Unveiling energy poverty risk: A multidimensional analysis of the heat-or-eat dilemma

G. Martinez Görbig*, J. Flacke, R. Sliuzas, D. Reckien

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

3 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Low-carbon transition can put citizens at risk of energy poverty, and it is crucial to understand why. Energy poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon. Vulnerable households might need to choose between accessing basic nutritional needs and energy: a high expenditure share in food and energy can lead to difficulties in energy affordability, leading to the heat-or-eat dilemma. This research examines the risk of such a dilemma through three dimensions, in Europe. First, at a regional dimension, poorly implemented climate responses might worsen households' accessibility to basic services. Here, food and energy systems are geographically analysed to unearth regions where households are exposed to energy poverty. Second, in a socioeconomic and demographic dimension, not all population groups are equally vulnerable to energy poverty, as their characteristics shape their vulnerability. Therefore, the disposable income of different population groups is scrutinised. Third, changing citizens' lifestyles might increase the risk of energy poverty for those unable to adapt to new living patterns, exposing the need to focus on a lifestyle dimension. As lifestyles are defined by the expenditure share of households in different domains, such as food and energy, expenditure patterns are used to identify households at risk of energy poverty due to exacerbated food and energy expenditure. Ultimately, the results are combined into an overarching composite index, the Heat-or-Eat Risk Index. The data identifies European regions with a higher energy poverty risk due to changes in the energy and food domains, informing the assessment of just and equitable climate responses in European regions.
Original languageEnglish
Article number104076
Number of pages17
JournalEnergy research & social science
Volume125
Early online date23 Apr 2025
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print/First online - 23 Apr 2025

Keywords

  • UT-Hybrid-D
  • Climate response
  • Europe
  • Low-carbon transition
  • Climate action
  • ITC-ISI-JOURNAL-ARTICLE
  • ITC-HYBRID
  • Energy poverty

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Unveiling energy poverty risk: A multidimensional analysis of the heat-or-eat dilemma'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this