Bringing together more than 100 representatives from energy agencies, regional authorities, national institutions and European networks, the discussion explored how climate, housing and social policies can work together to address energy poverty and ensure that the benefits of the clean energy transition reach everyone.
Energy poverty is about more than energy
Opening the debate, Benedetta Brighenti, President of AESS Modena and FEDARENE Vice-President for Climate Neutral Cities and Regions, stressed that social fairness is a prerequisite for successful climate action. While local authorities increasingly recognise the need to support vulnerable citizens, fragmented governance and uneven local capacities often make implementation difficult.
“Social fairness is a precondition for success. Energy agencies are bridges between offices and people." Benedetta Brighenti
The link between energy poverty and broader social challenges was a recurring theme throughout the discussion. Julije Domac, President of FEDARENE and Director of REGEA, argued that energy poverty should be understood not only as an issue of access to energy, but as a question of dignity and social stability. He also reflected on the growing concerns surrounding energy affordability, warning that public support for the clean energy transition will depend on its ability to deliver tangible benefits to citizens.
“Energy poverty is not only about energy. It is about dignity.” Julije Domac
Several speakers highlighted that housing is increasingly at the centre of this challenge. Drawing on the experience of Emilia-Romagna, Ludovica Carla Ferrari pointed to rising housing costs and insufficient resources for deep renovations, while Marco Corradi, President of Housing Europe, described housing as a cross-cutting issue that intersects with climate, demographics, construction, territorial cohesion and urban development.
The challenge is not only funding, it is delivery
As Europe prepares the implementation of the Social Climate Fund and the Affordable Housing Plan, participants agreed that financial resources alone will not solve energy poverty.
Savvas Vlachos, Director of the Cyprus Energy Agency, emphasised that subsidies can only be temporary measures. Long-term solutions must focus on energy efficiency, energy savings and the financial sustainability of households. At the same time, he highlighted the difficulty of identifying vulnerable citizens and understanding their specific needs, from economic hardship to disabilities and mobility constraints.
Similarly, Vlasta Krmelj, Director of ENERGAP, warned that support schemes often fail to reach their intended beneficiaries. Vulnerable citizens are rarely in a position to navigate complex funding opportunities on their own, making intermediary organisations and local support structures essential.
The discussion repeatedly returned to a central challenge: not how to create funding mechanisms, but how to ensure they effectively reach the people who need them most.
Energy agencies as bridges between policy and people
Against this backdrop, energy agencies, emerged as key actors in delivering the social dimension of the energy transition.
Speakers highlighted the growing role of energy agencies in identifying vulnerable groups, coordinating stakeholders, providing technical assistance and supporting citizens throughout renovation processes. Their expertise in managing data and translating complex policies into practical solutions places them in a unique position to bridge the gap between European ambitions and local realities.
This role was closely linked to the development of renovation one-stop shops, which participants described as essential tools for simplifying access to support and accompanying citizens through often complex renovation journeys.
As Brighenti noted, the challenge is not only technical or financial but fundamentally human: effective solutions require cooperation between institutions, communities and support organisations, with each actor playing its part.
Building the just transition locally
The final discussion highlighted the need for more integrated approaches that bring together climate, housing and social policies.
Monica Cinti, Coordinator for Energy and Environment at ANCI Emilia-Romagna, underlined the importance of making better use of existing building stock while addressing barriers such as ageing buildings, complex ownership structures, rising construction costs and administrative burdens. She also called for more coordinated support mechanisms capable of combining different funding streams and accelerating implementation.
Examples shared during the debate demonstrated how local and regional authorities are already experimenting with innovative solutions, from integrated renovation programmes to partnerships with social organisations and community groups.
The message from Modena was clear: a just transition will not be achieved through European policies alone. It will depend on the ability of regions, cities, energy agencies and local communities to translate those policies into concrete improvements in people's daily lives.
“The transition will not succeed or fail in Brussels. It will succeed or fail in Europe’s regions and cities.” Julije Domac
As Europe enters a new phase of climate action, local delivery mechanisms such as energy agencies and renovation one-stop shops will be crucial to ensuring that climate ambition goes hand in hand with social inclusion, helping build a transition that is not only greener, but also fairer.
Details
- Publication date
- 27 May 2026