Mapping the transition: the interplay of technology and natural disasters on sustainable energy in G20 nations

This study investigates how technological advancement, and natural disasters shape the energy transition in G20 economies over 2005–2023. The main objective is to measure the effects of environmental innovation and disaster exposure on four SDG 7 indicators: electricity access, clean cooking access, renewable energy share, and energy efficiency. Using a panel dataset from international sources, the study applies a two-way fixed effects model as a baseline and then uses Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS) and System GMM to address endogeneity and dynamic effects. Technological advancement is measured by the log of environmental technology patents, while natural disasters are measured by the annual count of recorded events. The findings show that technological advancement strongly supports the transition by increasing clean cooking access and renewable energy share, and it is also significantly related to improvements in the efficiency indicator. Natural disasters show a mixed role: they are linked with weaker clean cooking access but a higher renewable energy share, suggesting that disasters may delay household energy improvements while pushing system-level renewable adoption. Sub-sample results indicate stronger technology effects in non-OECD G20 economies than in OECD members. These results imply that innovation policy and technology diffusion are essential for SDG 7 progress, while disaster recovery planning should protect household energy access and use rebuilding as an opportunity to expand resilient renewables. Overall, coordinated innovation and resilience strategies are necessary for a balanced and inclusive energy transition.