On October 18th in Modena, an assembly of experts and activists gathered to address the growing concern regarding energy poverty and explore new strategies aimed at mitigating its effects. The event, which drew a diverse range of participants, provided a detailed and engaging agenda focused on understanding the nuances of the issue and possible solutions.

In particular, the CoolToRise project was highlighted as a significant example of how raising awareness about summer energy poverty can lead to a significant reduction in energy consumption during the hot months of the year.

The thematic workshop, led by Miriam Eisermann from Energy Cities, highlighted the challenges of energy poverty, with a particular focus on innovative business models presented by Jan de Pauw from Ecopower and Francesca Gaburro from AESS. These presentations provided an in-depth overview of ongoing initiatives and sparked lively discussions in parallel sessions.

Parallel discussions on crucial topics such as housing and health, access to renewable energies, and summer energy poverty revealed the complexity of the issue and provided insights into possible practical solutions. Participants had the opportunity to share their experiences and the specific challenges they faced in their respective communities, laying the groundwork for a deeper understanding of the problem's scope.

The subsequent break provided a valuable moment to reflect on the previous discussions and connect with other participants. However, the true highlight of the event was the Flopcast led by Eduardo Blanco from Energy Cities. This session encouraged open and honest discussion about failures and mistakes made in the fight against energy poverty. The three key topics discussed were correcting engagement and communication errors, reforming energy policy, and implementing actions to alleviate energy poverty, moderated by Marina Varvesi, Maria del Carmen Sanchez-Guevara Sanchez, and Ana Sanz Fernández, key partners of the CoolToRise project.

The conference demonstrated that addressing energy poverty requires global commitment and innovative solutions. Sharing experiences and in-depth discussions highlighted the importance of a holistic approach involving all stakeholders, from local communities to national and international institutions. This conference in Modena provided fertile ground for the development of future ideas aCoolToRise at the 'Grafting Cities' Event: Innovative Solutions to Combat Energy Poverty