The EU 1.5° Lifestyles project was recently in the spotlight at two high-level events in Brussels, where Professor Doris Fuchs, Scientific Director at the Research Institute for Sustainability - Helmholtz Centre Potsdam (RIFS), shared her expertise on sustainable lifestyles and social justice in energy transitions.
IEA and CEM workshop
On 13 and 14 March, 2025, Professor Fuchs participated in the IEA Workshop on Widening Participation in Clean Energy. This event, co-organised by the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) Campaign on Sustainable Lifestyles, Fairness and Access to Clean Energy Technologies, brought together experts and policy makers from around the world to discuss strategies for a fair and inclusive energy transition.
Prof Fuchs contributed to panel session 2: Addressing Barriers to Participation, where she highlighted the structural challenges and equity considerations in access to clean energy. Her contribution helped to frame the discussion around the socio-economic, cultural and institutional barriers that prevent low-income and marginalised communities from fully participating in sustainable energy initiatives.
The workshop underlined the importance of fairness and inclusivity in climate and energy policymaking - principles that are at the heart of the EU's 1.5° Lifestyles project.
Shaping the future at the CEM Co-Leads Meeting
Following her participation in the IEA workshop, Doris was invited by the European Commission to present the latest findings of the project at the CEM Co-Leads Meeting on 19 March. This meeting brought together technical experts and country leaders from across the CEM campaign to inform the development of a forthcoming policy pledge, which will include actionable recommendations and indicators for signatories.
In her presentation, Prof Fuchs presented key findings from the 1.5° Lifestyles project, providing insights into behaviour-based policy solutions and the importance of systemic change. Her contribution provided valuable feedback for the integration of lifestyle-related policies in the next phase of the campaign - defending the urgent ambition to promote sustainable, inclusive and just transitions in line with the Paris Agreement in the EU.
Halliki Kreinin, RIFS