Legislate for a right to energy in Scots Law
Moving to renewable resources should result in cheap and plentiful energy if it is done correctly.
Unfortunately, the past shows us that this is not always the case. In a country rich in energy today there are still people in fuel poverty. You end up with communities cut off from cheap forms of energy and left on more expensive tariffs.
When moving towards a just transition it is important to ensure that the citizens of Scotland are treated as the most important part of this process - moving to renewable energy should be to benefit the world as a whole and to improve the rights of Scots. It is vital that communities are not left behind in this process.
There are currently moves to enshrine a right to water, food, good housing into law as basic human rights.
A right to energy fits into this - providing energy allows food to be cooked. It allows homes to be heated. Legislating to ensure that energy is a right would help prevent people being in energy poverty in the future.
Unfortunately, the past shows us that this is not always the case. In a country rich in energy today there are still people in fuel poverty. You end up with communities cut off from cheap forms of energy and left on more expensive tariffs.
When moving towards a just transition it is important to ensure that the citizens of Scotland are treated as the most important part of this process - moving to renewable energy should be to benefit the world as a whole and to improve the rights of Scots. It is vital that communities are not left behind in this process.
There are currently moves to enshrine a right to water, food, good housing into law as basic human rights.
A right to energy fits into this - providing energy allows food to be cooked. It allows homes to be heated. Legislating to ensure that energy is a right would help prevent people being in energy poverty in the future.
Why the contribution is important
OK I admit, this is not my idea. It's a EU/UN idea.
But if you look at what is happening today - with 25% of all Scots living in fuel poverty and this looking like moving to over 70% next year then there's a problem somewhere. But people are not protected from this as there is no legal statute. Making access to energy a right will force business to accommodate this need.
The only UN definition that includes a right to energy is the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women which says "women should have adequate living conditions, including access to electricity and water"
However the UN Sustainable Development Goal 7 does state "Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all."
It's not a human right but the right to energy underpins most human rights.
But if you look at what is happening today - with 25% of all Scots living in fuel poverty and this looking like moving to over 70% next year then there's a problem somewhere. But people are not protected from this as there is no legal statute. Making access to energy a right will force business to accommodate this need.
The only UN definition that includes a right to energy is the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women which says "women should have adequate living conditions, including access to electricity and water"
However the UN Sustainable Development Goal 7 does state "Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all."
It's not a human right but the right to energy underpins most human rights.
by Tony on August 28, 2022 at 05:43PM
Posted by mcallip September 03, 2022 at 14:37
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by CGCPhys September 05, 2022 at 11:16
The amount each household is entitled to should depend on their income and job status, their job itself (which may be supplied through the company itself by providing an additional energy expense allowance), the number of people in the household, any disabilities present, the number of children, pensioners or those who're chronically ill etc.
This must guarantee that each household is able to do all the essentials like maintaining an internet connection, heating their food, their home and being able to use lights. Whilst making sure that households who choose to use a lot of electricity, such as through additional electronics being used or wasteful practices (like leaving the lights on all day), must pay for those wastage above their essential allowance, without penalising those who *need* more energy usage, such as pensioners during the winter months.
Tl;dr - having a universal framework for gauging minimum no-payment energy allowance for households, with additional equitable allowances - all whilst underpinned by a publicly owned energy company which sets the rate of gas and electric usage above the allowance threshold, is key to tackling fuel poverty without either furthering climate catastrophe or penalising those who need energy access.
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)
Posted by Tony September 10, 2022 at 11:27
I'm old enough to remember the arguments for nuclear energy one of which was the fact that electricity was going to be so cheap that it wouldn't be worth metering.
Free energy for all apart from a standing charge!
There are certain economic arguments that say that having access to really cheap or even free energy improves the economy - I'm not an economist so I'm not going to comment on this but it is something to think about. The essence of the argument is that cheap energy increases consumption and consumption improves GDP. (A bit "Brave New World" for me", but all views need to be considered to ensure fairness.)
Report this Comment (Requires Log In)