Climate justice and energy
Our climate justice and energy team is campaigning for an energy system overhaul that will deliver clean, affordable and sustainable energy for all – especially the most vulnerable in our society. Our main goals are an end to energy poverty, a final deadline for the use and extraction of gas, as well as more access and support for renewable energy communities.
Friends of the Earth member groups involved in this work: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, The Netherlands, Malta, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK.
Opening the doors on energy security
The Build Better Lives campaign focused on making sure the newly elected MEPs and Commissioners make deep building renovations their priority during their mandate and to popularise home renovations, particularly for the energy poor, across Europe. We launched an open call to Commissioner Jorgensen urging him to deliver building renovations that are affordable, accessible and sustainable for all citizens, accompanied by a social media campaign.
Even more spectacularly, we launched the exhibition “Powerful Encounters, picturing an end to energy poverty” in the European Parliament in Strasbourg together with our partners from Spain and Bulgaria. The exhibition facilitates a dialogue between people who are faced with energy poverty and the viewer through pictures and audio fragments.
Even more spectacularly, we launched the exhibition “Powerful Encounters, picturing an end to energy poverty” in the European Parliament in Strasbourg together with our partners from Spain and Bulgaria. The exhibition facilitates a dialogue between people who are faced with energy poverty and the viewer through pictures and audio fragments.
It tells a story of creativity and empowerment by letting the people portrayed talk about the solutions they deem necessary to put a stop to energy poverty. Our exhibition was shown in several places in Spain, Belgium, Bulgaria and Portugal, where it even made the evening news.
Friends of the Earth Europe also coordinates the Right to Energy coalition which unites NGOs and trade unions campaigning for equal access to affordable energy for all citizens. In 2024, the coalition expanded with the acquisition of two new members and organised the annual right to energy forum, an annual event for mobilising, strategising and planning an end to energy poverty. For the first time in it’s 5-year history it included two satellite events organised by members of the coalition. 2024 also saw the conclusion of the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive, a priority issue for the coalition, which saw a number of measures addressing energy poverty.
Friends of the Earth Europe also coordinates the Right to Energy coalition which unites NGOs and trade unions campaigning for equal access to affordable energy for all citizens. In 2024, the coalition expanded with the acquisition of two new members and organised the annual right to energy forum, an annual event for mobilising, strategising and planning an end to energy poverty. For the first time in it’s 5-year history it included two satellite events organised by members of the coalition. 2024 also saw the conclusion of the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive, a priority issue for the coalition, which saw a number of measures addressing energy poverty.
Pushing a deadline to gas extraction
In 2024 we continued to campaign for an end to the use of fossil gas in Europe by urging decision-makers to stop relying on costly distractions such as Hydrogen and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), and demanding a clear and tangible deadline for the gas phase-out.
We analysed the election manifestos of the major political parties and rated their ambition to tackle the gas issue. We launched one of the best performing social media campaigns of the year. We continued to directly call out to decision-makers through an action outside of the EU Parliament around the time of the Commissioner hearings, demanding the Commissioner-elect to prioritise tangible action for climate through a gas phase-out date, as well as an opinion piece on the day of Teresa Ribera’s hearing asking whether competition and decarbonisation can ever go hand in hand.
We analysed the election manifestos of the major political parties and rated their ambition to tackle the gas issue. We launched one of the best performing social media campaigns of the year. We continued to directly call out to decision-makers through an action outside of the EU Parliament around the time of the Commissioner hearings, demanding the Commissioner-elect to prioritise tangible action for climate through a gas phase-out date, as well as an opinion piece on the day of Teresa Ribera’s hearing asking whether competition and decarbonisation can ever go hand in hand.
This work was underpinned by several reports that detailed why decision-makers must invest their decarbonisation efforts into a full gas phase out instead of buying into hyped up distractions such as hydrogen and LNG and how they can shape a fossil-free future instead.
Towards a future of creating and sharing energy
Friends of the Earth Europe coordinates the Community Power coalition, comprising 40 like-minded organisations focusing on the subject of renewable energy from a wide variety of angles.
In 2024 we expanded the coalition and collaborated on a briefing to set the agenda for the Citizens’ Energy Package, as well as a comprehensive assessment of the EU’s National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), which are comprehensive strategies for Member States to contribute to the EU’s Climate ambition.
We also launched a successful social media campaign around the Olympics, using the sports event as a fun hook to raise awareness for all the inspiring work that’s being initiated by citizens all across the EU when it comes to community energy, including the fabulous winners!
In 2024 we expanded the coalition and collaborated on a briefing to set the agenda for the Citizens’ Energy Package, as well as a comprehensive assessment of the EU’s National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), which are comprehensive strategies for Member States to contribute to the EU’s Climate ambition.
We also launched a successful social media campaign around the Olympics, using the sports event as a fun hook to raise awareness for all the inspiring work that’s being initiated by citizens all across the EU when it comes to community energy, including the fabulous winners!
