Towards a just energy transition?: energy consumption and residential segregation in the metropolitan area of Barcelona

Abstract

The article explores the relationship between social inequalities and the energy transition in the Barcelona metropolitan area. Thus, it analyzes to what extent the necessary process of improving energy efficiency and decarbonization can be associated not with a reduction but with an increase in inequalities. On the one hand, it is confirmed that the population with the lowest incomes resides in inefficient real estate parks and has a lower propensity than the average to take measures to improve the said situation. On the other hand, the more affluent areas have a greater propensity to implement self-generated electricity systems, as well as a greater presence of electric vehicles. The territorial concentration processes of both situations can come to consolidate social inequality and spatial seg-regation, which makes it necessary to adopt corrective policies.