Energy poverty is extremely widespread in Greece, affecting up to 58% of households[1]. This becomes even more pronounced in vulnerable social groups, like refugees and migrants. From heating and cooling to daily access to the internet, access to electricity is essential in modern societies. Specifically for refugees and migrants who are already facing multiple barriers (bureaucratic, cultural, economic etc.), energy poverty can be one more important obstacle to integration. In Electra Energy Cooperative we share the common belief that clean energy should be a common good accessible to all. This is why through our work we encourage the active participation of citizens of all backgrounds in energy production.
Athens Niroo Community aims to form a sustainable energy community through educational workshops and pilot activities for the utilization of renewable energy sources. We will engage with citizens of Athens and refugees to collaboratively map how they envision this democratic participation, tailored to their needs. We will strive to collaborate with local authorities, like the Municipality of Athens, as well as various grassroots and civil society groups across four neighborhoods (Metaxourgio, Kolonos, Academy of Plato and Keramikos).
[1] Papada, L. and Kaliampakos, D. (2016) ‘Measuring energy poverty in Greece’, Energy Policy. Elsevier, 94, pp. 157–165. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2016.04.004.