Policy prescriptions to address energy and transport poverty in the United Kingdom

Tens of millions of households across Europe struggle to afford adequate electricity and heating services and reliable transportation, while recent high fuel prices could lead to an increase in excess winter deaths. Tackling energy and transport poverty is thus of paramount policy importance. Here we document the drivers and lived experiences of energy and transport poverty in the United Kingdom, based on public focus groups and expert interviews. We find a set of policies that resonate with both expert planners and members of the public, implying they have a level of political and social acceptability that other measures may be lacking, notably: mandatory landlord energy efficiency upgrades, increasing the extent of financial assistance to households, cheaper (or even free) bus and train fares and restarting and expanding bus services. We buttress these findings with further suggestions for energy and transport system redesign that better meets emerging principles of energy and social justice. Concerns about energy and transport poverty are critical to the net-zero transition but are growing in the wake of recent global events. This study presents findings from focus groups with the public and expert interviews in the United Kingdom on support for different policy options to address these challenges.

Automated summary

Tens of millions of households in Europe struggle to afford electricity, heating, and transportation, and recent high fuel prices may lead to more winter deaths. This study examines the causes and experiences of energy and transport poverty in the United Kingdom through focus groups and expert interviews. The findings suggest policies such as mandatory landlord energy efficiency upgrades, increased financial assistance to households, cheaper or free bus and train fares, and the expansion of bus services, which are accepted by both experts and the public. The study also proposes redesigning energy and transport systems to align with principles of energy and social justice.