From purchasing power to the power to live with dignity

In Belgium, Green parties in government are addressing a social crisis driven by soaring electricity and gas prices through a three-pronged approach: emergency support for vulnerable households and companies, structural income protections, and investments in the energy transition. Key measures include a 'social rate' price cap for the lowest 20% of the population, a ban on energy disconnections, and the use of windfall taxes on energy companies to fund offshore wind developments and building renovations. The strategy aims to reduce dependence on Russian gas and achieve carbon neutrality while ensuring social justice and the 'power to live with dignity'.

• Belgium faced significant fuel poverty in 2020, with 21.5 per cent of the population unable to access essential energy at an acceptable cost relative to their income.
• The Belgian government has implemented an emergency 'social rate' that provides price caps on electricity and gas for the most vulnerable 20 per cent of the population, specifically those eligible for social support or with a gross annual income below 23,680.87 euros.
• To support the 'squeezed middle' and businesses, the government has introduced bonuses, a ban on gas and electricity disconnections, the discontinuation of rent indexation for poorly insulated homes, and options for companies to furlough staff or delay social security payments.
• The Green parties intend to fund the energy transition—specifically offshore wind developments and building renovations to decrease reliance on Russian gas—via windfall taxes on major energy companies.

APA

Blesin, L. (2022). From purchasing power to the power to live with dignity. Green European Journal. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/from-purchasing-power-to-the-power-to-live-with-dignity/

Chicago

Blesin, Laurence. From purchasing power to the power to live with dignity. Green European Journal, 2022. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/from-purchasing-power-to-the-power-to-live-with-dignity/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Blesin |first1=Laurence |title=From purchasing power to the power to live with dignity |publisher=Green European Journal |date=30 November 2022 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/from-purchasing-power-to-the-power-to-live-with-dignity/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{blesin2022from, author = {Blesin, Laurence}, title = {{From purchasing power to the power to live with dignity}}, institution = {Green European Journal}, year = {2022}, month = nov, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/from-purchasing-power-to-the-power-to-live-with-dignity/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }