Energ’Ethic - Climate Justice and Energy Transition

"Citizens are the experts, and we are only translating this expertise into projects and initiatives"    In this episode, Marine Cornelis meets Marta Garcia Paris, the CEO of Ecoserveis.  Ecoserveis has undoubtedly transformed how energy poverty and consumer experience, in general, are taken into consideration in Barcelona and Europe.    Marta talks about engaging people in the energy transition while protecting them against climate change; the impact of COVID on vulnerable populations; the importance of providing information through trusted parties to empower citizens; and that European projects enable her to learn and keep her mind open to new ideas.    See all Ecoserveis' ongoing and past projects: https://www.ecoserveis.net/en/what-we-do/projects/   Reach out to Marta on Twitter @Martutis6 or Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/marta-garc%C3%ADa-par%C3%ADs/   Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinecornelis Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius Edition: Podcast Media Factory  Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic (c) Next Energy Consumer, 2021Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Is the Renovation Wave on track to address the complexity of fuel poverty?  European policies seem to be getting a better grasp of the phenomenon. Still, even today, although energy poverty and vulnerability are getting more and more attention from European policymakers, many factors remain entirely unexplored. This is particularly the case for the private rented sector. In this episode, we will discuss this issue with Manon Burbidge and Professor Stefan Bouzarovski. Stefan Bouzarovski is one of the most influential voices in the energy vulnerability field. Stefan is a professor at the University of Manchester and the head of the ENGAGER network. Manon is a very committed ecologist and a research associate at the University of Manchester. We will be explaining the findings of their Report on energy poverty in the private rented sector as part of the Horizon 2020 ENPOR project. This report highlights the scale of energy poverty. It presents some solutions on how to address it in the private rented sector. Why has been energy poverty in the rented sector overlooked so far? How is it possible to reconcile the viewpoints of stakeholders with apparently diverging interests? Stefan and Manon will talk with us about some solutions and share with us their doubts regarding certain policies and programmes that fail to adopt an intersectional approach that would put residents' needs at the centre, rather than technical and technological responses to the energy inefficiency of buildings. ENPOR project link: https://www.enpor.eu/  Contact Stefan on Twitter @StefanBuzar and LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefanbuzar/ Contact Manon on Twitter @Manon_Burbidge and LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/manon-burbidge-ab64a9108/ Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/marinecornelis Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius Edition: Podcast Media Factory Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic (c) Next Energy Consumer, 2021Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

How can we successfully level the political playing field and bring in the voices of civil society, including those of small countries? How can we ensure that finance benefits citizens and works to repair the planet?  "We only have our voice, but with that voice, if you talk about important things, and if you commit to what you say and what you do, your voice becomes a real weapon to achieve your goals."  Kęstutis Kupšys is a Member of the European Economic and Social Committee and a key expert on sustainable finance issues. He explains how he has learned to embrace climate change as an opportunity to transform the economic system we live in. He describes the functioning of the European Economic and Social Committee, an advisory body that informs the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council. Kęstutis expands on the power of finance for the future of the planet and how, today, cryptocurrencies are undermining climate goals.  Finally, he tells us how coming from a small country, Lithuania, is rather an asset when it comes to building consensus, and bridging widely divergent interests.  "The Economic and Social Committee is one of those forums where you can make your voice heard, even if you come from a small country, a small organisation or if you represent a specific group of people with specific problems".   "We no longer have the luxury of choosing what should be sustainable and what should remain business as usual, the whole system has to be changed."  Kęstutis Kupšys is a Member of the European Economic and Social Committee (Group III - Diversity Europe Group), the vice-president of the Lithuanian consumer alliance (member of BEUC) and the director of the Association for Honesty in banking. In his own words, Kęstutis is a sustainable finance, clean mobility and renewable energy enthusiast devoted to unified Europe.  Contact Kęstutis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kestutis-kupsys/    Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinecornelis Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius Edition: Podcast Media Factory (c) Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic Next Energy Consumer, 2021Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

