When Climate Protection Prices out the Poor
The Resilience Paradox in Energy Access
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 10251902 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Xue Lei (0000-0002-0348-3816, School of Management Shanghai University Shanghai China, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 79 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 285-301 |
| Publication date | 2026-02-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Kyklos (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0023-5962 • E-ISSN: 1467-6435 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/kykl.70032 |
| OpenAlex | W4416237431 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 34 |
When governments invest millions in climate‐resilient power grids, an unexpected consequence emerges: Energy bills soar so high that vulnerable families can no longer afford basic electricity. This study investigates how extreme climate risks influence household energy poverty through multiple transmission channels using comprehensive panel data linking household energy consumption patterns with detailed climate indicators. We find that extreme climate risks significantly exacerbate household energy poverty, creating what we term “adaptive inequality” where climate protection becomes a luxury good. The analysis reveals distinct transmission pathways: Infrastructure disruption increases system failure rates, while temperature extremes drive energy price volatility that disproportionately burdens low‐income households. Heterogeneity analysis shows that families in regions with incomplete energy infrastructure, high natural disaster vulnerability, and limited economic resources face particularly severe impacts. Our findings demonstrate that climate adaptation creates “selective vulnerability” where identical policies simultaneously protect wealthy households while pushing poor ones into energy deprivation. These results challenge current policy frameworks that focus on building resilient systems while ignoring distributional consequences, suggesting the need for frameworks ensuring resilience does not become another form of social exclusion
Climate change · Climate risk · Consumption (sociology) · Energy poverty · Extreme weather · Natural disaster · Poverty · Psychological resilience · Resilience (materials science) · Volatility (finance) · Energy and Environment Impacts · Sustainability and Climate Change Governance · Water-Energy-Food Nexus Studies
Measuring energy poverty
The distributional impact of climate change on rich and poor countries
Are environmental problems a barometer of corruption in the eyes of residents? Evidence from China
Citizens' attitudes towards climate mitigation policies
Linking Housing Conditions and Energy Poverty
When Hurricanes Rewrite Balance Sheets
Understanding the adaptation deficit
Climate Justice and Capabilities
Can renewable energy technology innovation alleviate energy poverty? Perspective from the marketization level
The electoral consequences of the political divide on climate change
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |