Winter is here, and many households across Europe are worried about rising energy bills, especially with temperatures plummeting below zero for months in some countries. How can we stay warm without overspending, and ensure the energy transition is fair for everyone?

On 29 January 2026, WECF ran a one-hour interactive webinar, Keeping Warm Fairly – How to Cope Without High Energy Bills, part of the ICJF series on gender justice and energy inequality.

Clara Presman moderated the session, linking the European Green Deal and ecofeminism to energy poverty and gender. The webinar featured two inspiring speakers. Marcus Banai, a Green Consultant and Energy Coach at The Hague’s Energy Coach Network & Energy Equal Laak explained how energy inequality affects everyday life, especially for people in poorly insulated homes. He described how 19 local initiatives, mostly run by volunteers, visit residents to discuss energy use, comfort, and bills. Marcus shared an example from the Laak neighbourhood, one of The Hague’s poorest areas, where his team combines coaching with practical support, such as providing curtains to keep homes warm. He suggested using “energy inequality” rather than “energy poverty,” as it is less stigmatising and covers a broader group of people struggling with energy costs.

Between speakers, participants shared practical tips via a Menti meter: electric heating, ventilating rooms, wearing warmer clothes, insulating windows, closing curtains, and opening windows at night.

Johannes Baumann, Project Manager at WECF Germany for the Gender4Power project, focused on Munich’s Neuperlach district, where older post-war housing needs renovation. He explained how the project builds trust through Energie Cafés—community spaces where residents can discuss energy-saving measures and funding options.

Participants then joined breakout rooms to discuss local initiatives tackling energy poverty, the main challenges these projects face, and what a gender-just energy transition could look like in their communities.

Reflections from the discussion highlighted key themes: shifting from “energy poverty” to “energy inequality” to show structural factors like housing, gender, migration, and climate exposure; differences between urban and rural energy challenges; and the value of community spaces like local hubs to reduce costs and build trust.

The discussion also included a lively international perspective. A participant joining from Ghana said she was surprised to hear so much talk about poverty in Europe, as she felt there was hardly any. This prompted a strong response from a Polish participant, who pointed out that right now, there are people freezing to death in parts of Central and Eastern Europe during one of the harshest winters in years. The exchange highlighted how energy challenges are felt differently depending on context, while also underlining the urgent reality for those struggling to keep warm today.

The next interactive lunch webinar, Beauty, Care & Chemicals: Why a Toxic-Free Everyday Life Matters, will take place on 26 March 2026 at 13:00 CET. You can register here