Fair Energy Transition for All

In light of the increasingly rapid energy transition, necessary for the EU to meet the Paris climate targets, the Fair Energy Transition for All (FETA) project aims to understand the social aspects of the energy transition. Ensuring a carbon-free energy supply in European countries is proving to bear considerable potential for economic and social conflict. The energy transition requires policy measures that impact housing, energy, transport, and other aspects of our everyday lives. Socially and economically disadvantaged groups are the most affected by the distributional impacts of climate policies – such as rising fuel taxes or the closing of coal mines. This can cause societal pushback, thus putting efforts to tackle the global threat of climate warming at risk.

In this context, the FETA project aime to provide these vulnerable groups with an opportunity to have their voices heard. FETA will gather people’s experiences through focus groups in nine EU countries and on this basis adapted solutions to best combine action for the energy transition and social justice. The two specific objectives of FETA were:

1. To better understand the views, fears, and emotions of vulnerable people on the energy transition and on its current and potential impact on their living conditions.
2. To provide input for national and European policy makers, researchers, and stakeholders in the development of fair energy transition policies.

FETA was funded by a consortium of seven European foundations lead by the King Baudouin Foundation. A consortium of European organisations implemented the project. adelphi’s role in the projects was as a national policy partner. In this role, adelphi coordinated a team of national experts, who will act as an advisory board for the project outcomes. In addition, adelphi lead the drafting of policy recommendations for the German national context, based on the findings of the focus groups.