Climate Change Research Articles

Uncovering the hidden RNA virus diversity in Lake Nam Co: Evolutionary insights from an extreme high-altitude environment

Alpine lakes, characterized by isolation, low temperatures, oligotrophic conditions, and intense ultraviolet radiation, remain a poorly explored ecosystem for RNA viruses. Here, we present the first comprehensive metatranscriptomic study of RNA viruses in Lake Nam Co, a high-altitude alkaline saline lake on the Tibetan Plateau. Using a combination of sequence- and structure-based homology searches, we identified 742 RNA virus species, including 383 novel genus-level groups and 84 novel family-level groups exclusively found in Lake Nam Co. These findings significantly expand the known diversity of the Orthornavirae, uncovering evolutionary adaptations such as permutated RNA-dependent RNA polymerase motifs and distinct RNA secondary structures. Notably, 14 additional RNA virus families potentially infecting prokaryotes were predicted, broadening the known host range of RNA viruses and questioning the traditional assumption that RNA viruses predominantly target eukaryotes. The presence of auxiliary metabolic genes in viral genomes suggested that RNA viruses (families f.0102 and Nam-Co_family_51) exploit host energy production mechanisms in energy-limited alpine lakes. Low nucleotide diversity, single nucleotide polymorphism frequencies, and pN/pS ratios indicate strong purifying selection in Nam Co viral populations. Our findings offer insights into RNA virus evolution and ecology, highlighting the importance of extreme environments in uncovering hidden viral diversity and further shed light into their potential ecological implications, particularly in the context of climate change.

Detection of the Relationship Between the Inverse Variations of Sea Ice in the Okhotsk–Bering Sea During Spring and the 11‐Year Solar Cycle

ABSTRACTThe 11‐year solar cycle is a stable external forcing factor for the Earth system. However, its influence on decadal climate variability, including sea ice, remains uncertain. This study statistically analyses spring sea ice concentration (SIC) and annual sunspot numbers (SSNs) from 1960 to 2021, revealing a significant inverse correlation between the 11‐year solar activity cycle and spring sea ice variability in the Okhotsk Sea and Bering Sea. During solar maximum years, sea ice increases in the Okhotsk Sea while decreasing in the eastern Bering Sea. Further analysis shows that the spring sea ice concentration difference (SICD) index correlates closely with the preceding winter Pacific Meridional Mode (PMM) modulated by the 11‐year solar cycle. This suggests that solar activity may influence east–west sea ice variability in the North Pacific during spring through its impact on the winter PMM. Atmospheric circulation and numerical simulation results indicate that during high‐solar‐activity years in winter, changes in stratospheric ozone concentration lead to variations in stratospheric temperatures. This strengthens zonal westerlies in the subtropical stratosphere and troposphere. The propagation of planetary waves from the stratosphere to the mid‐ and high‐latitude troposphere converges over the Bering Sea, creating an easterly anomaly. This convergence stimulates a high pressure and a low pressure to its south, forming a pattern resembling the PMM in the North Pacific during winter. The sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies linked to the winter PMM persist into spring, influencing sea ice at high latitudes in the North Pacific and causing the observed inverse sea ice changes in the Okhotsk and Bering Seas. This study highlights the significant modulating effect of solar activity on sea ice variability, offering insights for understanding Arctic climate change and predicting sea ice changes.

Effect of ocean acidification on the oxygen consumption of the sea urchins Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816) and Arbacia lixula (Linnaeus, 1758) living in CO2 natural gradients

Ocean acidification (OA) stands out as one of the main threats to marine ecosystems. OA leads to a reduction in the availability of carbonate ions, which are essential for marine calcifiers such as echinoderms. We aim to understand the physiological responses of two sea urchin species, Paracentrotus lividus and Arbacia lixula to low pH conditions and determine whether their responses result from phenotypic plasticity or local adaptation. The study is divided into two parts: plasticity response over time, measuring respiration rates of individuals from the Mediterranean Sea exposed to low pH over seven days, and adaptation and plasticity under changing pH, analyzing individuals inhabiting a pH gradient in a natural CO2 vent system located in La Palma Island, Spain. Over the seven days of low pH exposure, distinct patterns in respiration rates were revealed, with both species demonstrating potential for acclimatization. Notably, P. lividus and A. lixula displayed unsynchronized acidosis/alkalosis cycles, suggesting different physiological mechanisms. Additionally, environmental history seemed to influence adaptive capacity, as specimens from fluctuating pH environments exhibited respiration rates similar to those from stable environments with heightened phenotypic plasticity. Overall, our results suggest that both species possess the capacity for metabolic plasticity, which may enhance their resilience to future OA scenarios but likely involve energetic costs. Moreover, CO2 vent systems may serve as OA refugia, facilitating long-term survival. Understanding the plastic responses versus adaptations is crucial for predicting the effects of OA on species distribution and abundance of marine organisms in response to ongoing climate change.

