Climatic shocks and multidimensional energy poverty in Ugandan households: does women empowerment play a moderating role?

Abstract

This study examines the effect of climatic shock and women empowerment on multidimensional energy poverty using panel data from Uganda National Panel Surveys from 2013/14–2019/20, complemented by the World Bank African Rainfall Climatology version 2 (ARC2) database. We find that climatic shocks increase energy poverty. However, there is great potential in energy poverty alleviation when women are more empowered in relation to men, but it is even greater when both genders are empowered in the same household amidst climatic shocks. Combating the impacts of drought, floods, landslides, and irregular rainfall while enhancing women's economic empowerment avenues should be a priority on the policy agenda for multidimensional energy poverty alleviation in Uganda.Highlights Energy poverty is assessed using a multidimensional approach. Four waves of the Uganda National panel survey and weather data were used Climatic shocks increase energy poverty. Women empowerment reduces energy poverty amidst climatic shocks, more so when both genders are empowered in the same household.

Keywords

• multidimensional
• energy poverty
• climatic shocks
• women empowerment
• uganda