Energy poverty and gender equality in education

Abstract

In today’s interconnected world, the pursuit of sustainable development stands as a global imperative. Central to this endeavor are the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a comprehensive framework made of 17 goals aiming at addressing a spectrum of social, economic and environmental challenges. Within this framework, the intersection of energy poverty, gender equality and education emerges as a critical nexus influencing the trajectory of human development, in fact a study conducted in 2023 shows how certain SDGs are more frequently associated with synergies and trade-offs than others.

Chapter 2 delves into the multifaceted issue of energy poverty, examining its implications through the lens of SDG7 and indicators such as the Human Development Index (HDI) and the Inequality Adjusted Human Development Index (IAHDI). Moreover, it scrutinizes 6 measures obtained from the World Development Indicators (WDI) to assess the extent and severity of energy poverty, shedding light on disparities and underscoring the urgent need for equitable energy access. These measures are specifically (1) access to clean cooking fuels and technologies measured with the percentage of the population with access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking; (2) rural access to clean cooking fuels and technologies measured with the percentage of rural population with access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking; (3) urban access to clean cooking fuels and technologies measured with the percentage of urban population with access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking; (4) electrification measured with the percentage of population with access to electricity; (5) rural electrification measured with the percentage of rural population with access to electricity; (6) urban electrification measured with the percentage of urban population with access to electricity. Additionally, the role of Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) in mitigating energy poverty is examined, offering insights into innovative solutions and pathways towards inclusive energy access.

Moving forward, chapter 3 pivots towards the intertwined themes of gender equality and education, elucidating their significance within the SDG framework, respectively SDG5 and SDG4. Through exploration of SDGs, the Gender Inequality Index (GII) and the Gender Parity Index (GPI), this section focuses on the persistent challenges hindering progress towards inclusive and quality education, especially for marginalized communities. In particular, the analysis focuses on the weak party, more specifically on females, and on the possible causal channels through which access to energy could affect female education. In this sense, female literacy, female health, female employment, information and communication technologies play a central role in the potential transmission channels.

Chapter 4 embarks on an econometric analysis of panel data, offering methodological insights and empirical findings to illuminate the complex interplay between energy poverty, gender disparities and educational outcomes. Through rigorous examination, it seeks to uncover underlying dynamics and inform evidence-based policy interventions aimed at fostering sustainable development and social equity. The data are collected from the WDI and refer to developing countries which are known to be characterized both by higher disparity in gender equality in education and by energy poverty.

Finally, chapter 5 draws upon the preceding discourse to encapsulate key insights and implications, reinforcing the imperative of collective action and inclusive policy frameworks in advancing the global agenda for sustainable development.