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Energy Poverty, Gender Justice, and Eco-Theology: A Green Gospel Approach to Transforming Household Energy Transitions in The Global South

Pius Barinaadaa Kii, PhD, Kaaka, Fegalo J.D.

Abstract

Energy poverty in the Global South constitutes a multidimensional injustice, disproportionately impacting women through constrained health, limited educational opportunities, and reduced economic and social agency. This study interrogates the intersection of energy access, gender justice, and eco-theological ethics, advancing a Green Gospel framework as a culturally and morally grounded approach to household energy transitions. Employing a qualitative-dominant mixed-methods design, the research integrates case studies, key informant interviews with women’s groups, faith leaders, and energy practitioners, and thematic analysis of policy and scholarly literature. Findings demonstrate persistent gendered energy burdens, including exposure to household air pollution, time poverty, and structural barriers in male-dominated energy governance systems. Eco- theological principles embedded in Christianity, Islam, and indigenous faiths provide ethical and behavioral levers that reinforce stewardship, communal responsibility, and gender- sensitive adoption of clean energy technologies. The study identifies synergistic outcomes where energy access enhances women’s mobility, decision-making autonomy, and economic agency while mitigating health and safety risks. The analysis underscores the limitations of purely technical interventions and advocates for integrating faith-based institutions, ethical education, and gender-responsive financing mechanisms into national and community energy programs. The Green Gospel approach offers a normative, socially resonant pathway for achieving Sustainable Development Goals 5, 7, and 13 by embedding justice, equity, and ecological responsibility into energy transition processes. Policy recommendations emphasize institutionalizing faith-based collaboration, prioritizing women’s empowerment in clean energy deployment, and fostering community-level ethical consciousness to catalyze transformative household

Keywords

Energy poverty; Gender justice; Eco-theology; Household energy transitions; Green Gospel framework

References

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