What the study found
The paper says access to clean energy has risen substantially in low-income and middle-income countries over the past three decades, but millions still do not have reliable and affordable electricity or clean cooking fuels. It also says simple access measures can overstate progress because they miss fuel stacking, changing patterns of use, and unequal burdens, especially for women.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that moving beyond technical fixes toward inclusive, evidence-based strategies is needed to address inequities, improve affordability and reliability, and deliver lasting health benefits. The study suggests that more complete tracking of energy use is important because binary indicators can overstate the health and equity effects of energy transitions.
What the researchers tested
This Series paper explores the drivers of clean energy adoption, assesses tools for tracking progress, and examines persistent barriers. It draws from historical trends and national policies, and it defines clean energy here as electricity, liquefied petroleum gas, biogas, and ethanol.
What worked and what didn't
The paper reports that targeted subsidies, robust supply chains, and coordinated investments have helped spur increased clean fuel use. It also identifies persistent barriers, including high costs, unreliable supply, and insufficient availability, and says that simplistic Sustainable Development Goal 7 indicators can miss important aspects of energy use.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe a single experiment or provide detailed quantitative results. It also does not list specific country-by-country findings in the available summary.
Key points
- Clean energy access has increased in low-income and middle-income countries over the past three decades.
- Millions still lack reliable and affordable electricity and clean cooking fuels.
- Binary access indicators can miss fuel stacking, changing consumption patterns, and gendered burdens.
- Targeted subsidies, robust supply chains, and coordinated investments are described as drivers of increased clean fuel use.
- Persistent barriers include high costs, unreliable supply, and insufficient availability.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Clean energy use has grown, but major access gaps remain
- Authors:
- Annelise Gill-Wiehl, Carlos Gould, Marc Jeuland, Ajay Pillarisetti, Shonali Pachauri, Rebekah Shirley, Karin Troncoso, Darby Jack, Matthew Leach, Simon Batchelor, Laura H Kwong, Daniel M. Kammen
- Institutions:
- Berkeley Public Health Division, Berkeley Public Health Division, Columbia University, Columbia University, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Duke Institute for Health Innovation, Duke University, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Loughborough University, University of California San Diego, University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Berkeley, University of Surrey, World Bank
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-17
- OpenAlex record:
- View
- Image credit:
- Rupumped, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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