Climate Vulnerability and the Energy Poverty Trap in Africa

Abstract

ABSTRACT Energy poverty remains one of the most persistent development challenges across African economies. At the same time, climate change is increasingly disrupting energy systems and infrastructure. This paper investigates whether climate vulnerability acts as a structural driver of energy poverty in Africa. Using a panel dataset of 44 African countries over the period 2000–2020, we examine how exposure to climate risks affects access to modern energy services. The empirical analysis combines fixed‐effects estimations with Driscoll–Kraay corrections and instrumental variable techniques to address potential endogeneity concerns. The results show that higher climate vulnerability significantly reduces access to electricity and clean cooking fuels. The effect is particularly pronounced in urban areas, where centralized energy infrastructures appear highly exposed to climate hazards such as droughts, floods, and water stress. These findings suggest that climate risks can undermine ongoing electrification efforts and deepen structural energy poverty in developing economies. The results remain robust across alternative specifications and measures of energy poverty. Overall, the study highlights the importance of integrating climate resilience into energy policies. Strengthening decentralized energy systems and improving institutional capacity appear essential to ensure sustainable and equitable energy access in climate‐vulnerable regions.