Not Fit for 55: The Hdi Spatial Injustice of Residential Energy Consumption in the European Union

An analysis of 27 European Union (EU) member states over the years 2000-2018 examines the relationship between human well-being and residential energy use per capita. The EU’s ‘Fit for 55’ policy package, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, may derail post-communist member states' convergence (PCMS) to the same level of well-being of households in old member states (OMS). The aim of this article is to assess both the direct and indirect relationship between residential energy use per capita and human well-being, measured by the Human Development Index (HDI). The findings indicate that there is a direct connection between them. Therefore, reducing or leveling off residential energy consumption in PCMS will prevent convergence of HDI within the EU. The findings indicate, the lack of potential HDI convergence, because of the ‘Fit for 55’ policy package assumption of a decline of residential energy consumption in all Member States could prevent policy implementation in PCMS and lead to anti-EU sentiment.