Does Language Matter for Energy Consumption? International Evidence

Using cross-country data from 2001 to 2022, this paper examines how the Future Time Reference (FTR) of language affects energy consumption. The results show that, while there is no significant impact on total energy consumption, there is a clear effect on renewable energy consumption and its main components. These findings remain robust after various checks and highlight an important, previously overlooked aspect of energy consumption that could inform future policymaking.