Energy poverty as a restriction of multiple capabilities: A systemic approach for Belgium

Energy poverty is a multidimensional issue and the capability approach is fruitful to show how energy-poor households are restricted in many aspects of well-being. With reference to Nussbaum’s Central Capabilities, and based on qualitative interviews, this contribution aims to illustrate how energy-poor people are limited in five capabilities in their daily life and how these restricted capabilities sometimes reinforce each other in vicious circles. The capabilities analysed are related to material property (“Control over one’s material environment”), recreational activities (“Play”), culture (“Senses, imagination and thoughts”), expression and management of emotions (“Emotions”), and to health and adequate nutrition (“Bodily Health”). These five capabilities are chosen for this contribution and analysed in this order because a recent quantitative study for Belgium has shown that the differences in their deployment are the highest between energy-poor households and energy-rich ones. Data for the present contribution are drawn from 60 in-depth interviews with persons in energy poverty that were carried out in 2014-17 in the three Regions of Belgium.