Integrating energy justice and economic realities through insights on energy expenditures, inequality, and renewable energy attitudes

Abstract Energy justice is a cornerstone of the European Union’s pursuit of climate neutrality by 2050, addressing both environmental and societal challenges. This research employs a representative survey to analyze household expenditures on electricity, natural gas, and heating, evaluating the exte...

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Main Authors: Lina Volodzkiene, Dalia Streimikiene
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12410-y
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author Lina Volodzkiene
Dalia Streimikiene
author_facet Lina Volodzkiene
Dalia Streimikiene
author_sort Lina Volodzkiene
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Energy justice is a cornerstone of the European Union’s pursuit of climate neutrality by 2050, addressing both environmental and societal challenges. This research employs a representative survey to analyze household expenditures on electricity, natural gas, and heating, evaluating the extent of energy inequality and its implications for affordability and access across income groups. The study also explores public attitudes toward renewable energy, focusing on perceived benefits, barriers, and willingness to adopt these technologies. Although the findings center on Lithuania, they offer valuable insights for other valuable insights other EU countries by highlighting shared challenges and opportunities in addressing energy inequality and promoting renewable energy adoption. The results reveal a generally equitable distribution of energy costs but underscore significant economic constraints, as evidenced by widespread reluctance to pay premiums for renewable energy. The research underscores the importance of targeted policies to enhance the affordability of renewable energy, address systemic inequalities, and foster a fair and inclusive transition to a climate-neutral future. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of energy inequality and its intersection with climate objectives across diverse European contexts.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
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series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-5266a5068dba4eb09cf25aae1916dfbb2025-08-20T03:46:01ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111710.1038/s41598-025-12410-yIntegrating energy justice and economic realities through insights on energy expenditures, inequality, and renewable energy attitudesLina Volodzkiene0Dalia Streimikiene1Lithuanian Energy InstituteLithuanian Energy InstituteAbstract Energy justice is a cornerstone of the European Union’s pursuit of climate neutrality by 2050, addressing both environmental and societal challenges. This research employs a representative survey to analyze household expenditures on electricity, natural gas, and heating, evaluating the extent of energy inequality and its implications for affordability and access across income groups. The study also explores public attitudes toward renewable energy, focusing on perceived benefits, barriers, and willingness to adopt these technologies. Although the findings center on Lithuania, they offer valuable insights for other valuable insights other EU countries by highlighting shared challenges and opportunities in addressing energy inequality and promoting renewable energy adoption. The results reveal a generally equitable distribution of energy costs but underscore significant economic constraints, as evidenced by widespread reluctance to pay premiums for renewable energy. The research underscores the importance of targeted policies to enhance the affordability of renewable energy, address systemic inequalities, and foster a fair and inclusive transition to a climate-neutral future. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of energy inequality and its intersection with climate objectives across diverse European contexts.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12410-yEnergy justiceEnergy inequalityClimate-neutral society
spellingShingle Lina Volodzkiene
Dalia Streimikiene
Integrating energy justice and economic realities through insights on energy expenditures, inequality, and renewable energy attitudes
Scientific Reports
Energy justice
Energy inequality
Climate-neutral society
title Integrating energy justice and economic realities through insights on energy expenditures, inequality, and renewable energy attitudes
title_full Integrating energy justice and economic realities through insights on energy expenditures, inequality, and renewable energy attitudes
title_fullStr Integrating energy justice and economic realities through insights on energy expenditures, inequality, and renewable energy attitudes
title_full_unstemmed Integrating energy justice and economic realities through insights on energy expenditures, inequality, and renewable energy attitudes
title_short Integrating energy justice and economic realities through insights on energy expenditures, inequality, and renewable energy attitudes
title_sort integrating energy justice and economic realities through insights on energy expenditures inequality and renewable energy attitudes
topic Energy justice
Energy inequality
Climate-neutral society
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12410-y
work_keys_str_mv AT linavolodzkiene integratingenergyjusticeandeconomicrealitiesthroughinsightsonenergyexpendituresinequalityandrenewableenergyattitudes
AT daliastreimikiene integratingenergyjusticeandeconomicrealitiesthroughinsightsonenergyexpendituresinequalityandrenewableenergyattitudes