Disabled people risk being left in the cold in a sustainable energy future, University of Leeds researchers warn

A new study reveals that disabled households in the European Union currently consume 10% less energy than other households, as well as being 5% more likely to experience energy poverty.

University of Leeds researchers warn that disabled people in the EU are already energy disadvantaged and therefore need greater consideration in planning for energy policy aimed at tackling the climate crisis.

The study, published today in Nature Energy, provides a comprehensive analysis of the energy use of disabled households in the European Union — including England — in various energy consumption areas, such as transport, leisure, food and health services. 

Using consumption data from 19 countries in the EU in 2010, Dr Diana Ivanova and Professor Lucie Middlemiss of the Sustainability Research Institute, show that while disabled people use less energy, it is not necessarily through choice and potentially it is at the cost of disabled people not having their needs met for energy and other resources.

Professor Middlemiss said: “Disabled people are largely invisible in environmental policy and practice, and rarely discussed as having particular needs or facing particular challenges. This is a glaring oversight as we try to move towards a more sustainable future.

“Following the Glasgow COP26 climate change conference, we are all thinking more about how our energy consumption should change but that cannot come at the cost of people with different needs.

“It is critical to understand how disabled people are consuming their energy, and if their current needs are being met. This will enable us to reduce energy consumption safely and in a way that allows disabled people to live decent lives.”

Disabled household energy use for basic needs and services, such as food, energy at home, water, and waste, is similar to other households. However, disabled households have lower energy use for leisure services, such as recreation, hotels, restaurants and travel services.

Disabled households also have lower energy consumption for mobility, both in air transport and motor fuel, and lower energy spend on education than other households – suggesting lower opportunities to access education.

It is notable that disabled households tend to under-consume transport and leisure activities even when compared to households with similar incomes.

Disabled households’ limited consumption of leisure services highlights an important inequality, suggesting that disabled people have fewer opportunities to engage in fun and relaxing activities that require energy consumption.

The similar consumption of energy for basic needs between disabled and non-disabled households of the same income is also a concern. Often, disabled people have a greater need for energy in the home: for life-supporting machinery or to keep warmer, or wash more frequently than others.

In the light of these greater needs, the similar consumption levels to other households suggest that energy in the home might be being under-consumed by disabled households.

To date, there is very limited research on the needs and experiences of disabled people in the environmental literature. This is despite the fact that disabled people are regularly supported by governments in developed nations (including EU nations) and seen as important targets of social policy.

Professor Middlemiss said: “Disabled people may also be more vulnerable to climate change consequences such as extreme temperatures or emergency relief being inaccessible.

“When we consider that of the 446 million people living in the European Union, around 100 million are believed to be disabled, disability is a topic that merits more attention from environmental scholars and policymakers.

“These findings also support our earlier call to include the energy poor, in all their diversity, in energy transition planning.”

The paper Characterising the energy use of disabled people in the European Union towards inclusion in the energy transition is published in Nature Energy 13 December 2021 (DOI: 10.1038/s41560-021-00932-4)

Enter Shikari rise from strength to strength in masterful Leeds show

Setting the bar, sustaining it, and regularly raising the roof – Enter Shikari’s longevity speaks volumes for why they should be seen as the model target for the rock and metal scene. With a ferocious undercard of Dinosaur Pile-Up and Nova Twins, they finally brought their expansive Nothing Is True And Everything Is Possible tour to O2 Academy Leeds.

After seeing them in festival tents, record stores and academies during the era of The Spark, I was intrigued to see how Shikari would level up their live show, a challenge that drummer Rob Rolfe told me is always in the back of their minds when I interviewed him back in May (check out the interview here). Keeping the feel of the room ‘as small as possible’ is a task that Shikari always seem to complete with flying colours, even in the context of Leeds’ second largest venue.

Opening with their kicking anthem ‘THE GREAT UNKNOWN’ and a full dose of confetti, they had the whole venue bouncing as frontman Rou Reynolds effortlessly sauntered around the stage, donning purple sunglasses that perfectly accompanied the band’s effervescent lighting rig.

Shikari’s setlist ramped up another level in the second half, with their seamless transitions from ‘Gandhi Mate, Gandhi’ into ‘Mothership’ and then ‘Solidarity’ exhibiting how refined and inch-perfect their live show has become, equilibrated by the raw passion and energy from the band and the crowd. Fan favourite ‘Juggernauts’ made an unusually early appearance in the setlist, alongside the timeless ‘Arguing With Thermometers’ – with Reynolds giving a particular nod to the prevalent climate crisis, a theme that runs throughout the band’s discourse.

As for the new material, Shikari saved singles ‘{ The Dreamer’s Hotel }’ and ‘T.I.N.A.’ until the encore, with the latter manifesting itself into a gargantuan live sound that the studio version teased. The band remained impeccable, whether that be Rolfe’s eclectic time changes in ‘Sorry, You’re Not A Winner’ or guitarist Rory Clewlow’s seamless transitions from monstrous breakdowns into soaring lead melodies. 

Enter Shikari will always prove time and time again why they are top of the tree when it comes to live shows, and they will make their rightful return to the main stage at Leeds Festival 2022, supporting the equally magnificent Bring Me The Horizon on a sold out day. Weekend tickets are on sale here.

Gang of Youths deliver a live show full of energy, supporting Sam Fender

Bursting onto the stage full of energy, Gang of Youths were filled with charisma and passion as they supported Sam Fender at the First Direct Arena. Highlighted by the colourful and exuberant flair of the frontman David Le’aupepe, Gang of Youths rocked the audience with a mix of their old tunes and some fresher songs from their new album (to be released in February 2022). Joining Fender on his penultimate sold-out show, Gang of Youths are lining up well for their headline tour in 2022.

The 5-piece indie rock band started their atmospheric set with The Man Himself, the first single coming from their new album. A song that focusses on themes of grief and growth. Through their use of instrumentation, the group created a hugely textural and atmospheric sound that left the crowd mesmerised and wanting more. Although the live performance of this track is a little more stripped back then the recorded version, it did not fail to touch the heart strings of everybody watching.

Continuing the set with songs such as The Angel of 8th Ave. and The Heart Is a Muscle, Gang of Youths filled the hall with flavoursome soundscapes and subtle hints of indigenous influences. Although the layered soundscapes can become a bit similar after a while, Gang of Youths fight this well with the use of intricate lyrical strands and a passionate delivery from all participants.

With Le’aupepe taking centre stage with his exuberant style, it would have been quite easy for the rest of the group to fade into the background. However, it can’t be denied that they all brought their own individuality and excitement to the set. The rest of Gang of Youths, made up of Jung Kim, Max Dunn, Donnie Borzestowski and Tom Hobden, put their hearts and souls into the performance. All adding to the amazing atmosphere of the lively show.

Along with their intense and energy-ridden songs came the intimacy of songs such as Tend the Garden and Magnolia. Keeping with their musical identity, these songs are filled with sensitivity and pain whilst still creating a more positive sonic scape. In these quitter points of the set, Le’aupepe’s vocal qualities were evermore present. Even though it was clear that the energy of the other tunes had left him breathless, he was still able to use intricate and timid vocal tones to put across the delicacy of the songs. With a sound close to the of Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty, Le’aupepe made sure the audience felt every emotion he was putting across. Gang of Youths finished their set with the song What Can I Do If the Fire Goes Out and were met with a great audience reaction.

After the headline set of Sam Fender, who smashed the set as always, Le’aupepe was asked to come back on stage to sing with Fender on his cover of I’m On Fire by Bruce Springsteen. The addition of this encore worked well and fit both artist’s styles. It was nice to see both artists working together as an end to the show.

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