Energy Ladder, Decarbonisation and Energy Poverty: The European Union Inside

In the forthcoming decades, the energy sector will confront significant transitions related to climate change, supply stability, and energy poverty. The initial two aspects have undergone thorough scientific analysis, whilst the third has received comparatively less analysis despite its significant...

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Main Authors: Zbysław Dobrowolski, Peter Adamišin, Waldemar Sługocki, Sławomir Kotylak
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/5/1180
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author Zbysław Dobrowolski
Peter Adamišin
Waldemar Sługocki
Sławomir Kotylak
author_facet Zbysław Dobrowolski
Peter Adamišin
Waldemar Sługocki
Sławomir Kotylak
author_sort Zbysław Dobrowolski
collection DOAJ
description In the forthcoming decades, the energy sector will confront significant transitions related to climate change, supply stability, and energy poverty. The initial two aspects have undergone thorough scientific analysis, whilst the third has received comparatively less analysis despite its significant impact on the lives of millions. Using a systematic literature review, laws and regulations and document analysis, and based on the assumption of an energy ladder, this study provides an overview of energy poverty and its implications. The research focuses on energy poverty in developed countries and answers whether the European Union’s implemented and planned actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions cause energy poverty. Based on the Polish case, the study shows that the EU’s scheduled actions aimed to stabilise climate change, although right in intention, require modification because they do not fully consider the significant economic and energy development diversity of the European Union Member States and may increase energy poverty affecting the European inhabitants. The findings show that due to the implementation of the EU Emission Trading System 2 in 2027, transport costs may increase by almost one-third, which will raise the prices of goods and services and affect energy poverty. This study develops the stream of research on energy poverty, modifies the concept of the energy ladder and shows threats resulting from the ETS2 implementation. The paper proposes the avenues of future research.
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issn 1996-1073
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series Energies
spelling doaj-art-2f5baee58d5c4f359eb15cb1b24de7742025-08-20T02:52:41ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-02-01185118010.3390/en18051180Energy Ladder, Decarbonisation and Energy Poverty: The European Union InsideZbysław Dobrowolski0Peter Adamišin1Waldemar Sługocki2Sławomir Kotylak3Institute of Economics and Finance, University of Zielona Góra, 65-417 Zielona Góra, PolandFaculty of Management and Business, University of Prešov, 080 01 Prešov, SlovakiaInstitute of Economics and Finance, University of Zielona Góra, 65-417 Zielona Góra, PolandInstitute of Economics and Finance, University of Zielona Góra, 65-417 Zielona Góra, PolandIn the forthcoming decades, the energy sector will confront significant transitions related to climate change, supply stability, and energy poverty. The initial two aspects have undergone thorough scientific analysis, whilst the third has received comparatively less analysis despite its significant impact on the lives of millions. Using a systematic literature review, laws and regulations and document analysis, and based on the assumption of an energy ladder, this study provides an overview of energy poverty and its implications. The research focuses on energy poverty in developed countries and answers whether the European Union’s implemented and planned actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions cause energy poverty. Based on the Polish case, the study shows that the EU’s scheduled actions aimed to stabilise climate change, although right in intention, require modification because they do not fully consider the significant economic and energy development diversity of the European Union Member States and may increase energy poverty affecting the European inhabitants. The findings show that due to the implementation of the EU Emission Trading System 2 in 2027, transport costs may increase by almost one-third, which will raise the prices of goods and services and affect energy poverty. This study develops the stream of research on energy poverty, modifies the concept of the energy ladder and shows threats resulting from the ETS2 implementation. The paper proposes the avenues of future research.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/5/1180energy ladderenergy transitiondecarbonisationfuel choicesenergy povertyETS
spellingShingle Zbysław Dobrowolski
Peter Adamišin
Waldemar Sługocki
Sławomir Kotylak
Energy Ladder, Decarbonisation and Energy Poverty: The European Union Inside
Energies
energy ladder
energy transition
decarbonisation
fuel choices
energy poverty
ETS
title Energy Ladder, Decarbonisation and Energy Poverty: The European Union Inside
title_full Energy Ladder, Decarbonisation and Energy Poverty: The European Union Inside
title_fullStr Energy Ladder, Decarbonisation and Energy Poverty: The European Union Inside
title_full_unstemmed Energy Ladder, Decarbonisation and Energy Poverty: The European Union Inside
title_short Energy Ladder, Decarbonisation and Energy Poverty: The European Union Inside
title_sort energy ladder decarbonisation and energy poverty the european union inside
topic energy ladder
energy transition
decarbonisation
fuel choices
energy poverty
ETS
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/5/1180
work_keys_str_mv AT zbysławdobrowolski energyladderdecarbonisationandenergypovertytheeuropeanunioninside
AT peteradamisin energyladderdecarbonisationandenergypovertytheeuropeanunioninside
AT waldemarsługocki energyladderdecarbonisationandenergypovertytheeuropeanunioninside
AT sławomirkotylak energyladderdecarbonisationandenergypovertytheeuropeanunioninside