What is missing to build a truly just, intersectional and inclusive transition? How can academic research be linked with almost 15 years of experience in the public and private sectors?  In this fascinating and personal conversation, Marielle Feenstra tells us how she learns and shares about gender and inclusivity in the energy and climate transition daily. She talks about her ability to create links between the academic world, her work as a consultant, and an advisor to public bodies.  She explains why gender issues continue to be neglected in energy policies (hint: there is a lack of disaggregated data!) and why using the notion of “household” is so far removed from reality that it can hardly yield tangible results. Finally, she talks about the importance of role-playing to create empathy among decision-makers and why gender differences are an excellent way to raise awareness of social justice and diversity. Gender and transitions are a dynamic concept that will evolve, and that decision-makers, companies and policymakers will have to take into consideration “We bring in our genders, we bring in our social background, we bring in our educational backgrounds, our age, so taking an intersectional approach towards the actors in the energy system reveals their different motives, different knowledge, different understanding and different resources to act upon and make a change.” Mariëlle Feenstra, “the energy feminist”, has been working on gender and energy policies since 2000. She is currently a PhD researcher at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. She will defend her PhD thesis “Gender Just Energy Policy: engendering the energy transition in Europe” this summer. Together with her supervisor Prof. Dr Joy Clancy, she has written two studies for the FEMM Committee of the European Parliament. Both studies are the first publications in the EU on gender and energy policy. Mariëlle is an active member of the ENGAGER network of energy poverty researchers in Europe. She is also a member of the Board of Advisors for the Dutch community 75InQ, promoting more visibility for diversity in the energy transition. Find Marielle Feenstra on Twitter @EnergyFeminist and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariellefeenstra/   Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinecornelis Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius Edition: Podcast Media Factory Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic (c) Next Energy Consumer, 2021Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

"The built environment is a source of opportunities or obstacles" Why are infrastructures a question of social justice? How can urban spaces be reinvented to become accessible to the greatest number? In this fascinating discussion, Pedro Homem de Gouveia explains how he came to understand that infrastructure and mobility create barriers or opportunities in people's lives. Pedro underlines why it is necessary to be vigilant against cultural prejudices and why mobility issues require above all an understanding of the users' habits. He informs us about gender and safety issues in public transport, arguing that these issues are not externalities but must be put at the heart of urban network development policies.  Pedro demonstrates that when it comes to mobility and experiencing city life, solutions are often within reach, but they often require a different perspective. Therefore, Pedro encourages professionals from other sectors, from psychology to marketing, to take an interest in transport and infrastructure issues in order to better meet users' needs.  Pedro illustrates his remarks with examples that he has noted over the course of time and his discoveries, as an architect and advisor to the city of Lisbon or as senior policy and project manager at the POLIS, the network of cities and regions for transport innovation.  "Public transport is the backbone of urban mobility (...) but you just don't go walking around with a backbone: you need legs, and feet, and fingers. And if you're going to do something, you also need arms, and hands, and fingers. (...) If we want people to shift away from their private cars into sustainable mobility, we really have to foster the emergence of an alternative ecosystem of modes that work together". Since 2019, Pedro Homem de Gouveia coordinates POLIS' Working Group for Governance & Integration, which is focused on policymaking for innovation and public participation. He also coordinates the Working Group for Safety and Security, aiming to make city streets safe and transport systems secure. Before joining POLIS, Pedro worked for more than 20 years for the city of Lisbon, in Portugal, as a strategist and advisor. Find Pedro Homem de Gouveia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedro-homem-de-gouveia-304ab010/  Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinecornelis Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius Edition: Podcast Media Factory  Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic (c) Next Energy Consumer, 2021Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

