Low-carbon city (LCC) pilot is a strategic policy to deal with global climate change and energy poverty. Using the city-level data from 2006 to 2019, this paper applies a multiple difference-in-difference (DID) analysis to explore the impact of LCC policy on urban green total factor energy efficiency(GTFEE) and its potential mechanism. The results show that the LCC pilot policy can significantly improve urban GTFEE, and the finding remains robust with various tests. Secondly, we shed light on the mechanism of the LCC policy and explore the possible channels through green innovation and structural upgrading to improve the urban GTFEE. Third, the policy effect is affected by different levels of urban economic development, urban development scale, and urban development types. In cities with higher levels of economic development, super-large resource-based cities, the pilot policy has a more significant improvement effect on GTFEE. On the other hand, in the less developed regions, pilot policies will hinder the improvement of GTFEE.

This paper seeks to examine the effect of financial inclusion on energy efficiency financing to limit energy poverty in OECD. The study uses 1998–2018 for the OECD economy to connect the nexus between financial inclusion, energy efficiency and poverty indices, country-wise GDP, and financial inclusion index. The findings show that a financial inclusion 1% increase improves 14% energy efficiency, and this energy efficiency lowers energy poverty by 28%. These results are deduced via the entropy technique and compatible with prior research on energy efficiency and poverty. This study illustrates the different policy changes that may be implemented based on the resultant deductions. The energy efficiency indices are affected by FI substantially, albeit in various ways. Unsustainable financial inclusion increases energy costs, but not to the level of energy use and environmental severe pollution. The increasing concern about environmental contamination should show in the energy industry of OECD.

This study aims to shed light on the determinants of energy poverty by examining the role of financial development. Notably, the study analyses the multidimensional effects of financial development (including two subsectors and three dimensions on five indicators of energy poverty). Various estimates are applied with a global sample of 65 economies, consisting of 36 low- and lower-middle-income economies and 29 upper-middle-income economies for 2002–2015. First, financial development can alleviate energy poverty. Second, the results are properly consistent across the two subsectors and three dimensions. Third, the two subsectors and three dimensions of financial development are found to reduce energy poverty in low- and lower-middle-income economies but have heteroscedastic effects in upper-middle-income economies.

Pakistan is experiencing increasing CO₂ emissions in contrast with other regions of the world. The country is also facing the problems of low economic growth, energy poverty, and environmental pollution. The objective of the study is to analyze economic growth of Pakistan and obtain some alternate sources of production for sustainable environment. Time series data of Pakistan from 1985 to 2018 is used. In order to estimate direct and substitution effect among energy and non-energy factors on economic growth, translog functional form is used. The presence of multicollinearity among explanatory variables approves to employ ridge regression. Capital per worker has the highest elasticity (0.1531) among all variables followed by consumption of oil (0.0571), natural gas (0.0333), technology (0.0329), and hydroelectricity (0.02). Average output elasticity for oil, natural gas, hydroelectricity, capital per worker, and technology are 0.4474, 0.3127, 0.433, 1.0037, and 0.2309, respectively. Technical progress of variables is ranked as capital per worker, oil consumption, natural gas consumption, hydroelectricity, and technology. Relatively lower but efficient substitution between oil and natural gas provides opportunity to save huge foreign exchange on import of oil. Investment on capital per worker in transport, power, fertilizer, and industrial sectors can reduce the demand of oil and natural gas which would eventually lower carbon dioxide emissions in the country. Increasing 10% investment on capital/worker would mitigate 208.283 million tons of carbon dioxide. Energy inputs are substitutes; therefore, mega hydropower projects and small renewable projects may be launched to cope with energy poverty and environmentally sustainable challenges.

Clean, affordable, and efficient energy sources are inevitable for a sustainable world. Energy crisis, especially the poor access and affordability, demand–supply mismatches, energy inequality, and high dependence on non-renewable energy sources, are the challenges before the attainment of clean energy goals for sustainable development. The 5-year review from the adoption of sustainable development goals (SDGs) by using bibliometric and thematic analysis was conducted in this review. This review is a synthesis of 175 scientific papers on SDG 7. Policy reforms and better funding; technology innovation and inclusion; and economic growth, rapid promotion of renewable, and alternative fuels are the recommendations for the achievement of the energy goals. Future research on energy-related goals should focus on energy justice, policy reforms, energy poverty, poor affordability, off-grid transmissions, renewable energy sources, alternative fuels, reforms in the energy supply chain, and international cooperation for better implementation of projects and for attracting foreign capital and private funds. This paper invites the attention of practitioners, academicians, funding agencies, and international agencies to collaborate in the initiatives for a clean, green, and energized world.

