Rethinking Energy–Transport Poverty: An Indicator for Vulnerable Rural EU Regions

Samuele Livraghi (), Marco Peretto, Dimitris Papantonis and Mara Florina Oprea
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Samuele Livraghi: Institute of European Energy and Climate Policy (IEECP), 1043 GR Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Marco Peretto: Institute of European Energy and Climate Policy (IEECP), 1043 GR Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Dimitris Papantonis: Institute of European Energy and Climate Policy (IEECP), 1043 GR Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Mara Florina Oprea: Institute of European Energy and Climate Policy (IEECP), 1043 GR Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 6, 1-24

Abstract: This paper introduces the Composite Energy and Transport Poverty Indicator (CETPI), a tool designed to address rural vulnerabilities in the EU, with a focus on Croatia, Italy, and the Netherlands. By assuming a social practice theory perspective, this article explores the intersection of energy and transport poverty, emphasizing the need for a far more holistic approach to capture the complexity of these phenomena. Using data on household energy consumption, transport expenditure, and socioeconomic variables, the study developed a replicable indicator, pointing at areas where disparities in energy and transport access might be elusive and therefore unaddressed. As such, the findings reveal that rural areas experience unique challenges, including generally higher costs and limited access to affordable services, contributing to deeper levels of social exclusion. The CETPI provides policymakers with a framework to better understand these intertwined issues to inform targeted interventions that can alleviate both energy and transport poverty. The paper concludes by advocating for policy solutions that can improve equitable access to essential services for vulnerable rural populations.

Keywords: energy poverty; transport poverty; rural development; social exclusion; policy intervention; social practice theory; vulnerabilities; European Union (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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