Decarbonization of the economy and the so-called green transition raise a series of challenges not only from a strictly technological viewpoint, but also in social and distributive terms. In other words, who will actually pay for the implementation of energy transition? How will the costs related to the transition be shared among different social groups?

Against this backdrop, the webinar will pay special attention to the issue of energy poverty, with the final goal of analyzing a series of crucial aspects concerning i) its measurement and definition and ii) the potential impacts brought about by the post-pandemic economic recovery.

In particular, the webinar will try to provide answers and insights on the following three key points:

1. What is the meaning of “energy poverty”? How is it measured? How do definition and measurement tools vary across different national cases?

2. After the pandemic outbreak, how is the current macroeconomic context affecting the evolution and size of energy poverty? What are the expected impacts on energy poverty deriving from the recent increase in gas and electricity prices?

3. What are the main limits of the policies adopted so far to help the most disadvantaged groups of consumers afford electricity and gas bills (e.g., social bonuses)? How can such limits be overcome? What are the main policy suggestions for increasing the effectiveness of policies aimed at contrasting energy poverty?