Does renewable energy help increase life expectancy? Insight from the linking renewable energy, economic growth, and life expectancy in 121 countries

Abstract

Although there are many studies on the social welfare of renewable energy, the systematic study of the impact of renewable energy on life expectancy is relatively rare. Aiming at filling the research gap, we incorporate renewable energy consumption, economic growth, and life expectancy into a framework to study the relationship between them using the linear fixed-effect model and non-linear panel threshold model. Both the fixed-effect model and the threshold model results show a positive relationship between renewable energy consumption and life expectancy. Renewable energy consumption has a double threshold effect of per capita GDP on life expectancy. As per capita GDP crosses these two thresholds in turn, the correlation coefficient between renewable energy consumption and life expectancy increases. In addition, the relationship between renewable energy and life expectancy varies across income groups. The correlation between renewable energy consumption and life expectancy in the high-income group is the highest among all income groups, implying that renewable energy consumption is more helpful in increasing life expectancy in high-income countries. We call for the integration of health policy and renewable energy policy so that renewable energy generates greater health benefits.