Page 18 - GHES-3-1

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Energy consumption and life expectancy in West Africa

5. Conclusion and recommendations transportation, construction, and operation of industrial-
scale ‘renewable energy’ systems.” Moreover, wind energy
5.1. Conclusion also “involves socially and ecologically destructive mining
The study extended the literature by aggregating countries in processes that produce large amounts of mining tailings (or
West Africa with similar income levels to explore the energy waste) containing heavy metals, thorium and radioactive
consumption–life expectancy relationship and the role materials that go into the air, water, soil, animals and
played by corruption on life expectancy. This aggregation people’s bodies” (Dunlap, 2021). This implies that there are
was performed because we consider income to be a major limits to renewable energy resources use.
determinant of the ability to transition from unclean to As non-renewable energy consumption has a negative
clean energy sources. Therefore, aggregating countries and significant effect on life expectancy, we recommend
with different income levels may yield misleading results. that policymakers provide a conducive business
As such, this study concentrated on lower-middle-income
countries in West Africa. The results showed that renewable environment that is politically stable and provides effective
governance and infrastructure to foster economic growth,
energy consumption has a significant and positive impact on reduce corruption, drive innovation, and consequently,
life expectancy both in the short and long run. In contrast, improve access to energy.
non-renewable energy consumption has a significant and
negative impact on life expectancy in the long run. These The positive relationship found between GDP per capita
results are instructive. The negative consequences of non- and life expectancy underscores the intricate connection
renewable energy consumption do not readily manifest in between economic development and health outcomes. It
the immediate term but their devastating effects will manifest is important to improve living standards by raising the per
themselves in the long run, by which time considerable capita income of the lower-middle-income West African
damage would have been done to the environment and countries. Policymakers should consider this relationship
human health. The positive relationship between renewable when formulating strategies for sustainable development
energy consumption and life expectancy explains the that prioritize both economic growth and human health.
clamor for energy transition. While this energy transition
is progressing steadily in many developed countries, Africa 5.3. Study limitations
lags far behind. Furthermore, corruption was implicated as a This study only investigated the impact of energy
significant factor in diminishing life expectancy both in the consumption and corruption on life expectancy in lower-
short and long run. This finding strongly suggests that the middle-income countries in West Africa. The findings
gains from high income could dissipate due to corruption, would be more robust if this study were extended to include
slowing down the transition to renewable energy and the low-income countries in West Africa as that would allow
consequent deterioration in health from prolonged use for a comparison between outcomes. This comparison
of non-renewable energy. Therefore, we recommend that would have enhanced the quality of this study.
West African countries should embrace renewable energy
and reduce the consumption of non-renewable energy to Acknowledgments
improve life expectancy. All forms of corruption should None.
be tackled, especially in the healthcare sector. Finally,
we recommend that as income is key to an improved life Funding
expectancy, policymakers should place an emphasis on pro- None.
poor growth.
5.2. Recommendations Conflict of interest
Given that renewable energy consumption has a positive The authors declare they have no conflicts of interest.
and significant impact on life expectancy, we recommend Author contributions
that governments must move consciously and deliberately
toward a transition to renewable energy use through Conceptualization: Benedict Ikemefuna Uzoechina
partnerships with the private sector to provide affordable Data Curation: Benedict Ikemefuna Uzoechina, Geraldine
and clean energy. However, policymakers should not Amaka Ekwoh
ignore the observation of Dunlap (2021) that “renewable Writing–original draft: Benedict Ikemefuna Uzoechina,
energy also requires immense amounts of mineral and John Ndubuisi Edeh, Priscilla Chika Imoagwu
fossil fuel resources, both in the construction of machinery Writing–review & editing: Eze Anoke Eze, Geraldine
necessary for extraction and for the manufacturing, Amaka Ekwoh, James Okechukwu Ezekwike

Volume 3 Issue 1 (2025) 10 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.3518