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<p>The transition toward clean energy is central to achieving sustainable development, yet its localized health co-benefits remain largely underexplored in fossil-fuel-dependent economies, particularly concerning vulnerable populations such as young children. This paper investigates the effects of renewable energy deployment on child health outcomes by leveraging a comprehensive, unbalanced panel dataset of 2,780 Chinese counties spanning the years 2000 to 2020. Employing a population-weighted least squares (WLS) empirical strategy to account for regional heterogeneity, we document a robust protective effect that, an additional 1% increase in per capita installed wind and solar capacity corresponds to a 0.03% reduction in the under-five mortality rate. Heterogeneity analyses reveal that these critical health dividends are disproportionately concentrated in counties characterized by higher carbon emissions, limited coal endowments, lower socioeconomic status, and abundant renewable energy potential. Forward-looking scenario projections suggest that the sustained expansion of wind and solar power infrastructures could yield a substantial 9% to 29% reduction in under-five mortality by 2035. Our study underscores the critical need for integrated and evidence-based policy designs. Aligning the clean energy transition with public health mandates not only mitigates environmental risks but also serves as a potent mechanism to reduce health disparities and foster human capital development.</p>

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Unlocking the health co-benefits of the low-carbon transition: evidence from wind and solar power deployment in China

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月29日

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  • Ru Li,
  • Yan Guo,
  • Chen Zhang

摘要

The transition toward clean energy is central to achieving sustainable development, yet its localized health co-benefits remain largely underexplored in fossil-fuel-dependent economies, particularly concerning vulnerable populations such as young children. This paper investigates the effects of renewable energy deployment on child health outcomes by leveraging a comprehensive, unbalanced panel dataset of 2,780 Chinese counties spanning the years 2000 to 2020. Employing a population-weighted least squares (WLS) empirical strategy to account for regional heterogeneity, we document a robust protective effect that, an additional 1% increase in per capita installed wind and solar capacity corresponds to a 0.03% reduction in the under-five mortality rate. Heterogeneity analyses reveal that these critical health dividends are disproportionately concentrated in counties characterized by higher carbon emissions, limited coal endowments, lower socioeconomic status, and abundant renewable energy potential. Forward-looking scenario projections suggest that the sustained expansion of wind and solar power infrastructures could yield a substantial 9% to 29% reduction in under-five mortality by 2035. Our study underscores the critical need for integrated and evidence-based policy designs. Aligning the clean energy transition with public health mandates not only mitigates environmental risks but also serves as a potent mechanism to reduce health disparities and foster human capital development.