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Is Digital Adoption the way forward to Curb Energy Poverty?

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  • Wang, Ping
  • Han, Wei
  • Kumail Abbas Rizvi, Syed
  • Naqvi, Bushra

Abstract

In the recent years, several studies have investigated the technology-emission nexus, but overlooked the effect of technology penetration and digital adoption by society, businesses, and the government. This readiness to embrace the digitization of processes is the direct outcome of technological innovation and R&D investment, particularly in matters relating to the environment by changing the energy structure in the form of electricity generation. This study, therefore, investigates the role of digital adoption in coping with the broader issue of energy poverty and environmental protection. Electricity generation from fossil fuels (EG) and the digital adoption index (DAI), and its sub-indexes are the major variables that have been used in this study. In this regard, the study assesses how the level of technology adoption in an economy essentially affects electricity generation, and consequently the climate. Our results exhibit that digital adoption leads to a reduction in electricity generation, and also indicate that digital adoption can make the environment better by bringing efficiencies in the use of electricity, and by reducing the use of fossil fuels.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Ping & Han, Wei & Kumail Abbas Rizvi, Syed & Naqvi, Bushra, 2022. "Is Digital Adoption the way forward to Curb Energy Poverty?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:180:y:2022:i:c:s0040162522002487
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2022.121722
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Digital adoption; Energy poverty; Electricity generation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N70 - Economic History - - Economic History: Transport, International and Domestic Trade, Energy, and Other Services - - - General, International, or Comparative
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • O14 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology
    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation

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