The major purpose of this study is to assess racial disparity and energy poverty index by measuring energy poverty index by using data envelopment analysis and regression equation from South Asia (2001–2018). An energy poverty index is quantifying the size and scope of energy poverty, and DEA is used to investigate the relevance of socioeconomic position to multidimensional energy poverty. In multidimensional energy poverty, location, house ownership position, number of dependents, and the age of the main caregiver have an important positive impact. Our research has shown that Bhutan is the most susceptible nation with an energy poverty index of (0.02), Maldives (0.03), and Bangladesh (0.11), while India (0.86) and Pakistan (0.49) are the least likely to be energy poor as regards energy poverty. Of the total energy production, 78% is based on traditional fuels, followed by 12% based on petroleum products. The Gini index indicates a positive association with the energy poverty index at a 5% significance level. This signifies that these socioeconomic indicators positively contribute to the energy poverty index level. This study developed more synchronized policies to eradicate energy poverty and can provide a way forward for policymakers to develop strategies to implement them suitably in the regional power sector.

This article estimates the ties between green fiscal policies and energy efficiency in COVID-19 era. For this purpose, data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach is considered and applied. The study findings show that green fiscal policies, such as public supports and tax rebates, have significant role in reducing energy poverty of different international countries by advancing energy efficiency. Therefore, a panel data ranging from 2010 to 2020 is used. Our findings indicate that the aggregate degree of green fiscal policies help to decline energy poverty. Renewable energy companies had larger series of net fiscal competence and size efficiency, and their levels of energy efficiency were greater than 0.457%, with the 16% effect of current public supports and 11% effect of taxation rebates supported to diminish energy poverty with 29.7% in different international economies. This is a positive effect by green fiscal policies. The study also presented policy implications suggesting effectively implementing green fiscal policies for more efficient carbon reduction and making climate change supportive for peoples in post COVID-19 period.

In the development concern, all countries are started increasing production of energy across the world. All countries have started expansion of access to electricity across the nation. As a result, their economic growth significantly progress by increasing the share of access to electricity (energy use). Hence, the aim of this research is to examine the impact of access to electricity on economic development across five emerging countries, spanning the period 1990–2018 and by using the panel modelling methodology. The results of long-run elasticities reveal that access to electricity play a considerable role in promoting economic development across five emerging countries. Furthermore, the results on panel causality tests show the presence of unidirectional causality running from economic development to access to electricity in the short run. However, the study also estimates long-run elasticities for individual economies. This individual country empirical result also shows that access to electricity has a substantial positive impact on economic development for each of the countries. Finally, the empirical findings suggest that governments should act effectively in providing access to electricity for higher economic development in these countries.

Energy poverty poses a serious threat to the urban population residing in Himalayan towns. The present study aims to assess energy vulnerability in the urban settlement of Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). The study addresses energy access and affordability; its requirement, practices, and efficiency, considering the quality of electricity, dwelling type, transport facilities, energy expenditure, household chores (cooking, heating, cooling, lighting, etc.), awareness, and social interactions. The study uses an energy vulnerability framework based on IPCC indices to investigate the status of energy vulnerability in the urban space of Dehradun, the Indian Himalayan Region. The primary data was collected from two circular regions of the city, an area close to the central place and an area outlying from the central place, respectively. The energy vulnerability index was 0.31 and 0.34 with varying degrees of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. The findings reveal that energy vulnerability could jeopardize the well-being of the society and could be mitigated through appropriate policy measures, intensive support to sensitive societies, and a developmental approach focusing on sustainable energy. The study provides a theoretical base to conduct extensive research addressing a similar issue in other Himalayan towns.

This work aims to assess multidimensional energy poverty and energy efficiency for environmental policy measures using data envelopment analysis (DEA), a DEA-Like mathematical composite indicator applied on a dataset based on multiple sets of variables from South Asian economies. The multidimensional energy poverty index (MEPI) is computed to analyze the combining effects and energy poverty in these countries. Simultaneously, South Asia’s metropolitan areas’ population rose by 130 million between 2001 and 2011 and is projected to expand by approximately 250 million by 2030. The findings reveal that endogenous increasing population shocks account for about 72% of energy use. In contrast, the long-term effects of remittance revenue, economic growth, and urbanization on energy use are approximately 20%, 8.25%, and 0.03%, respectively. This work advocates more coordinated and innovative policies to eliminate energy poverty. It can act as a base for policymakers and government officials to make efficient policies and enforce them properly in the regional power sector. Policies should be designed around a smarter use of biomass for cooking, alternate sources for domestic energy production, increased programs for biomass-based cookstoves, and periodic regional-level energy database development.