1“I live on benefits. What can I do about climate change?” The comment comes from Germany, but it was echoed across the continent during an unprecedented listening exercise commissioned by a philanthropic consortium led by the King Baudouin Foundation. The aim: to sound out Europe’s most disadvantaged citizens on the challenges of weaning our economies off coal, oil and gas to protect the planet and develop recommendations for fairer energy transition policies.

2The remark underscores the challenge facing governments that are committed to raising vast sums to move toward renewable energies while substantial sections of society can already barely afford to heat their homes or maintain mobility, not least since fuel price inflation has rocketed in the wake of the war in Ukraine.

4Hearing directly of their hopes, fears and difficulties has provided the foundation for policy recommendations which aim to ensure that Europe’s drive to cut carbon secures broad social backing.

Demand for fairness

6The survey finds out very few profiles of ‘climate sceptics’ during the focus groups. Most vulnerable people believe that the climate is changing and that something needs to be done.

7The focus groups also revealed some willingness to take a little more economic pain, especially if it fairly benefits all – notably future generations. Many are already cutting energy use – albeit mainly for reasons of personal economy than global ecology.

8Yet, against a background of widening inequalities in Europe, participants from the Netherlands, to Spain, to Bulgaria, voiced a profound mistrust of politicians. Many felt their modest consumerism meant that others – big business or wealthier compatriots – should bear costs, not themselves: “Why should I, when all those big firms are polluting the environment without paying a penny?” said the German welfare claimant quoted above.

9The policy experts must take account of differences across groups and countries: habits of frugality among the old, for example, and enthusiasm for technological fixes among the young; or Poles’ post-communist determination to retain personal choice contrasted with a preference among the Danes for more collective measures.

10To be factored in, too, are obstacles to change such as rented accommodation, that limits incentives to insulate homes or a lack of alternatives in rural areas to private cars and heavy agricultural machinery. Taking aim at urbanites’ new embrace of the bicycle, one Spanish farmer fumed: “You can’t run a tractor on pedal-power.”

Unheard voices