Examining the nexus of clean energy access, adaptive governance and resilient futures for Africa: A novel empirical approach

This study examines the relationship between the progress of human development (HD), the adoption of clean fuel technologies (CFT), and the preservation of environmental sustainability in African economies between 2001 and 2021. The outcomes using fixed effects and random effects (FE & RE) models and robust FGLS application show that household energy consumption (HHEC) and investment boost HD but raise carbon emissions (CE). The use of CFT is critical since it improves HD and positively affects sustainable environmental practices. The impact of government regulation is regarded as detrimental to both HD and CE. Energy access is advantageous for human progress but upsurges in the CE. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita significantly impact HD, whereas growth in forest areas positively impacts environmental sustainability. The expenditures on health and education foster human capital and advance HD; however, age dependency hinders it. The consistency of our findings is confirmed through rigorous testing using FGLS, which consistently corresponds with FE & RE outcomes. Similarly, the variables exhibit bidirectional causality in country-specific cases. The outcomes suggest that CFT enhances human development and promotes a sustainable environment.