Toward Energy Justice
Distributional Energy Justice and the Inclusive Human Development Agenda in Africa View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Isaac Kwesi Ofori
This study employs macro data for 36 African countries to address three important gaps in the inclusive human development (IHDI) literature. First, previous studies have not investigated the effect of distributional energy justice (hereafter: energy justice) on IHDI. Second, prior contributions have not explored whether climate change readiness interacts with energy justice to promote IHDI. Third, studies have examined whether the energy justice-climate change readiness interactive effect (if any) has different effects in low-income, and middle- and high-income African countries. Robust findings based on the generalised method of moments reveal that: (i) energy justice promotes IHDI, (ii) climate change readiness amplifies the positive effect of energy justice on IHDI, and (iii) vis-à-vis low-income countries, middle- and high-income countries realise remarkable increase in IHDI with progress in energy justice and climate change readiness. Across the economic, social, and governance perspectives of climate change readiness, I find that the contingency effect of governance readiness is remarkable in all the samples. I conclude that investments in broadening energy justice and Africa’s climate change readiness are critical to inclusive human development.
Assessing Residents’ Perceptions and Awareness about Household Emission Policies in Ghana
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Adom Seth
The government of Ghana has introduced climate change mitigation initiatives with specific goals aimed at reducing emissions and improving residents’ health. For instance, it plans to distribute two million solar lanterns to households and increase Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) adoption to 50% among peri-urban and rural households by 2030. Through the Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, 50,000 free cylinders and cookstoves will also be distributed nationwide. This study examines residents' awareness and perceptions of these policies. We conducted a semi-structured online survey in the Greater Accra region from October 2023 to February 2024, gathering 146 valid responses. Using ordered probit regression, we analyzed correlations between socio-demographic factors and respondents’ perceptions. Results show that 66% were aware of the ban on second-hand refrigerators, 52% knew about the ban on used air conditioners, and 62% were informed about the refrigerator rebate program. However, 69% were unaware of tax exemptions on solar products and the solar lantern program. Monthly income was the only variable with a statistically significant effect on perception (p-value = 0.010), suggesting higher income correlates with more positive views on emission policies. Given the moderate awareness of these initiatives, this paper discusses measures the Ghanaian government could take to enhance public engagement and effectiveness.
