MEBn5040 Energy Poverty

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2024
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Hedvika Koďousková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Hedvika Koďousková, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Tue 20. 2. 10:00–11:40 P24a, Fri 1. 3. 10:00–11:40 M117, Fri 8. 3. 10:00–11:40 M117, Fri 15. 3. 10:00–11:40 M117, Thu 28. 3. 14:00–15:40 U41
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! MEB440 Contemporary Trends I. && !NOW( MEB440 Contemporary Trends I. )
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 10/20, only registered: 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Energy poverty is usually defined as 'the lack of materially and socially necessary levels of household energy services' (Bouzarovski et al., 2015). It has been high on the EU energy agenda over the past decades and has recently gained importance, especially in the context of rising energy prices, financial difficulties of some energy service providers and the energy transition. One of the reasons for this is the shared conviction that the low-carbon energy transition brings many opportunities and numerous risks for energy-poor and energy-vulnerable households. At the same time, the multidimensional and cross-cutting nature of energy poverty and vulnerability makes it difficult for policy-makers to grasp. While the debate is well established in several EU Member States, other countries are still struggling to develop official definitions, policies and measures to address the issue. This course addresses the most recent concerns. It explains the causes, circumstances and consequences of energy poverty using both the main theoretical frameworks (assemblage/vulnerability, energy justice and bottom-up approach) and empirical observations. The course guides students to find solutions to this pressing social problem. This round will be based on combination of classess of internal and external lectures.
  • It is our great pleasure to host a lecture by Michael LaBelle. Michael is an associate professor at Central European University in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy. Professor LaBelle's research is centered on energy governance, energy justice, geopolitics, security, and innovation. His geographic focus is on Central Eastern Europe and the European Union. He is the author of the book, Energy Cultures: Technology, Justice, and Geopolitics in Eastern Europe, published by Edward Elgar. He is also the producer and host of the My Energy 2050 podcast which delivers weekly interviews with leaders in energy transitions research and policy.
  • We are also very honoured to welcome Dr. Roman Matoušek, Advisor to the Minister for Regional Development and expert on energy poverty in the Czech Republic.
    • Learning outcomes
    On the basis of the successful achievement, the students will understand the multi-dimensional nature of energy poverty; as such, the students will understand how energy poverty fits into the overall energy strategies of the EU and examine the current debates at the European and national levels. Finally, students will be able to critically evaluate current policies and measures and propose solutions and remedies. In doing so, they will strengthen their analytical and critical thinking and argumentation skills.
    Syllabus
    • Five classes in five weeks, combining lectures by internal and external lecturers with final presentations by the students: 1) Shining a light on energy poverty: Europe's unequal challenge; 2) Triangulating energy poverty: A comprehensive exploration of roots, realities, and repercussions; 3) External lecturer on pressing issues at EU level; 4) External lecturer on the situation in the Czech Republic; 5) Student presentations based on pair work (comparing the state of energy poverty and critically evaluating existing policies in selected countries).
    Literature
    • JIGLĂU, George, Anca SINEA, Ute DUBOIS a Philipp BIERMANN, ed. Perspectives on energy poverty in post-communist Europe. London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2021. Routledge explorations in energy studies. ISBN 978-0-367-43052-8.
    • BOUZAROVSKI, Stefan. Energy poverty : (dis)assembling Europe's infrastructural divide. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, 2018, xiv, 117. ISBN 9783319887494. URL info
    • Energy poverty : global challenges and local solutions. Edited by Benjamin K. Sovacool - Jon Rozhon - Antoine Halff. First edition. Oxford: Oxford university press, 2014, xv, 459. ISBN 9780199682362. info
    Teaching methods
    Readings broaden and deepen the range of knowledge students receive in lectures and seminars; lectures with internal lecturers aim to provide a general introduction to the topic; lectures with visiting speakers aim to present findings from practice or specific case studies; workshops strengthen students' analytical, critical thinking and presentation skills.
    Assessment methods
    Class attendance plus short answer (paragraph) to each class question; pair work - practical project submitted and presented app. 14 days after the course (session 5).
    Language of instruction
    English
    Further Comments
    Study Materials
    The course is taught annually.
    The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2025.
    • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
    • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2024/MEBn5040