Abstract

By observing the interdependencies that run between the environmental and the welfare crises, the article identifies and discusses the eco-welfare perspective as a valuable research and policy field to construe and develop contextual responses capable of addressing the social and environmental issues. To outline the main features of eco-welfare, eco-social policies are described with reference to the effects on the distribution of wealth and to the ability or inability to act in a significant way on the accumulation mechanisms. Within this scheme, eco-welfare policies are distinguished from the other typologies, as they contextually act on two strands, through pre-distributive interventions, able to disentangle the economic growth from the wealth provision. To exemplify this policy typology, the article grounds its reflection on energy poverty, by addressing its definition, the measurements, and the possible policy solutions by highlighting how it entails both social and environmental concerns. Ultimately, some fields of interventions are introduced, consistent with the analytical framework of eco-welfare.