Contributions to Finance and Accounting, Springer Nature, ss.281-301, 2026
As the concept of energy poverty has gained increasing scholarly attention in recent years, particularly in connection with climate change debates, access to electricity, clean cooking facilities, and essential energy services is now widely recognized as a fundamental prerequisite for sustainable development and social justice, highlighting the need for an energy-justice-oriented development model that balances social, environmental, and economic objectives. Regional manifestations of energy poverty differ markedly, emerging from infrastructural deficits and biomass dependence in developing countries, while in developed economies it is primarily driven by high energy costs and inefficient housing. Measurement approaches range from simple expenditure-based metrics, such as the 10 percent rule, to multidimensional indices including the MEPI and CEPI, which incorporate health, housing quality, and social vulnerability. Effective mitigation requires a phased policy strategy encompassing short-term financial support, medium-term energy-efficiency investments, and long-term structural reforms.