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“Addressing energy poverty in BRICS economies: insights from panel data analysis and policy implications for sustainable development goals”

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Ashish Kumar
Ashish Kumar
Ashish Kumar
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Nupur Soti at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University
Nupur Soti
Sanjeev Gupta
Sanjeev Gupta
Sanjeev Gupta
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Deepa Deepa at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University
Deepa Deepa
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Abstract and Figures

Energy poverty (EP) presents a significant contemporary challenge affecting developed and emerging nations. The staggering statistic that over 2 billion people across the globe are energy-deprived is appalling. Hence, it is incumbent upon regulators and international agencies to address this issue as a critical responsibility, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN). This study contributes significantly to the goal of clean and affordable energy for all, as outlined in SDG-7, by examining the hypothesized nexus between EP and its antecedents for the panel of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) countries using robust panel regression and causality models. The temporal scope of the study spans from 1990 to 2022. The study’s empirical findings, which have the potential to guide policy decisions, indicate that income inequality (IEQ) and energy intensity (EI) exacerbate EP, while foreign direct investment (FDI), gross domestic product (GDP), government spending (GS), and trade openness (TRD) help mitigate it. The panel causality test signals a bidirectional causality between EP and FDI, IEQ, and EI, while GDP and TRD demonstrate unidirectional causality toward EP. The study is robust under different model formulations and provides valuable insights for enhancing energy accessibility and affordability. To reduce income disparities and subsequently ease the problem of EP the study recommends policymakers prioritize social welfare initiatives like education, health promotion, and job creation to lower IEQ and ease EP. In addition, economies can also leverage resources and knowledge to foster a sustainable energy ecosystem for future generations via enriched transnational alliances, technology sharing, and undertaking research initiatives. Graphical abstract
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Vol.:(0123456789)
Environment, Development and Sustainability
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-024-05652-9
“Addressing energy poverty inBRICS economies:
insights frompanel data analysis andpolicy implications
forsustainable development goals”
AshishKumar1· NupurSoti1 · SanjeevGupta2· Deepa1
Received: 19 February 2024 / Accepted: 31 October 2024
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2024
Abstract
Energy poverty (EP) presents a significant contemporary challenge affecting developed
and emerging nations. The staggering statistic that over 2 billion people across the globe
are energy-deprived is appalling. Hence, it is incumbent upon regulators and international
agencies to address this issue as a critical responsibility, aligning with the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN). This study contributes signifi-
cantly to the goal of clean and affordable energy for all, as outlined in SDG-7, by examin-
ing the hypothesized nexus between EP and its antecedents for the panel of Brazil, Rus-
sia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) countries using robust panel regression and
causality models. The temporal scope of the study spans from 1990 to 2022. The study’s
empirical findings, which have the potential to guide policy decisions, indicate that income
inequality (IEQ) and energy intensity (EI) exacerbate EP, while foreign direct investment
(FDI), gross domestic product (GDP), government spending (GS), and trade openness
(TRD) help mitigate it. The panel causality test signals a bidirectional causality between
EP and FDI, IEQ, and EI, while GDP and TRD demonstrate unidirectional causality
toward EP. The study is robust under different model formulations and provides valuable
insights for enhancing energy accessibility and affordability. To reduce income disparities
and subsequently ease the problem of EP the study recommends policymakers prioritize
social welfare initiatives like education, health promotion, and job creation to lower IEQ
and ease EP. In addition, economies can also leverage resources and knowledge to foster
a sustainable energy ecosystem for future generations via enriched transnational alliances,
technology sharing, and undertaking research initiatives.
Extended author information available on the last page of the article
Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any citations for this publication.
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