"We cannot afford to exclude any community from this transition"  What is energy justice and how can it be developed?   In this episode, Dr Elizabeth Blakelock shares her experience as a fierce advocate for citizens' rights to fair treatment in the energy market. She tells us how she opened her eyes to the intersectionality of race and vulnerability in the sector, and how she is now fighting for energy policies to become explicitly anti-racist. She shares her advice on how to create strategies that put the lived experiences of citizens at the centre, in order to create services, products, programmes and strategies that are truly inclusive by design. Eventually, she addresses the opportunities that the energy transition represents for creating fairer societies  "There is so much more to the energy system than technical decisions about moving electrons along a wire"  Dr Elizabeth Blakelock is a champion of the rights of everyone to have access to a warm and safe home. She is passionate about tracking the impacts that firms' decision-making has on people's lives. Then she uses that data to help design essential service markets that are inclusive by design. Elizabeth has been working in the corporate world, as an academic, the charity sector and an energy regulator. As an academic, Elizabeth co-authored the report “Fairness in UK Energy Markets” and in 2020 she finished her Ph.D. on how powerful ideas influence the rules of the energy market to undermine processes that were supposed to ensure inclusive policymaking.   Reports mentioned:  Inclusive design in essential services https://fairbydesign.com/inclusive-design/   Diversifying Power: Why We Need Antiracist, Feminist Leadership on Climate and Energy. Stephens, Jennie https://islandpress.org/books/diversifying-power   Powerful women: https://powerfulwomen.org.uk/board-statistics-by-company-2021/   Find Dr Elizabeth Blakelock’s work on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethblakelock/  Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinecornelis  Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius Edition: Podcast Media Factory  Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic (c) Next Energy Consumer, 2021Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Global aviation accounts for about 2% of greenhouse gas emissions, and many scientists are denouncing its impact and even encouraging people to stop flying. The restrictions on travel and the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 lockdowns have totally reshuffled the deck: many of us have not traveled in the last year and a half. To survive, aviation must therefore reinvent itself, and one of the avenues is fuel. Jean Paquin is the CEO of SAF+ Consortium, a Canadian company making synthetic fuels from captured CO2 emission from large industries.  Can fuels really be sustainable? How do we convince airlines to decarbonise? How do we make consumers aware of the real price of their plane tickets? In this episode, Jean talks about his vision of the evolution of the airline industry and how, out of a sense of duty to the planet and to his children, he managed to convince airlines to support and grow his project. He reminds us that moving away from fossil fuels is a difficult journey and that synthetic fuels are only a temporary solution before fully energy efficient solutions are developed.  "We need to change clearly the paradigm and look at the way we sustainably survive, we need to embrace new technology that will move us away from fossil fuels and away from the need to consume more and more new resources without making efficient use of the ones we've used already" Jean Paquin is the co-founder of the SAF+ consortium (“SAF+”) and the Carbon Consult Group. Jean is an engineer with over 25 years of experience in carbon management and the development of renewable energy projects worldwide. He has a wide range of expertise in engineering, management, project finance, Hydro, wind and solar generation.  Reach out to Jean Paquin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanpaquin/ SAF+ Consortium: https://safplusconsortium.com  Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinecornelis Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius Edition: Podcast Media Factory Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic © Next Energy Consumer, 2021Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

What is district heating, and why is it relevant in the sustainable energy transition? How can more young women be attracted to careers in science and technology?  In this episode, Ilaria Marini describes district heating systems and their role in the energy transition. She gets back on the projects she is working on for A2A Calore e Servizi in Brescia and Milan. She tells us about her passion for science and technology and how it motivated her to build her own path when she lacked role models to show her the way. She shares her experience of how, with the support of her company, she seeks to be an agent of change, create awareness around unconscious bias, encourage gender diversity and inspire other young women to embark on scientific careers. "It is important to think big if you want to change something, it is important to be proactive and start doing something" Ilaria Marini is an engineer at the Italian utility A2A Calore e Servizi. At first, in 2017, she focused on the maintenance and optimization of district heating networks. She then became project manager of a demo project site in Brescia in Lombardy. Since last year, she has been involved in the REWARDHeat project, a district heating project using the groundwater wells in the city of Milan.  Reach out to Ilaria Marini on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariniilaria/ Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinecornelis Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius Edition: Podcast Media Factory Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic © Next Energy Consumer, 2021Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

