Energy poverty in the Energy Community region: Interrogating policy formulation and coverage

Abstract

The capacity of the state to develop and implement policy at the complex nexus of energy infrastructure, social inequality and housing is indicative of the political priorities of governing structures and, by extension, the nature of statecraft more generally. We compare and contrast the energy poverty amelioration policies of two former Yugoslav and two post-Soviet states located outside the European Union, but seeking to join its regulatory sphere – Serbia, Montenegro, Ukraine and Georgia – against the background of deep and persistent patterns of domestic energy hardship. We are particularly interested in uncovering the time horizons, socio-technical systems and target constituencies of different policy measures, as well as energy sector–specific responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. We find that most states in the region have done little to address some of the more substantive challenges around improving housing quality, energy efficiency and gender inequality. However, energy poverty is present in the policy lexicon of all case study countries, and Ukraine, in particular, has advanced a number of more sophisticated approaches and programmes.

Development of Energy Poverty and Its Solutions through the Use of Renewables: The EU Case with a Focus on Slovakia

“…Baker et al show similar results [6]. Consequently, Bouzarovski et al compared policies for decreasing energy poverty in former post-communist countries outside the EU, while their research found that the majority of the states in the analyzed region did not make enough solutions for solving basic problems, which connects with the improvement of living quality, energy efficiency, and gender inequality [7]. However, energy poverty is present in the politics of all countries.…”

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“…2 efficiency, and gender inequality [7]. However, energy poverty is present in the politics of all countries.…”

Ecology, economy and climate crisis in European urban and regional development

“…Affolderbach and O'Neill (2024) examine the use of green buildings to explore the coming Ecology, economy and climate crisis in European urban and regional development 1243211E UR0010.1177/09697764241243211European Urban and Regional StudiesEditorial editorial2024 Editorial together of perspectives on materialities, discourses and 'lived sustainabilities'. Finally, Bouzarovski et al (2024) focus on energy poverty amelioration policies in four east European states to address the intersection of housing quality, energy efficiency and gender inequality.…”