Assessing the impact of drought and upstream dam construction on agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions: a case study of the Middle Draa Valley, Morocco.

This study assesses the impact of drought and upstream dam construction on agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions with the Middle Draa Valley (MDV) case study in Morocco. This valley, nestled in the arid landscapes of Morocco, has a rich tapestry of history, culture, and natural beauty. However, its oases are facing a water shortage crisis due to the effects of climate change and human pressure on water resources for irrigation. We analyzed the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to monitor vegetation dynamics in this valley. First, the SPEI shows a declining trend, indicating increasing water scarcity, which has led to the overexploitation of groundwater and significant vegetation degradation. Second, the NDVI remained relatively stable until 2015 but has since declined, signaling ecosystem deterioration. Third, the correlation between SPEI and NDVI in the oases suggests that vegetation depends not only on precipitation and evapotranspiration but also on other factors such as insufficient releases from upstream dams and the use of groundwater for irrigation. This is confirmed by analyses of the correlation between dam releases and NDVI, as well as data on groundwater table levels. This situation poses an urgent warning for decision-makers to consider which water management measures and agricultural practices to adopt. The most practical solution to avoid further degradation of the oases in the short term is to conserve the remaining groundwater resources exclusively for irrigation date palms and to develop strict long-term water policies.

On the time lag between sea-level rise and basin infilling at tidal inlets.

Tidal inlets are a common feature along the world's coastline. Inlet-adjacent coastlines have for millennia supported communities and livelihoods, and therefore, projected climate change driven variations in catchment-estuary-coast (CEC) system drivers (e.g., sea-level rise (SLR)) are likely to lead to substantial socio-economic impacts. One important SLR-driven process that affects inlet-adjacent shoreline change is basin-infilling (i.e., sediment import to the estuary from the coast to satisfy the SLR-driven increase of estuarine accommodation space). Due to the slow morphological response to hydrodynamic forcing, however, there is a time lag between basin infilling and SLR, which, in numerical models that simulate century-scale evolution of CEC systems, is represented by a basin infilling lag factor (M). To date, an indicative M value has only been derived for small tidal inlet systems (M ~0.5), and due to the lack of M estimates for larger systems, studies have been using M ~0.5 indiscriminately. Here, for the first time, we derive indicative M values for small, medium, and large tidal inlet systems (M ~0.5, ~0.25 and ~0.15 respectively) via analytical considerations. Subsequently, to investigate the consequences of using sub-optimal M values on twenty-first century projections of inlet-adjacent shoreline change, we apply a probabilistic, reduced complexity model (G-SMIC), under four IPCC AR6 climate scenarios, to three CEC systems representing small, medium and large systems. Results show that, in general, shoreline change projections are substantially lower(higher) when M values smaller(larger) than the indicative M for a given system are used. When smaller-than-optimal M values (0.25 and 0.15) are used for the small tidal inlet, both mid- and end-century shoreline retreats are under-estimated by 50-75% (across the four climate scenarios), relative to projections obtained with the optimal M value. For the medium-sized inlet, shoreline retreats for both future periods are over-estimated by ~100% with the larger-than-optimal M value of 0.5, while they are under-estimated by ~40-75% (across climate scenarios) with the smaller-than-optimal M value of 0.15. When the two higher-than-optimal M values (0.25 and 0.5) are used for the large tidal inlet system, shoreline retreat is over-estimated by ~ 65-240% (across climate scenarios) for both future periods. In terms of absolute values, these under/over-estimations increase in time and with the severity of emission scenario.

