Harnessing renewable energy and technological innovation to alleviate energy poverty in least developed countries: A pathway toward low-carbon and sustainable development

Energy poverty remains a critical developmental challenge in Least Developed Countries (LDCs). However, existing literature tends to examine renewable energy, technological innovation, and carbon emissions separately, often overlooking their interconnected impact on energy poverty. Addressing this significant research gap, the present study investigates the combined roles of renewable energy consumption (REC), technological innovation (TI), and CO₂ emissions in alleviating energy poverty in LDCs from 2000 to 2020. Specifically, the study explores: (1) how renewable energy consumption influences energy poverty reduction; (2) the extent to which technological innovation improves energy accessibility and affordability; and (3) the impact of carbon emissions on pathways to reducing energy poverty. Utilizing advanced econometric methods on an extensive panel dataset, the findings reveal that a 10% increase in REC reduces energy poverty by approximately 0.814% to 1.105%, underscoring renewable energy’s vital role in providing sustainable and affordable energy access. Similarly, technological innovation significantly mitigates energy poverty; a 10% improvement in TI results in a 1.215% to 1.564% decrease in energy deprivation, highlighting innovation’s potential to overcome infrastructural barriers in energy delivery. Furthermore, a 10% reduction in CO₂ emissions correlates with a 0.914% to 1.399% decline in energy poverty, reinforcing that low-carbon strategies effectively promote both environmental sustainability and equitable energy access. This study uniquely integrates these factors, offering novel empirical insights into their collective influence on energy poverty in low-income contexts—an area previously underexplored. The findings emphasize the urgent need for coordinated policy frameworks and targeted investments in renewable energy infrastructure and technological innovation. Such integrated strategies are essential to simultaneously address energy poverty and environmental challenges, fostering sustainable, low-carbon growth trajectories aligned with the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).