Policy pathways for renewable energy, health, and sustainability in sub-saharan Africa: An empirical assessment of energy access and life expectancy

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of renewable energy consumption, health expenditure, CO<inf>2</inf> emissions, GDP, and population growth on life expectancy in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It uses unbalanced panel data from 46 SSA countries spanning 1995–2023. To ensure robustness and address cross-sectional dependence and heterogeneity, the study applies Driscoll–Kraay standard errors, Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS), and Quantile Regression (QR), offering insights across the distribution of life expectancy. The results show that GDP and health expenditure positively influence life expectancy, while CO<inf>2</inf> emissions and population growth have significant negative impacts. Notably, renewable energy consumption is negatively associated with life expectancy, suggesting that limited access, inefficient technologies, and weak institutions constrain health benefits in the region. These findings challenge conventional assumptions about the automatic advantages of clean energy in low-capacity settings. The study recommends region-specific, actionable policies such as expanding decentralized renewable energy systems, increasing investment in primary healthcare infrastructure, and integrating energy and health planning at the national level. These measures are essential to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 (Good Health), 7 (Clean Energy), and 13 (Climate Action), and provide a roadmap for inclusive and resilient development in SSA.