Ecological Consequences of Energy Poverty in South Asia

Ecological imbalances are caused by limited access to clean energy. The continuous use of traditional energy sources for economic activities has deteriorated the environmental conditions. Addressing the energy poverty, need a varied approach that combines improved access to clean and affordable energy with sustainable resource management practices. This study seeks to investigate the effects of energy poverty on environmental quality in South Asian countries used panel data spanning 2000 to 2021. For analysis, the CIPS second-generation panel unit root test was used to determine the existence of cross-sectional dependence, while the Pool Mean Group (PMG) was applied as a result. In both periods, energy poverty is negatively linked with the ecological footprint, and GDPpc is positively related to the ecological footprint. In the context of South Asia, policies should address both issues by investing in renewable energy infrastructure development.