Sustainable Agricultural Alternatives to Cope with Drought Effects in Semi-Arid Areas of Southern Mozambique: Review and Strategies Proposal

Drought, pests, soil fertility depletion, environmental challenges, and the limited use of agricultural inputs continue to plague food production in many developing countries such as Mozambique. As a response to these production constraints, sustainable strategies must be defined to cope with these problems. One strategy, largely applied worldwide, is the combination of the usage of plant growth-promoting microorganisms, conservation tillage, intercropping, and crop residue management. The above can help smallholder farmers to become more resilient, sustainable, and productive, in a framework where the limitations imposed by global climate change are being exacerbated. The impacts of these strategies are less known and lack studies in Mozambique. Here, we provide a comprehensive review based on the relevant scientific literature published in the last three decades which evaluated the effects of diverse sustainable alternatives for crop production, mainly oriented to enhance crop tolerance to drought. The use of these strategies and their promising potential to increase crop yields under drought conditions emerge as one of the most sustainable approaches, leading to both an increase in agricultural productivity and the amelioration of soil properties in Southern Mozambique. However, to achieve this goal, it is critical to perform studies that enable positive impacts and also take full account of the specific socio-economic and environmental contexts in which agricultural production is developed in the semi-arid areas of Southern Mozambique. Hence, future field studies assessing conservation agriculture practices effects on yield productivity and environment under drought conditions are suggested to address issues concerned to sustainable agricultural productions which allow us to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1) and SDG 2.

Editorial: The relationship between health and environment under the lens of climate change: insights for policy makers

Editorial: The relationship between health and environment under the lens of climate change: insights for policy makers

Physical activity and heat stress shape water needs in pregnant endurance athletes

Abstract Background and Objectives Pregnancy, heat stress, and physical activity are all known to independently increase human water requirements. We hypothesize that climate conditions and behavioral strategies interact to shape water needs in highly active pregnancies. Methodology We recruited 20 female endurance runners who were pregnant (8-16 weeks gestational age; n=13) or planning to be pregnant (n=7) for an observational, prospective cohort study. At three timepoints in the study (preconception, 8-16 weeks, and 32-35 weeks), we measured water turnover using the deuterium dilution and elimination technique, physical activity using ActiGraph wGT3X-BT accelerometers, and heat index using historical temperature and humidity data. We also compared athletes to non-athletes from a previously published study. Results Athletes maintained high water turnover from preconception through the end of pregnancy. Physical activity was positively associated with water turnover among athletes for preconception and early pregnancy time periods, but not for the third trimester. Heat index weakly moderated the relationship between physical activity and water turnover in predicting a more positive slope in hotter and more humid weather conditions. Water turnover in athletes was higher than in non-athletes, but this difference attenuated during the third trimester, as non-athletes increased their water turnover. Conclusions and Implications Athletes experience higher water turnover with greater levels of physical activity, and this relationship is somewhat stronger in higher heat index conditions. With the threat of climate change expected to exacerbate extreme heat conditions, evidence-based, global policies are required for particularly vulnerable populations.

Severe water stress impact on drought resistance mechanisms and hydraulic vulnerability segmentation in grapevines: the role of rootstock.

Severe water stress can lead to hydraulic disfunction, reducing plant conductance or even causing death. Some plants exhibit hydraulic vulnerability segmentation between organs to reduce this risk. However, its role in influencing drought tolerance and resistance in grafted plants, such as grapevine, remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological responses, drought tolerance, hydraulic vulnerability segmentation and xylem anatomy of two-year-old Vitis vinifera cv. Tempranillo scion grafted onto two rootstocks: 110-Richter (110R) and Sélection Oppenheim 4 (SO4). After subjecting the plants to drought conditions until the onset of embolism in the leaf (P12), we analysed the physiological consequences during recovery. Grapevine exhibits hydraulic vulnerability segmentation not only within scion organs but also between the scion and rootstock. Although no differences in scion drought tolerance and embolism resistance were observed between combinations, Tempranillo-110R exhibited higher leaf minimum conductance, leaf P12 values and root biomass. In contrast, Tempranillo-SO4 displayed larger vessel diameter and higher hydraulic conductance. These differences may explain the slower recovery of Tempranillo-110R compared to Tempranillo-SO4, which showed higher stomatal and root-to-stem hydraulic conductance. These findings suggest that rootstock selection should consider drought resilience alongside vigour and productivity, especially given the increasing the concurrence of severe drought periods due to climate change.

