Across the world, individuals, organisations and governments are working to consume and procure more environmentally-friendly goods. But, do we need to consume all of those goods at all?

The concept of energy sufficiency (sometimes known as ‘energy sobriety’) encourages reducing or altogether avoiding energy consumption. For example, energy sufficiency would encourage us not only to switch to consuming more energy efficient goods and services (e.g. energy efficient vehicles), but to rethink whether need even need those goods or services in the first place. It encourages all people to consume only what is needed.

Through the SONNET project, in which ICLEI is a partner, the City of Grenoble (France) is using the format of a City Lab to take decisive, closely monitored, and specific action to create environments in which behavioural shifts towards energy sufficiency are attractive and attainable. It is, in many ways, not surprising that this work is being conducted in the context of a City Lab; in fact, most work on energy sufficiency is highly localised and experimental.

What is stopping this concept from being taken up by policy makers? Why isn’t an energy sufficiency approach driving environmental policies? How can it be scaled-up, and what is currently missing to make that happen?

A SONNET webinar on 12 May from 14:30–16:00 CEST (register here!), which will explore these key questions by engaging speakers at three levels: the City Lab, municipal, and national levels.

The event will close with a moderated discussion. Questions and inputs from the moderator and the audience will explore how energy sufficiency may be applicable in other European contexts.

Click here to register!