Energy Transition, Health Outcomes and Climate Vulnerability in a Changing World

Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals provide a vital framework for addressing global challenges. Notably, Target 7.2 aims to “increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix,” while Target 13.1 focuses on enhancing resilience to climate-related hazards. However, some countries may be unable to meet these targets due to the increasing devastation to the environment and public health concerns from energy consumption. This study investigates the often-neglected multifaceted relationships among energy transition, health outcomes, and climate vulnerability in a global context. Using a dataset of 150 countries from 2000 to 2021, this study examines the effects of the rate of energy transition on life expectancy, the extent to which climate vulnerability drives the rate of energy transition, and the drivers of climate vulnerability. This study uses the panel version of the Structural Equation Model, sequential dynamic linear panel data estimation, and a two-step system generalised method of moments. Air quality mediates 56.2% of the total effect of energy transition on life expectancy, while carbon dioxide emission mediates 5.68 times the total effect of energy transition. Climate readiness reduces the negative effects of climate vulnerability on energy transition, with economic readiness dominating the climate readiness component. These findings challenge the conventional notion that poorer countries pollute more by consuming fossil fuels. These results underscore the importance of enhancing air quality and reducing carbon dioxide emission through energy transition policies to improve health outcomes globally. Furthermore, the role of climate readiness in moderating the effects of climate vulnerability on energy transition emphasizes the need for comprehensive strategies that include economic, governance, and social dimensions to effectively address climate change. The findings also call for a re-evaluation of global climate policies, acknowledging the disproportionate vulnerabilities faced by lower-income countries despite their lower contributions to global pollution.