Application of a Random Forest Method to Estimate the Water Use Efficiency on the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau During the 1982–2018 Growing Season

Water use efficiency (WUE) reflects the quantitative relationship between vegetation gross primary productivity (GPP) and surface evapotranspiration (ET), serving as a crucial indicator for assessing the coupling of carbon and water cycles in ecosystems. As a sensitive region to climate change, the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau’s WUE dynamics are of significant scientific interest for understanding carbon water interactions and forecasting future climate trends. However, due to the scarcity of observational data and the unique environmental conditions of the plateau, existing studies show substantial errors in GPP simulation accuracy and considerable discrepancies in ET outputs from different models, leading to uncertainties in current WUE estimates. This study addresses these gaps by first employing a machine learning approach (random forest) to integrate observed GPP flux data with multi-source environmental information, developing a predictive model capable of accurately simulating GPP in the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau (QTP). The accuracy of the random forest simulation results, RF_GPP (R2 = 0.611, RMSE = 69.162 gC·m−2·month−1), is higher than that of the multiple linear regression model, regGPP (R2 = 0.429, RMSE = 86.578 gC·m−2·month−1), and significantly better than the accuracy of the GLASS product, GLASS_GPP (R2 = 0.360, RMSE = 91.764 gC·m−2·month−1). Subsequently, based on observed ET flux data, we quantitatively evaluate ET products from various models and construct a multiple regression model that integrates these products. The accuracy of REG_ET, obtained by integrating five ET products using a multiple linear regression model (R2 = 0.601, RMSE = 21.04 mm·month−1), is higher than that of the product derived through mean processing, MEAN_ET (R2 = 0.591, RMSE = 25.641 mm·month−1). Finally, using the optimized GPP and ET data, we calculate the WUE during the growing season from 1982 to 2018 and analyze its spatiotemporal evolution. In this study, GPP and ET were optimized based on flux observation data, thereby enhancing the estimation accuracy of WUE. On this basis, the interannual variation of WUE was analyzed, providing a data foundation for studying carbon water coupling in QTP ecosystems and supporting the formulation of policies for ecological construction and water resource management in the future.

The 1.5°C global mean warming target: A climate change explainer

Abstract What is the United Nations’ 1.5°C global mean warming target? In the first of an occasional series of explainers on the statistics and data underpinning our understanding of climate change, David B. Stephenson and Andrew Garrett answer some frequently asked questions. This first set of explainers focuses on the famous 1.5°C benchmark that is considered key to avoiding climate catastrophe.

Tracking the Green Transition in the European Union Within the Framework of EU Cohesion Policy: Current Results and Future Paths

Green transition is one of the priority areas in the European Union (EU), and thus also the focus of EU cohesion policy implementation during the 2021–2027 programming period, through “green growth”. To establish adequate guidelines and achieve better outcomes, it is necessary to observe and evaluate current results connected with these aspects. In terms of the complexity of the green transition domains, measuring green transition is still developing. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the approaches that can be used in tracking the green transition as a result of EU cohesion policy implementation and to analyse achievements associated with the green transition. This will be done using desk research, previous studies, documents, evaluation reports and secondary data on the financing under the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIFs) in EU member states, with a special emphasis on themes such as the low-carbon economy, climate change adaptation and risk prevention, environment protection and resource efficiency, and network infrastructure in transport and energy. The paper discusses these results in the context of the current challenges faced by the EU in becoming a leader in the green transition and contributes to the evaluation of the EU cohesion policy.

Power by Proxy: Participation as a Resource in Global Governance

Abstract Member state participation is essential in global governance, affording international organizations (IOs) legitimacy and translating member state preferences into institutional attention. We contend that institutional leadership positions bolster states’ authority via “proxy representation,” in which states are grouped together and indirectly represented by one leader. We argue that by serving as proxy group leaders, even relatively weak states can obtain greater influence in IOs. We examine these expectations in the context of the IMF’s Executive Board, where wealthy states represent themselves directly while other states belong to multi-member constituencies in which leadership often rotates among members. Focusing on issues related to climate change discussions at the IMF—a key concern for Global South countries and an increasingly important issue in international finance—we examine the extent to which countries’ preferences over climate issues are expressed at IMF Board meetings. Using textual data based on 52,551 internal IMF documents from 1987-2017, we find evidence to support our theoretical expectations; states more effectively advance their preferences when they are proxy leaders — this finding holds robustly even for otherwise weak states. These results suggest that even in IOs with highly asymmetric decision-making, weaker states can gain voice through proxy representation. This has important and positive implications for IO legitimacy, as member state participation is integral to the livelihood of these institutions.

