Delivering equity in low-carbon multisector infrastructure planning

Many countries worldwide are transitioning from fossil fuel-dependent economies to carbon neutrality, driven by the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and the Paris Agreement. However, without considering the regional distribution of essential services like water and energy, this transition could inadvertently maintain or increase inequities, threatening sustainable development. Here, we argue that spatial equity of benefits should be considered in planning low-carbon energy transitions, especially in developing countries with multisector interdependencies and high service disparities between regions. We propose an analytical framework that can help analysts and policymakers plan for regionally equitable climate-compatible futures. The multisector design framework combines integrated river basin-power system simulation with artificial intelligence design tools. The utility of the framework is demonstrated for Ghana by identifying the most efficient infrastructure intervention portfolios and their implied trade-offs between spatial equity in water and energy service provision, carbon emissions, food production, and river ecosystem performance. Case-study results show that an equitable low-carbon energy transition will require increased investments in renewable energy and transmission alongside more informed infrastructure system planning. With low renewable investments, equity can be improved, but at the cost of higher emissions and electricity supply curtailments.