled fossil fuels, according to Ossian Smyth, Irish minister of state.
Italy’s Draghi announces €3 billion package to keep energy prices down
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi on Thursday (23 September) announced measures worth three billion euros to keep gas and electricity bills down this winter as power prices soar across Europe.
France to boost energy vouchers as consumer bills rise
French government is considering extending the benefit of energy vouchers to more households to ease the cost of rising energy bills, the government's spokesman Gabriel Attal said on Wednesday (15 September).
Tackling energy poverty is a non-negotiable part of the green transition
Europe's new climate legislation must focus on renovating its inefficient buildings and lifting millions of people out of energy poverty, but that is only possible if the EU works together with local governments, writes Emil Boc.
LEAK: New EU fund aims to cushion social impact of climate policies
The European Commission will launch a social fund to help alleviate the societal costs of its climate legislation, particularly its plan to expand the emissions trading scheme (ETS) to buildings and road transport, according to a leaked draft seen by EURACTV.
Will the Renovation Wave leave Europe’s poorest on the shore?
Across Europe, 50 million households struggle with energy poverty stemming from low incomes, high energy bills, poor energy efficiency, as well as inadequate housing. The EU’s Renovation Wave, a ‘flagship’ of the European Green Deal, provides a unique opportunity to tackle Europe’s inadequate housing while contributing to EU climate targets, writes Anna Kompatscher.
Energy-efficient buildings should be ‘new normal’, says EU’s Simson
The European commissioner for energy, Kadri Simson, on Tuesday (20 April) underlined the importance of the 'Renovation Wave' strategy in combating energy poverty in the European Union, saying that sustainable, energy-efficient buildings should be "the new normal".
Energy poverty ‘likely to increase’ once bank moratoriums are lifted
The President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on Tuesday (20 April) called for "coordinated action" across the European Union to tackle energy poverty, warning that poverty is "likely" to increase once bank moratoriums are lifted.
The female face of energy poverty is still invisible
Women are more likely to live in energy poverty, something that needs to be reflected in EU policy as it rolls out its renovation wave, writes Michaela Kauer.
EU’s green building push risks driving homelessness, activists warn
The European Commission must ensure that plans to price carbon emissions in the building sector does not lead to growing rates of homelessness, campaigners said on Wednesday (17 March).
Czech coal mining regions confronted with ‘hidden’ energy poverty
While Czech coal mining regions supply heat and electricity to the whole country, local people are often unable to afford heating their own homes, researchers say. More broadly, Czechia is struggling to meet its EU reporting obligations on energy poverty, an issue common to other countries in Central and Eastern Europe.
Biggest challenge in energy transition is social justice, EU official says
While legitimate worries are being expressed about funding for low-carbon technologies to meet EU climate goals, the biggest challenge will be to manage the energy transition in a way that does not deepen social inequalities, a senior EU official has said.
EU urged to strengthen ETS to reach 2030 climate goals
A strengthened emissions trading scheme (ETS) will be vital to drive further CO2 reductions in the European Union as the bloc discusses an increase of its 2030 climate target, policymakers say.
EU grapples with ‘regressive’ climate laws
Avoiding another “yellow vest” movement will be crucial for the success of the energy transition as Europe moves forward with a new wave of policies aimed at cutting emissions down to net zero by 2050, policymakers say.
COVID-19 means tackling energy poverty is more urgent than ever
The COVID-19 crisis is hitting European consumers in the pocket, causing rising unemployment and falling income for those who have kept their jobs. Spending more time at home as a result of lockdown measures could make matters worse for energy...