Rural household energy transition under rapid income and population changes: The case of China

Samenvatting (Engelstalig)

The residential energy transition is a process of energy use structure optimization, energy efficiency improvement, and emission reduction. However, in most low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), households continue to use inefficient and polluting fuels for domestic activities, leading to environmental and public health issues. This thesis aims to better understand the opportunities and challenges arising from rapid income and population changes for household energy transition, focusing on the unique development features of rural China. The findings reveal that income growth reduces energy-related carbon emissions in a short time but not from a long-term perspective. Women’s off-farm employment contributes a lot to household energy transition. Population aging leads to fewer modern energy expenditures and an inter-generational preference formation was found in the energy transition. Widespread implementation of the policy intervention can positively increase rural household clean energy use and thereby bring significant health benefits.