Photo exhibition ‘Powerful Encounters: Picturing an end to energy poverty’

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) presents the photo exhibition ‘Powerful Encounters: Picturing an end to energy poverty’ on the initiative of its Civil Society Organisations’ Group and in cooperation with Friends of the Earth Europe. The work of photographer Miriam Strong will be exhibited from 4 to 16 December 2024 at the EESC’s premises in Brussels.

With around 50 million people currently living in energy poverty in Europe, Powerful Encounters explores how people are facing energy poverty and how they are fighting for the right to decent, climate-resilient homes powered by affordable, clean energy. The exhibition tells inspiring stories of activism, collectivism and empowerment through a set of powerful photographs of people from five countries – Belgium, Bulgaria, Poland, Portugal and Spain – which are accompanied by audio recordings.

The exhibition complements and supports the Group’s and the EESC’s work on eradicating poverty, promoting affordable energy, fostering systemic change and meeting the Sustainable Development Goals. The exhibition provides insights into people’s needs and demands in terms of housing and energy supply. In times of increasing energy and housing prices and poverty levels across the EU, it is a creative way to raise awareness about these issues. This is particularly important as the new European Commission, with a portfolio for housing and energy, and the new European Parliament start their 2024-2029 term of office. The first-ever EU Anti-Poverty Strategy and the Clean Industrial Deal, announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in her political guidelines for the new European Commission, must provide sustainable solutions to the realities on the ground.

Exhibition concept, coordination and organisation: Friends of the Earth

Photography and audio: Miriam Strong

The Civil Society Organisations’ Group thanks: all the individuals and national civil society organisations who contributed to this exhibition, and Friends of the Earth Europe for conceptualising and coordinating its production and agreeing to present it at the EESC.

For more information on the photo exhibition, click here.

For more information on the photographer: https://www.miriamstrong.com/. 

The EESC’s support for this exhibition does not constitute an endorsement of its contents, which reflects only the views of its creators. The EESC cannot be held responsible for any use, which may be made of the information contained therein.