Environmental Justice Interventions and Poverty Alleviation in Climate-Vulnerable Regions: Evidence from South Asia

Abstract

This study explores how environmental justice interventions impact rural poverty reduction in seven South Asian countries from 1999 to 2023, focusing on gender and pro-poor linkages. Rural poverty in South Asia is exacerbated by structural inequalities, climate change, and limited access to resources. Environmental justice, including clean energy, sustainable water management, and agricultural innovations, is a critical pathway to poverty alleviation, yet its mechanisms remain understudied. Using panel data from World Governance Indicators (WGI) and World Development Indicators (WDI), the study employed advanced econometric techniques such as fixed effects and fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) models to analyze causal relationships among key variables. Access to electricity emerged as the most significant driver of poverty reduction. GDP per capita strongly correlated with poverty alleviation, while climate impacts on agriculture and healthcare expenditure showed nuanced, context-dependent effects. Policymakers should integrate equitable resource distribution, sustainable development, and climate resilience into coordinated frameworks aligned with global sustainability goals. Micro-level and longitudinal studies are suggested for future research.