Does energy consumption endanger public longevity? An analysis of 34 major energy-consuming countries

Abstract

Energy consumption mode largely affects the quality of public living environment. We examine the effect of energy consumption on public longevity based on the data of 34 major energy-consumption countries. Our results show that both energy use per capita (use scale) and GDP per unit of energy use (use efficiency) push forward the rise of public longevity with the former effect more positive. This trend is also applicable to energy exporting and importing countries as well as high and middle-income countries of our sample. Further, GHG emission per capita and PM10 concentration mainly caused by energy consumption weakly endanger public longevity. In addition, both education and healthcare resources help to enhance public longevity. Heterogeneity test shows that public longevity in energy importing and high-income countries is more sensitive to the change of pollutants emission than that in energy exporting and middle-income countries. Briefly, energy consumption does not severely endanger public longevity, hence compared with declining consumption scale, reducing pollutants emission should be first addressed.