Impact of energy justice on energy poverty from the perspective of gender inequality: A case study in northern China

Abstract

In the energy poverty governance and justice transformation process, gender inequality has become increasingly prominent, and the issue of household energy poverty urgently needs to be explored from the perspective of energy justice. An energy justice analysis framework was applied based on gender inequality in energy consumption. Data were analyzed from 359 rural households during 2022 in Xiangcheng County, which is a typical rural area in northern China. The multidimensional energy poverty characteristics were measured, and the mechanisms associated with the effects of energy justice factors on energy poverty were explored based on logistic regression modeling. The results showed that the incidence of energy poverty was 33.43 % and the low annual income of households was a key factor that pushed households into energy poverty. Energy justice played an important positive role in alleviating household energy poverty by enhancing the fairness of energy distribution, decision-making influence of women, and cognitive abilities. In particular, for every unit increase in distributive justice and recognition justice, energy poverty decreased by 1.7 % and 8.1 %, respectively. Procedural justice had a negative relationship with alleviating energy poverty. For every unit increase in procedural justice, energy poverty increased by 8.6 %. Examining the mechanism related to energy poverty based on gender inequality from an energy justice perspective can expand the research framework for energy poverty mechanisms and help policy-makers better address energy poverty issues.