Work

Does the household clean energy transition benefit the mental health of the elderly in rural China? Evidence from China health and retirement longitudinal study

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Clean energy transition has become a key strategy in combating global air pollution. In 2017, China launched its "coal-to-gas" policy, which provided subsidies to households for their clean energy transition. While debates on this policy focus mainly on safety and cost concerns, few studies have examined the causal relationship between energy transition and its health benefits, particularly mental health. Using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey (CHARLS), this paper employs a difference-in-differences (DID) approach to estimate the impact of the "coal-to-gas" policy on the mental health of the rural elderly in China. The findings indicate that the policy significantly improved the cognitive status of the elderly, especially episodic memory, which saw a 10.4% increase relative to the sample mean. The policy also significantly boosted the proportion of households using clean cooking fuels by 5.8%. Further analysis suggests that the improved sleep quality from reduced indoor air pollution by household energy transition, as a mechanism, could explain these results. This study provides a timely assessment of the policy's effectiveness, highlighting the importance of indoor air pollution control by household energy transition.

Source: Environment International

DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.109186

Authors: Hengxing Yin, Ling Han, Li Yan, Chenhao Liu

Institution: Peking University

Language: English

Topic: Energy and Environment Impacts

Subfield: Pollution

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Affordable and clean energy, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,980