Amplified summer wind stilling and land warming compound energy risks in Northern Midlatitudes

Abstract Wind energy plays a critical role in mitigating climate change and meeting growing energy demands. However, the long-term impacts of anthropogenic warming on wind resources, particularly their seasonal variations and potential compounding risks, remain understudied. Here we analyze large-ensemble climate simulations in high-emission scenarios to assess the projected changes in near-surface wind speed and their broader implications. Our analyses show robust wind changes including a decrease of wind speed (i.e., stilling) up to ~15% during the summer months in Northern Midlatitudes. This stilling is linked to amplified warming of the midlatitude land and the overlying troposphere. Despite regional and model uncertainties, robust signals of warming-induced wind stilling will likely emerge from natural climate variations in the late 21st century under the high-emission scenarios. Importantly, the summertime wind stilling coincides with a projected surge in cooling demand, and their compounding may disrupt the energy supply-demand balance earlier. These findings highlight the importance of considering the seasonal responses of wind resources and the associated climate-energy risks in a warming climate. By integrating these insights into future energy planning decisions, we can better adapt to a changing climate and ensure a reliable and resilient energy future.

Modeling Lake Titicaca's water balance: the dominant roles of precipitation and evaporation

Abstract. In the face of climate change and increasing anthropogenic pressures, a reliable water balance is crucial for understanding the drivers of water level fluctuations in large lakes. However, in poorly gauged hydrosystems such as Lake Titicaca, most components of the water balance are not measured directly. Previous estimates for this lake have relied on scaling factors to close the water balance, which introduces additional uncertainty. This study presents an integrated modeling framework based on conceptual models to quantify natural hydrological processes and net irrigation consumption. It was implemented in the Water Evaluation and Planning System (WEAP) platform at a daily time step for the period 1982–2016, considering the following terms of the water balance: upstream inflows, direct precipitation and evaporation over the lake, and downstream outflows. To estimate upstream inflows, we evaluated the impact of snow and ice processes and net irrigation withdrawals on predicted streamflow and lake water levels. We also evaluated the role of heat storage change in evaporation from the lake. The results showed that the proposed modeling framework makes it possible to simulate lake water levels ranging from 3808 to 3812 m a.s.l. with good accuracy (RMSE = 0.32 m d−1) over a wide range of long-term hydroclimatic conditions. The estimated water balance of Lake Titicaca shows that upstream inflows account for 56 % (958 mm yr−1) and direct precipitation over the lake for 44 % (744 mm yr−1) of the total inflows, while 93 % (1616 mm yr−1) of the total outflows are due to evaporation and the remaining 7 % (121 mm yr−1) to downstream outflows. The water balance closure has an error of −15 mm yr−1 without applying scaling factors. Snow and ice processes, together with net irrigation withdrawals, had a minimal impact on variations in the lake water level. Thus, Lake Titicaca is primarily driven by variations in precipitation and high evaporation rates. These results will be useful for supporting decision-making in water resource management. We demonstrate that a simple representation of hydrological processes and irrigation enables accurate simulation of water levels. The proposed modeling framework could be replicated in other poorly gauged large lakes because it is relatively easy to implement, requires few data, and is computationally inexpensive.

A plant endophytic bacterium Burkholderia seminalis strain 869T2 increases plant growth under salt stress by affecting several phytohormone response pathways.

Due to global warming and gradual climate change, plants are subjected to a wide range of environmental stresses, adversely affecting plant growth and production worldwide. Plants have developed various mechanisms to overpower these abiotic stresses, including salt stress, drought, and high light intensity. Apart from their own defense strategies, plants can get help from the beneficial endophytic bacteria inside host plants and assist them in enduring severe growth conditions. A previously isolated plant endophytic bacteria, Burkholderia seminalis 869T2, from vetiver grass can produce auxin, synthesize siderophore, and solubilize phosphate. The B. seminalis 869T2 can colonize inside host plants and increase the growth of bananas, Arabidopsis, and several leafy vegetables. We further demonstrated that different growth parameters of Arabidopsis and pak choi plants were significantly increased after inoculating the B. seminalis 869T2 under normal, salt, and drought stress conditions compared to the mock-inoculated plants. Both transcriptome analysis and quantitative real-time PCR results showed that expression levels of genes related to phytohormone signal transduction pathways, including auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin, and abscisic acid were altered in Arabidopsis plants after inoculated with the strain 869T2 under salt stress, in comparison to the mock-inoculated control with salt treatments. Furthermore, the accumulation levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), electrolyte leakage (EL), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were lower in the 869T2-inoculated Arabidopsis and pak choi plants than in control plants under salt and drought stresses. The plant endophytic bacterium strain B. seminalis 869T2 may affect various phytohormone responses and reduce oxidative stress damage to increase salt and drought stress tolerances of host plants.

