Assessing the Equitable Renewable Energy Access and Environmental Justice for Sustainable Development in China

ABSTRACT The pursuit of sustainable development in China necessitates a comprehensive evaluation of renewable energy access and environmental justice. As China experiences rapid economic growth and shifts towards cleaner energy sources, it is crucial to examine the fairness of renewable energy distribution and the equitable allocation of environmental benefits and burdens. This study explores the complexities involved in balancing renewable energy, social equity, and environmental factors. A twofold methodological approach was employed such as the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was first used to systematically assess the equity of renewable energy distribution, identifying six key factors and 24 sub‐factors that influence renewable energy access and environmental justice. The results from fuzzy AHP show that the distribution of environmental burdens and socio‐economic equity are the most critical factors shaping renewable energy access and environmental justice. To further refine strategic insights, the fuzzy complex proportional assessment (COPRAS) method was applied, ranking six strategic approaches for advancing renewable energy access and environmental justice. The top‐ranked strategy was expanding renewable energy infrastructure in underserved regions which emerged as the most impactful, emphasising the importance of addressing geographic disparities. Following closely were strategies aimed at strengthening financial mechanisms for low‐income households and promoting community‐led renewable energy projects, emphasising the importance of economic support and local empowerment in achieving energy justice.