Our International Annual Conference on Energy Poverty took place on 19-20 September 2023, at the historic Palace of Culture and Science (Pałac Kultury i Nauki) in the vibrant city of Warsaw, Poland. Organised by the Energy Poverty Advisory Hub (EPAH) and the Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER) of the European Commission in collaboration with the City of Warsaw and with the support of the Committee of the Regions and the Polish Network Energie-Cités (PNEC), this event promises to be a crucial gathering of local governments, policymakers, experts, and stakeholders dedicated to addressing energy poverty and fostering sustainable solutions at the local level.

The event addressed the transition from emergency coping mechanisms to sustainable policies and measures to reduce energy poverty for all including energy-poor and vulnerable consumers and debated recommendations for member states and municipalities as appropriate frameworks to use in tackling energy poverty.

National and local governments in Poland are mobilised to address energy poverty, including by applying for technical assistance to develop local actions through the Energy Poverty Advisory Hub calls. The city of Warsaw has been a frontrunner in the climate and energy transition and has made it one of its priorities to tackle energy poverty. By bringing the 2023 Energy Poverty Advisory Hub international annual conference in Warsaw, we reflect on the transition from temporary emergency strategies to sustainable policies and initiatives.