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Fit for 55 will penalise poor Europeans

(EurActiv, 19 Jul 2021) The European Commission’s ‘Fit for 55’ legislative package will penalise poor Europeans. This is not the just energy transition the EU promised, writes Martha Myers.

Martha Myers is a climate justice campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe, and coordinator of the Right To Energy Coalition

With more than 50 million Europeans living in energy poverty, unable to adequately light, heat or cool their homes, the Commission’s bumper ‘Fit for 55’ package of energy and climate laws was a chance to prove the EU Green Deal would truly leave no-one behind. Unfortunately, the Commission has failed the test.

The proposed laws could make low-income people poorer, beyond the financial strain from the pandemic. Human lives are on the line.

From 2026, energy bills are likely to increase for the lowest-income Europeans, as a result of extending the EU’s carbon trading scheme to buildings and transport. It could push poor households over the brink, forcing people to ration energy or default on their bills. This is not a good look for the EU, nor for climate action.

It means those who are least responsible for our current climate crisis are being asked to pay the highest price for the energy transition.

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EurActiv, 19 Jul 2021: Fit for 55 will penalise poor Europeans