How do vulnerable energy consumers access justice? What role do local intermediaries play? What could Ombudsmen do to fill the gaps between citizens and energy companies? How could their services become more accessible? Dr Naomi Creutzfeldt and Dr Chris Gill are both experts of consumer dispute resolution and the different forms of redress, such as Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and the Ombudsman model. Over the last four years, together with yours truly, we have investigated access to justice for vulnerable and energy-poor people in five European countries and regions (UK, France, Italy, Bulgaria and Catalonia - Spain).  In this episode, we explore the genesis of the Just Energy project, the choice of the energy sector as a case study and the baseline on which we started the research. We discuss the potential of complaints for companies and regulatory authorities to build trust in energy markets. We reflect on several key findings, such as the fact that complaining to an Ombudsman can be very intimidating: for many, complaint procedures are neither straightforward nor easy, and ADR schemes are very distant concepts. Local initiatives seem the key intermediaries between (vulnerable) people and formal justice processes, whatever the country. However, even among local actors, the role and function of the Ombudsmen might be unknown. Hence, close cooperation among stakeholders is absolutely critical to make a difference for the people in need. "It's very important to have lots of different avenues available for people to to access justice in different forms".  Dr Naomi Creutzfeldt is a professor of socio-legal studies at the University of Westminster and Dr Chris Gill is a Senior Lecturer in Public Law at the University of Glasgow.  Order your copy of Access to Justice for Vulnerable and Energy-Poor Consumers: Just Energy? - Hart Publishing (2021)  Find all the information about the ESRC Just Energy Project, toolkit and Final Webinar (September 9, 2021 at 12:30 BST)  Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinecornelis Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius Edition: Podcast Media Factory Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic © Next Energy Consumer, 2021Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

How can public investment subsidies be better designed to have a greater impact on those who need them most?   What can the business community do to involve people in vulnerable circumstances in the energy transition? Audrey Dobbins is a researcher at the Institute of Energy Economics and Rational Energy Use (IER) in Germany at the University of Stuttgart. Audrey has built her career between South Africa, Germany and the United States and has worked and studied chemistry, political science and economics. These experiences give her a unique perspective on addressing energy poverty. She is particularly interested in the different capacities of individuals to participate in the energy transition and in the various forms of support and subsidies that could impact the long term. She's a very committed scientist who is passionate about educating policymakers and the business community about the multi-dimensionality of energy poverty and the solutions they can provide. She has demonstrated that better-targeted subsidies around support measures for the energy and climate transition can have a more significant overall impact. "It's really about trying to find ways or explore and open the debate about how governments want to spend their money and what kind of future you want to pay for". Find ENGAGER’s toolkit on building a transition with the people.  Audrey Dobbins’ research focuses on analysing the significance of energy poverty on the energy system by applying an energy-economics model. She will soon present a PhD thesis focusing on improving the energy welfare of vulnerable households and the overall energy planning while achieving the energy and social objectives of the energy transition in the German context. Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinecornelis Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius Edition: Podcast Media Factory Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic © Next Energy Consumer, 2021Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Why is energy poverty unsustainable?  How do disabled people navigate the transition to net-zero?  The “just transition” could be the right framework to rethink the way our societies are designed, and make sure disabled people are taking ownership of the opportunities presented. But first, we need to acknowledge that “The current distribution of energy is unfair to disabled people in the sense that they do not have as much access to energy."  Prof. Lucie Middlemiss is Professor of Environment and Society in the Sustainability Research Institute, at the University of Leeds in the UK. She wrote the first textbook on Sustainable Consumption, and has research interests in sustainable consumption, energy poverty and participation in sustainable development. Her research bridges the gaps between energy consumption in daily life, planning, measuring, monitoring and decision-making. Read here Lucie's most recent paper, Characterizing the energy use of disabled people in the European Union towards inclusion in the energy transition, with Diana Ivanova. Lucie's on Twitter: @LucieMiddlemiss Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn  Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius Edition: Podcast Media Factory Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic © Next Energy Consumer, 2022Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

A fascination for the African continent coupled with a background in electrical engineering led Nicolas Saincy to co-found Nanoé in Madagascar in 2017. Nanoé’s ambition is to offer a third way in the electrification landscape in rural Africa by providing a solution combining respect for the environment and sustainable development, digital technologies, and social entrepreneurship. Nicolas denounces the environmental impact of cheap solar kits, which he says “are transferring to the final user a lot of risks that has usually taken by the energy provider like material service breakdowns”. Instead, he proposes a vision of “lateral” electrification, consolidating access to electricity through the interconnection of nanogrids (connecting a few houses), in areas where the primary grid will probably never arrive. In short, Nanoé’s model enables the “progressive building of decentralised, decarbonised and smart power infrastructures that are able to support the economic and social development of the continent”. To do this, Nicolas relies on networks of entrepreneurs trained by his teams, often young people lacking professional opportunities. Nicolas talks about his difficulty recruiting women entrepreneurs, even though women make up half of the management team. Nanoé is a member of the EURICA project, a member of LEAP-RE, the Long-Term Joint European Union - African Union Research and Innovation Partnership on Renewable Energy, an EU-supported programme to improve access to electricity in Africa. Reach out to Nicolas on LinkedIn or through Nanoé's website. Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius Edition: Podcast Media Factory Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic © Next Energy Consumer, 2022Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

