Synergistic effects of regional environmental governance on alleviating energy poverty and promoting household decarbonization

Alleviating energy poverty and lowering carbon emissions are two crucial goals that can help achieve sustainable regional development. However, to make this a reality, it is vital to understand the relationship between environmental governance and these goals, especially at the household level. This study utilizes microdata from the 2012–2020 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) to construct models. We examine the synergies between reducing household energy poverty and emissions mitigation under regional policies, aiming to solve the long-standing energy poverty problem and reduce carbon emissions. Our findings emphasize that China's environmental governance exhibits significant synergies by concurrently addressing household energy security and promoting carbon reductions through integrated policy approaches. The efficacy and synergy depend critically on optimizing energy consumption structure, decreasing carbon intensity, and enabling technological advancement. These insights highlight the importance of top-level government design in balancing energy security and emissions reductions. Recommendations include establishing a robust governance framework to coordinate energy and climate goals while integrating climate and ecological governance regulations. The income-differentiated analysis provides valuable guidance for policymakers seeking to alleviate energy poverty and strengthen decarbonization, underscoring the importance of targeted interventions for disadvantaged households.