Annual meeting of the C40 Program discusses energy poverty in Lisbon

In the closing panel dedicated to "energy poverty and fair energy transition at local level", Carlos Moedas recalled that Portugal is "the country in Europe where this level of poverty is the highest. And we're talking about energy poverty that is structural, in a way," said the Mayor of Lisbon (CML). "Historically, energy poverty is related to buildings, to construction, among other things, but mainly to construction," he added.

According to data from the National Statistics Institute, energy poverty affects more than 400,000 people in Portugal, with structural problems; lack of infrastructure; lack of health and lack of comfort.

To tackle "one of the biggest housing problems in Europe", CML has signed "a 560 million euro agreement with the European Union". This is "an enormous responsibility", in a city where "more than 10% of the people in Lisbon live in municipal housing".

Now, he stressed, "everything is done in accordance with all the energy efficiency standards. So people can have housing, they're vulnerable people, but they don't have to be afraid or think that their building isn't efficient."

Since 2019, Lisbon has been part of the C40 network, with almost 100 mayors from the world's main cities, united "to tackle the climate crisis".