The current energy crisis is “really the moment of truth.” It sheds light on many issues: the functioning of the market, dependence on fossil fuels, geopolitical impact, energy justice, energy poverty and affordability, and future energy choices and political and corporate strategies. Journalists and newspapers play a fundamental role in clarifying these issues and putting them into perspective for a broader audience. “We should strengthen our ambition in all fronts, and the energy crisis is exposing this”. Anna Gumbau is a freelance journalist specialising in energy issues. She talks about the importance of using the right wording to make complex topics accessible to those around her and countering the dangers of populism and oversimplification.  She also discusses the importance of diversifying voices and perspectives so that the subject matter is more relevant to people’s experiences. We also talk about women’s representation, the role of men as allies against all-men panels, and her desire to share with her peers and create a caring community. She tells us how being mansplained and belittled in professional settings gave her the grit to start a coaching business and empower women professionals in climate and energy. This coaching activity, called the Green Light, wants to provide coaching and mentoring services and practical tools for women to thrive in these sectors. Anna Gumbau is a freelance energy and climate journalist based in Brussels. She is usually busy covering the European Green Deal and its impact on central and eastern Europe. Her work’s been published on Euractiv, Energy Monitor, FORESIGHT Climate & Energy, Euranet Plus, and El País. Before going freelance, she was Carbon Pulse’s Brussels correspondent, covering the EU ETS and the Fit for 55 packages, and an energy reporter with Interfax Global Energy Services in London before that. She is a native of Barcelona, where she graduated in Journalism and International Relations. Reach out to Anna via Twitter @AnnaGumbau or LinkedIn  Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius Edition: Podcast Media Factory Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic © Next Energy Consumer, 2022Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Now is the time to break silos and adopt interdisciplinary approaches as "there is no time left to miss opportunities" for the people and the climate, says Yamina Saheb, OpenExp.  Born and raised in Algiers, Yamina has been working for the past twenty years at "pushing and continue pushing" policy boundaries, for instance, on the impact of global warming, summer, and mobility poverty on the well-being of the people in European policymaking. To this aim, she developed an energy and mobility index looking at the causes of energy and mobility poverty and seeing how countries have progressed over time. Yamina explains how the Yellow vests movement was brought up by inadequate housing, energy, and mobility policies that sold an unsustainable dream, the dream of an individual house in the suburbs where you would never hear your neighbour. This model creates a dependency on personal cars and makes investments in thermal comfort in housing critical but often unaffordable. The risk is, by expanding the emission trading system (ETS) to housing and mobility, it might "expand the Yellow vest movement from France to the rest of Europe". She also denounces that the lack of ambition in Minimum energy performance standards will "lock low income in energy poverty" and worse-performing buildings. She also calls against the Energy Charter Treaty, an international treaty signed in the 1990s to protect investment in fossil fuels. This treaty is now being turned against policies to decarbonise energy. One tool, in particular, the investor-state dispute settlement, prevents billions of euros from being invested in net-zero transition, as they make the country pay "not just compensation for the investment that was made, but also for the profits, the potential profit that they would have made if you would not have changed your policies". As a result, the treaty allows "foreign investors to put in place the policies they want in your country". Yamina calls on the European Union countries to collectively withdraw from this treaty to avoid fines and create the essential conditions for Europe's energy independence from Russian gas and real transition to net-zero. Yamina Saheb (@ysaheb) is a lead author of the upcoming Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. She holds a Ph.D in Energy Engineering and you can now find her lecturing at Sciences Po Paris. Prior to this, she worked for the Universities of Münster and Lausanne, the Energy Charter Secretariat, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, and the International Energy Agency. Find here Yamina's work on the European Energy Poverty Index (EEPI) and here more information about the Energy Charter Treaty. Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius Edition: Podcast Media Factory Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic © Next Energy Consumer, 2022Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

