The 2023 energy crisis brought sufficiency to the forefront of the public agenda. Far from being a mere emergency response, sufficiency is now established as a structural pillar of the energy transition, standing alongside energy efficiency and decarbonisation. In this context, ADEME (the French Agency for Ecological Transition) has selected Enerdata to strengthen its expertise and lead its "Sufficiency Community"—a collective of some thirty professionals dedicated to the field.
The scope of sufficiency now extends well beyond energy alone. The objective of this partnership is to explore "sufficiencies" in the plural, integrating multiple sectors such as water, raw materials, land use, and new business models.
The first challenge lies in clearly distinguishing sufficiency from technological efficiency or forced deprivation (such as energy poverty). The second is to synchronise the diverse range of expertise within ADEME to build a unified, shared vision. Due to the agency's cross-functional structure, sufficiency is addressed by teams with varied backgrounds: from the modelling team (Transitions 2050) and regional branches to thematic departments (Transport, Urban Planning, Building, etc.), bringing together engineers, sociologists, analysts, and communications specialists.
To meet these challenges, Enerdata draws on its long-standing relationship with ADEME’s various departments and its dual expertise in both analysis and modelling. Our legitimacy is built on a deep understanding of demand-side levers, established through major projects including:
- Energy efficiency: The ODYSSEE project.
- Prospective modelling: EnerFuture, Transitions 2050 scenarios, and SNBC3 (France’s National Low-Carbon Strategy).
- Sufficiency in prospective scenarios: buildings, industry
- Sufficiency and business models: Projects with EPE (and its resulting publication)
Throughout the project, our experts are responsible for the following missions:
- Strategic Intelligence: Identifying keywords and relevant sources, thematic classification, and co-managing the editorial committee with ADEME to decode current trends in sufficiency. This includes producing in-depth reports on sectors such as digital technology, water, and energy.
- Expert Facilitation: In partnership with the consultancy Missions Publiques, Enerdata co-leads the "Sufficiency Community" meetings, facilitating the production of briefing notes and ADEME’s official position papers.
- Reference Editorial Production: Enerdata handles the drafting of quarterly newsletters and the publication of the "Sufficiency Panorama." This report presents and analyses pioneering research on sufficiency indicators, emerging trends, and associated public policies.
In total, this three-year contract has resulted in five community meetings, nine newsletters, and a flagship publication in the ADEME library, further reinforcing Enerdata’s role as a trusted partner for public institutions in understanding the profound shifts occurring in our consumption patterns.
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