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Climate Change Mitigation Policies Targeting Households and Addressing Energy Poverty in European Union

Author

Listed:
  • Dalia Streimikiene

    (Lithuanian Energy Institute, 44403 Kaunas, Lithuania)

  • Vidas Lekavičius

    (Lithuanian Energy Institute, 44403 Kaunas, Lithuania)

  • Tomas Baležentis

    (Lithuanian Institute of Agrarian Economics, 03220 Vilnius, Lithuania)

  • Grigorios L. Kyriakopoulos

    (School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Electric Power Division, Photometry Laboratory, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece)

  • Josef Abrhám

    (Department of Trade and Finance, Faculty of Economics and Management, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, 16500 Prague, Czech Republic)

Abstract

Climate change mitigation measures linked to households’ energy consumption have huge greenhouse gases (GHG) emission reduction potential and positive impact on energy poverty reduction. However, measures such as renovation of residential buildings or installation of micro generation technologies based on renewable energy sources have not realized their full energy saving and GHG emission reduction potentials, due to the energy efficiency paradox and other barriers. These climate change mitigation policies targeting the households’ sector can deliver extra benefits such as energy poverty reduction and implementation of the energy justice principle; therefore, they require more attention of scholars and policy makers. The aim of this paper is to analyze the energy poverty and climate change mitigation issues in EU households based on a systematic literature review, and to provide future research paths and policy recommendations. Based on the systematic literature review, this paper develops an integrated framework for addressing energy poverty, just carbon free energy transition and climate change mitigation issues in the EU. Additionally, we argue that more targeted climate change policies and measures are necessary in the light of the shortcomings of current measures to reduce energy poverty and realize climate change mitigation potential linked to energy consumption in households.

Suggested Citation

  • Dalia Streimikiene & Vidas Lekavičius & Tomas Baležentis & Grigorios L. Kyriakopoulos & Josef Abrhám, 2020. "Climate Change Mitigation Policies Targeting Households and Addressing Energy Poverty in European Union," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-24, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:13:p:3389-:d:379187
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