How do we put people at the centre of the conversation when high energy prices, rampant inflation, and lack of control over personal data undermine the foundations of our democracies and, more generally, our well-being? What is sustainability from a consumer perspective?  We explored these issues in this precious conversation with Monique Goyens, Director General of BEUC, the European Consumer Organisation. Monique's association is the voice of consumers in Brussels, representing 43 independent national consumer associations in 32 European countries.  Over the years, Monique has managed to ensure that consumer interests are given weight in developing policies. Monique talks about energy efficiency, especially for the most vulnerable populations. She reports that consumer protection organisations are concerned about the products circulating on marketplaces, inflation, and the impact on households and small businesses. Monique reminds us that "the way information is brought to you can be very much unfair and manipulated" and that the EU must develop its own extremely high data protection standards. Indeed, she says, "If we are manipulated as consumers, we will also be manipulated as citizens".  Monique also stresses that to empower consumers, politicians must make the most sustainable options easily accessible, attractive and affordable. This includes adapting the price signal and taxes. Finally, she reminds us of the importance of intermediaries such as BEUC to provide feedback and information and creates confidence in consumer goods and services and politics. Follow @MoniqueGoyens on Twitter Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius Edition: Podcast Media Factory Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic © Next Energy Consumer, 2022Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

How can solar electricity be made more attractive and affordable to households? What role can an energy giant play for the most vulnerable households?   Increasing the amount of renewable energy, especially solar, in the energy mix has become a priority to create a just transition and make our societies more sustainable. ENEL X, the Enel Company for new and innovative businesses, has been developing solutions for households for several years. Andrea Scognamiglio, the head of Global e-home at Enel X since the end of 2017, is working to make these solutions known and accessible to as many people as possible because people "need to find convenient to move towards sustainability". Between the increase in energy prices in recent months, the COVID-19 pandemic and the generalisation of teleworking, which has increased the time spent at home (and therefore the domestic energy consumption), these solutions respond to concrete needs.    However, the proposed solutions often do not respond to real situations. Therefore, many people live in flats and are excluded from rooftop solar projects. ENEL X is offering in Italy (and soon in Spain and Romania) solar panels for apartments (“Solare da Appartamento”) to hang on window or balcony railings and plug directly into the domestic grid. Andrea calculated that this "very easy solution can help you save twenty-five per cent of the electricity, which at this point in time, it's quite big". Therefore, "these panels can make a big difference saving money, saving the environment and reducing the import of gas."    Andrea points out that even though many instruments make these tools affordable from a financial point of view, many people still risk being left out. Therefore, ENEL X is launching with Legambiente, the main Italian environmental association, the crowdfunding campaign #UnPanelloInPiù, which will allow households in energy poverty to receive one of these panels for free. Andrea would like everyone to become aware of their potential to generate their own energy because, in the end, "people make the difference". Find here the crowdfunding platform for the initiative #UnPanelloInPiù with Legambiente: http://sostieni.legambiente.it/unpannelloinpiu  Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius Edition: Podcast Media Factory Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic © Next Energy Consumer, 2022Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

"We all live under the same sun" In this fascinating discussion, Tedd Moya Mose, a lawyer, academic, and consultant at the University of Oxford, looks at the power of law to broaden access to electricity worldwide. From his experience as a lawyer in Kenya to British universities, he has come to understand that “if we get the legal framework or policy or regulation wrong, it is very, very difficult to have effective energy systems, and it's very difficult to have modern life as we know it in a sustainable way.“ He looks at the principles needed for energy justice to be truly implemented, the power of information sharing, and the need to ensure that the law is applied in a fair and equitable manner. “Even the best-written laws need people who understand them to apply them. But the community also needs to be aware that these laws exist and need to know what rights there are to enforce them.” The law is also instrumental in creating a level playing field and reconciling often conflicting objectives. This is what he calls the “energy trilemma”, opposing three equally strong interests: financial, environmental and political. The “law should come and be almost like the pivot; it should be at the centre of this dilemma and try to balance these interests”. Finally, he provides an expert view of international treaties and agendas such as the 7th Sustainable Development Goal and the newly recognised UN right to a “clean and healthy environment”. “The law establishes rules, regulations and standards that have to be followed. (…) We need to have the same legal aims and principles. And once those legal aims and principles are well known and documented, they can infuse any legal system. So instead of looking at changing legal systems, what we need to do is to continually develop and accept and adopt and pass laws that carry certain legal standards and legal principles and legal aims that then will lead to action.” Tedd Moya Mose is a lawyer, academic, and consultant Researcher and Fellow at the University of Oxford focused on mitigating climate change through the transition to a low carbon economy. In his work, he investigates the impact of law on various energy technologies and projects in sub-Saharan Africa, the UK, and the Middle East. Find him on Twitter @Contentedd or LinkedIn Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedInMusic: I Need You Here - Kamarius Edition: Podcast Media Factory Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic © Next Energy Consumer, 2022Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

