Energy retrofitting in Europe can cut emissions, but it may also deepen inequalities if not paired with robust social policies. The key lies in balancing efficiency, fairness, and cohesion.
A study published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy examines the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) through a social justice lens, warning that while retrofit policies help reduce emissions, they risk exacerbating inequalities without adequate social measures.
To assess how different factors influence outcomes, authors Guido Meneghin and Silvana Stefani developed a composite index to evaluate countries’ structural vulnerability, considering housing conditions, financial accessibility, energy poverty, and institutional capacity. This index grouped Member States into four clusters, revealing that in contexts dominated by private homeownership, persistent energy poverty, and fragmented, unstable public support, economic burdens fall disproportionately on low-income households.
Italy illustrates this dynamic, in which ambitious energy-efficiency progress has triggered social tensions due to the absence of inclusive housing policies. The researchers caution that without targeted subsidies, investment in social housing and specific support, only wealthier households will benefit, leaving the most vulnerable behind. They stress that aligning climate goals with social policies will be crucial to strengthening social cohesion and uphold the legitimacy of the European Green Deal.
