학술논문
Energy Consumption, Energy Distribution, and Clean Energy Use Together Affect Life Expectancy
Document Type
Academic Journal
Source
Sustainability. January 2024, Vol. 16 Issue 2
Subject
Language
English
ISSN
2071-1050
Abstract
Author(s): Lisbeth Weitensfelder [1]; Hanns Moshammer (corresponding author) [1,2,*]; Oral Ataniyazova [2] 1. Introduction Societies generally strive to reach a (non-disabled) high life expectancy, most preferably with high living standards. [...]
Background: Energy use per capita is a measure of the wealth of a population. A minimum of wealth or energy is certainly needed to achieve good living standards and a healthy life. Life expectancy at birth might be used as an indicator of overall health and well-being. We hypothesized that the effect of energy use on life expectancy does reach a limit, above which further energy use does not further increase life expectancy. Methods: We used global World Bank data for the years between 1972 and 2014 on national energy use and life expectancy and applied non-linear models searching for a threshold. We also controlled for distribution inequalities. Results: There is a clear upper threshold for the effects of energy use, but this threshold did not remain completely constant over the years. Conclusions: While a certain level of wealth and energy use is necessary for health and well-being, there is a certain threshold beyond which additional energy consumption has no beneficial effects. A more even distribution of wealth and energy within a population and the use of cleaner energy sources might, above a certain level, be more important than the average use of energy.
Background: Energy use per capita is a measure of the wealth of a population. A minimum of wealth or energy is certainly needed to achieve good living standards and a healthy life. Life expectancy at birth might be used as an indicator of overall health and well-being. We hypothesized that the effect of energy use on life expectancy does reach a limit, above which further energy use does not further increase life expectancy. Methods: We used global World Bank data for the years between 1972 and 2014 on national energy use and life expectancy and applied non-linear models searching for a threshold. We also controlled for distribution inequalities. Results: There is a clear upper threshold for the effects of energy use, but this threshold did not remain completely constant over the years. Conclusions: While a certain level of wealth and energy use is necessary for health and well-being, there is a certain threshold beyond which additional energy consumption has no beneficial effects. A more even distribution of wealth and energy within a population and the use of cleaner energy sources might, above a certain level, be more important than the average use of energy.