The ongoing energy crisis in Europe is certain to have the most harmful effects this winter on the poorest nations on the continent.
Zerohedge published a map detailing a study by Statista showing that even last winter, around 7% of the people living in European Union nations were unable to properly heat their homes. That was before the Russian invasion of Ukraine that led to harsh sanctions from Western countries and following the termination of Russian natural gas exports to Germany and EU member nations.
Mapping Energy Poverty In Europe https://t.co/XQUTUh9POS
— zerohedge (@zerohedge) November 4, 2022
In 2021, Bulgaria was the European country most harmed by fuel poverty. Around 23.7% of its residents were unable to sufficiently heat their homes last winter. The next highest levels were seen in Lithuania at 22.5% and Cyprus at 19.4%.
The EU states least affected by insufficient heating last winter were Switzerland at 0.2% of residents and Norway at 0.8%. Southern European nations were disproportionately affected by insufficient heating last winter.
This year’s winter is set to have a devastating impact on all of Europe. While traditionally poorer nations are expected to suffer greatly, even wealthier northern European countries are set to experience energy poverty during the coming cold weather.
Forecasters now predict that as many as one out of three households in the U.K. could fall into fuel poverty this winter.
The British End Fuel Poverty Coalition described the situation as “frankly terrifying” and has called on the government to look into new energy market reforms along with economic support for poor citizens.
The group is also asking for greater investment in home insulation and renewable energy sources. Those sorts of initiatives will have no impact on the winter weather right around the corner, however.
Protestors have assembled in London demanding that Parliament create an immediate “universal basic energy allowance” to make direct payments for basic heating, cooking, and lighting. More than 600,000 are expected to have signed an “Energy For All” petition planned to be delivered to the prime minister next week.
A Fuel Poverty Action spokesperson said that it is now “all the more essential – and more possible – to win a totally new pricing framework like Energy For All.”
It is unknown how European countries will pay for massive energy subsidies if they are approved or what will happen to some citizens if they are not.
