- or, to what extent and how are social and environmental sustainability aspects implemented and linked in cases of energy citizenship?

In order to tackle the climate crisis, the energy crisis, energy poverty and, overall, the sustainable transformation of the energy system, it is very important that social and environmental considerations are taken into account together in the design and development of a case. In other words, if we want to solve the problem of energy poverty, for example, we must solve it using environmentally sound methods and technologies. For example, rather than providing environmentally polluting and inefficient lignite to people who cannot heat their homes, we should provide environmentally friendly heating fuels (e.g. biobriquettes), help them change their current heating device to have more environmentally friendly heating (e.g. by building a heat column or a mass stove if we are looking for a low-tech and relatively cheap solution) and improve the energy efficiency of their homes (e.g., through insulation and renovating doors and windows). This may seem obvious at first sight, but often social and environmental considerations are not linked or the link between them is not strong enough.

This has been investigated in more detail in the EnergyPROSPECTS project, with a detailed study of 40 cases collected in 9 countries. The research focused on 3 social and 2 environmental sustainability aspects in the first place (see spider chart figure), and examined how these were reflected in the case's objectives and manifested in their operations. We prepared a report of our overall findings and separate case summary reports for each case.

Based on the results of our exploratory research, we have developed the concept of sustainability-focused energy citizenship, i.e. energy citizenship where social and environmental sustainabily aspects are strongly connected. Furthermore, based on the different degrees of consideration and combination of social and environmental aspects of sustainability, we have identified four types of energy citizenship (sustainability-focused, more socially or more environmentally focused, and one with a more moderate sustainability focus).

To read and download all relevant materials (methodology, full analysis report, 40 case summary reports) please visit https://intezet.greendependent.org/en/Case_studies.