Irish Green MEP Ciarán Cuffe has today launched the Energy Poverty Handbook, a collection of best practices against energy poverty gathered from across Europe. The handbook is the latest publication by the Greens/EFA political group, commissioned by MEPs Ciarán Cuffe, Kim van Sparrentak, and Ernest Urtasun. Supported by the Right to Energy Coalition, the handbook sets forth a range of practical solutions to tackle energy poverty in 22 articles contributed by a diverse set of organisations working on this issue. At the launch event, MEP Cuffe called for specific criteria to tackle energy poverty and a greater focus on energy efficiency measures in EU energy talks. Speaking from the launch event, MEP Cuffe said:“Millions of households across Europe already know the pain and stress of living in energy poverty - they will be ones most affected by the energy crisis this winter, and this number will increase. That’s why specific and targeted measures to support these vulnerable groups should be implemented without delay. Today, MEPs heard some examples of these measures from organisations working to alleviate energy poverty across Europe. We are indebted to them for their contributions to the Energy Poverty handbook, which provides a useful guide for policymakers participating in talks to tackle this crisis. “This is not simply an energy price crisis - it is the confluence of several crises including war in Ukraine; our continued reliance on expensive fossil fuels; and the general and staggering inefficiency of Europe’s housing stock. Energy efficiency measures are available now to improve our security and help alleviate energy poverty now and into the future, and they should demand greater attention in the ongoing EU energy discussions.”The Energy Poverty Handbook provides an updated overview of the causes of energy poverty in Europe and compiles best practices to combat the issue. It offers a range of analysis, policy assessment, recommendations, initiatives, and case studies. The latest version of the handbook, as well as the first edition published in 2016, are available to download here and here.