Marilyn Smith, WISE Project Coordinator, writes about the latest actions undertaken by WISE, including a ‘Translate-a-thon’ to get volunteers to help us get more content (e.g. energy saving tips, a policy brief on access to energy as a basic human right) into more languages. Here’s your chance to help out.
WISE targets energy poverty among the most vulnerable
Available data (while sparse) suggest that, across the EU, households in which women alone manage resources – including energy – the risk of being in energy poverty is 3 to 4 times higher than among the general population. Often, this reflects ways that current economic and social systems fail to acknowledge or take account of their unique needs.
Women in Solidarity for Energy (WISE) aims to launch an EU-wide movement to better understand and meet the energy needs of the most vulnerable citizens.
Targeting extreme rates of energy vulnerability
Against an EU average of 8-10% of households being in energy vulnerability, among single women, the rates soar. Estimates suggest that 31% of all single women cannot afford to keep their homes adequately comfortable or fall behind on paying energy bills. Narrow the focus to single mothers and the share jumps to 44%.[1]
When using the term ‘single women’, WISE recognises that it is less than ideal to capture ‘who’ these women are. They might be any one of the following.
- university students or young workers living away from home for the first time, and just learning about energy bills, renter’s rights and absentee landlords.
- single mothers who need to juggle the intense pressures of earning a living with caring for children.
- elderly women who may still be living in a family home that exceeds their current needs, with little knowledge of how to manage or maintain its energy systems.
- marginalised women in communities that have long been denied access to a range of basic services that underpin health and well-being.
- migrant women who are just discovering the reality of living in a cold climate and learning to operate unfamiliar appliances and equipment.
WISE welcomes input as to other sub-groups that should be included in the preceding list and in its upcoming actions.
Taking action to empower single women
Across 10 strategically planned events, WISE Partners aim to engage an ever-growing network of actors in the achievement of four overarching goals.
- Raise awareness of the situation of single women among the general public and decision-makers.
- Educate single women about energy in general and, more specifically, their energy rights.
- Co-develop solutions by engaging affected women and a wider range of relevant actors.
- Enable other groups to join the movement by making resources available in multiple languages.
In its first four months, WISE drew more than 250 people from ~20 EU countries to its first two activities: a) creating WISE National Collectives to lead local action; and b) organising a Pan-European Conference.
WISE anticipates a rapid multiplier effect as it advances collective action to make more resources available in diverse languages and then to raise awareness and deliver services to target women.
Current action: Translate-a-thon
WISE early actions quickly identified language as a substantial barrier to helping lift women out of energy poverty. As its first ‘solidarity’ action, WISE is recruiting volunteers to help translate diverse types of content into EU and migrant languages. This includes energy saving tips, policy briefs, video subtitles and more.
To join the volunteer team, please complete this form. WISE Translate-a-thon
Join WISE on Wed, 5 March 2025 (15:00-17:15) for an online event ‘Translating Women’s Right to Energy across the EU’, in which the topic will be explored in plenary and across 25 break-out sessions in multiple languages. Click through for the DRAFT AGENDA or to REGISTER. To stay up to date, hop over to LinkedIn to follow WISE.
‘Solidarity’ as a central theme
In line with definitions proposed by others, WISE considers energy solidarity to encompass:
Collective action by diverse individuals and/or entities to overcome energy-related adversity as experience by one or more parties. Such actions should seek to enhance social justice while also building empathy for those whose lives are already constrained by systemic injustices. It implies a sustained commitment that may involve contributing resources and/or equitably distributing costs while pursuing a shared goal.
The Project adopts energy solidarity as a core principle based on the value it can bring across three areas:
- Creating community: Many single women in energy vulnerability are also negatively affected by social isolation. Engaging locals in solidarity actions can reduce the stress of needing to be completely self-sufficient and boost their mental well-being.
- Delivering ‘quick wins’: Tackling the root causes of energy vulnerability is complex and takes time. Small actions can reduce some impacts while also building trust between women and the actors who hold responsibility for large-scale measures.
- Fostering co-creation of relevant solutions: Too often, policy makers and other actors implement actions that do not reflect what women most need. Solidarity aims to empower women in decision-making processes.
To find out how to join the WISE movement – as an individual, an organisation or a funder or in-kind contributor – contact: marilyn.smith@en-act.org
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 