The US and EU energy landscapes still look very different. The US grid remains highly dependent on fossil fuels, with more than 60% of electricity generation coming from coal, gas or petroleum products. Besides, 5 million people still use liquid fuels for heating, mostly low-income people residing in mountainous or rural areas where no alternatives are possible. The housing stock and energy efficiency requirements are also very different from the ones in Europe - leading to a whole different dataset.  How do we reconcile social, economic and environmental issues in the context of the US heating oil industry? In this episode, Dr Thomas Butcher (NORA) explains how the US heating oil industry has come to acknowledge that it needs to move towards decarbonisation while promoting energy efficiency and broader savings. Tom details how the liquid fuel industry is moving to biofuels, coming from crop residues and even yoghurt processing, while investing in continued affordability and environmental sustainability. Tom is the Technical Director of the United States National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA). Tom leads a group providing research on liquid fuels and the technical support needed to develop a more efficient future for his industry. Tom has been investigating energy systems, air pollutant emissions, and the use of biofuels in boilers and furnaces for decades. Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius Edition: Podcast Media Factory Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic © Next Energy Consumer, 2022Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Are heat pumps the George Clooney of the energy sector? By confronting his research interest in people's electricity usage patterns with his personal experience, Mike Fell realised that heat pumps suffered from an image deficit leading to slow adoption. A few sexy makeovers and an augmented reality app later, Heat Pump Chic was born. This app gives a better idea of what a heat pump is like in the home environment (including noise) and is intended to familiarise future users with this technology. And perhaps make heat pumps desirable! Mike uses humour and everyday habits to raise awareness of wider energy and climate issues, such as the need for household flexibility and demand-side response to boost sustainability in the sector. For example, he developed the Should I Bake? website to nudge foodies into using their appliances when most of the UK's grid electricity comes from renewable sources. Humour, glamour, advertising and nudging, and adapting habits such as baking bread at the best times of the day... listen to this new episode.  By the way, if anybody has George Clooney's contact, please get in touch with Mike, because that could make a difference :-) Dr Michael Fell is a research associate at UCL Energy Institute. Mike focuses on the social aspects of energy demand flexibility and systematic review methods in energy demand research. Also, check heat pump chic on social media for your daily dose of British humour. Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius Edition: Podcast Media Factory Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic © Next Energy Consumer, 2022Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

How will the city of Nottingham, a former industrial and major coal hub, be climate neutral by 2028? In practice, this means cutting emissions by 20% a year between now and then! Wayne Bexton, the Director of Carbon Reduction, Energy and Sustainability of the Nottingham City Council, explains how the city reconciles environmental sustainability objectives with social and economic ones through integrated work programmes involving all local stakeholders. Wayne explains how Nottingham has succeeded in creating a new 'industrial revolution' that is transforming the perception of residents, including former miners, of their city and accompanying the net-zero transition. The city is carrying out ambitious regeneration programmes to actively address energy poverty, which include crucial public health aspects - reinforced by the improvement of air quality at the regional level. Wayne also talks about the regulatory challenges that the city faces. He outlines his hopes for decentralised technologies and energy communities "to produce locally, use locally and then that should better reduce rates, reduce tariffs" to increase the uptake of renewable energy and further reduce emissions. Find here Nottingham's Carbon Neutral Action Plan. Wayne Bexton is the Director of Carbon Reduction, Energy and Sustainability at Nottingham City Council. He has worked in public sector energy and sustainability for over 15 years. Find Wayne on Twitter @ClimateBex Reach out to Marine Cornelis via Twitter @MarineCornelis or LinkedIn Music: I Need You Here - Kamarius Edition: Podcast Media Factory Support Energ'Ethic on Patreon https://patreon.com/Energethic © Next Energy Consumer, 2022Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.