Projected impact of climate change on the future distribution of Larrea species in southern South America

Projected impact of climate change on the future distribution of Larrea species in southern South America

Landscape Pattern Changes and Ecological Vulnerability Assessment in Mountainous Regions: A Multi-Scale Analysis of Heishui County, Southwest China

Against the backdrop of intensifying global climate change, the impact of land use pattern changes on ecosystem vulnerability has garnered increasing attention. However, systematic studies concerning the ecological vulnerability of mountainous regions remains inadequate, with relevant policies primarily remaining at the macro-regulation level and lacking specific guidance measures. Taking Heishui County in southwest China as a case study, this research innovatively combines landscape pattern with the sensitivity–pressure–resilience (SPR) model to systematically analyze land use spatiotemporal evolution characteristics, ecological vulnerability and spatial differentiation patterns, and their driving mechanisms across multiple scales, including county, township, and land use types. The findings reveal that the region’s ecological vulnerability exhibits a spatial distribution pattern of “high in the southeast and low in the northwest”, with a radiating decrease from the centers of Longba and Weigu towns. The high degree of farmland landscape fragmentation is identified as a crucial factor contributing to its heightened ecological vulnerability. Geological disasters, human activities, meteorological conditions, and topographical features are the primary driving factors affecting ecological vulnerability intensity. Furthermore, land use pattern changes, characterized by landscape patch fragmentation, lack of dominant patch types, and decreased landscape diversity have further intensified regional ecological vulnerability. This research holds significant theoretical and practical implications for guiding ecological environmental governance in mountainous regions, enhancing ecological resilience, and promoting regional sustainable development.

Effects of Climate Change on the Estimation of Extreme Sea Levels in the Ayeyarwady Sea of Myanmar by Monte Carlo

Comprehensive understanding and prediction of storm surge are vital for coastal hazard mitigation and prevention. To estimate extreme sea levels in the Ayeyarwady Sea of Myanmar, where long-term tidal data are unavailable, a hydrodynamic model capable of simulating storm surge, along with the Monte Carlo method for generating synthetic cyclones, was utilized. The effectiveness of this modeling approach in the Ayeyarwady seas was confirmed through validation against tidal levels and storm surges. After analyzing 17 selected historical cyclones, a synthetic cyclone history comprising 354 events was developed. Simulations driven by the generated cyclones were subsequently conducted. Based on the simulation results, the 50-year, 100-year, 200-year, and 1000-year sea levels at the research station were estimated to be 4.43 m, 4.83 m, 6.06 m, and 7.24 m, respectively. With a 10% intensification of cyclones and a sea level rise of 310 mm, these four vital parameters were predicted to be 5.03 m, 5.48 m, 6.95 m, and 8.43 m. The results of this study confirmed the significant effects of cyclone intensification and sea level rise. Moreover, the results provide valuable scientific insights for flood management and engineering design in the Ayeyarwady Sea of Myanmar.

Access to clean energy in Africa revisited: The roles of women empowerment, corruption control, FDI and sectoral growth.

One of the key contributors to climate change is energy consumption, with the type of energy used having implications on the natural environment and health of users. To promote environmental sustainability and sustainable development, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 aims to achieve accessibility, and affordability of clean and modern forms of energy for all. This study aims to investigate the effects of women empowerment, corruption control, foreign direct investment, and sectoral growth on access to clean energy in Africa, as well as the effects of the interrelatedness of these factors on clean energy access. Using data on 32 countries in Africa from 2002 to 2021 and rigorous econometric techniques, the study finds that women empowerment and corruption control significantly increase access to clean energy in Africa while sectoral analyses show varying effects of growth in the different sectors on clean energy accessibility. Furthermore, it is found that corruption control is not able to reverse situations of adverse effects of some variables on access to clean energy in some cases, likely due to the low levels of corruption control in Africa. The results suggest that African countries could enhance access to clean energy for its citizens and harness the full potential of clean energy, to promote sustainable development and improve the lives of their population, by empowering women, fighting corruption, and cultivating balanced economic growth.