Socio-economic conditions for satisfying human needs at low energy use: An international analysis of social provisioning

Meeting human needs at sustainable levels of energy use is fundamental for avoiding catastrophic climate change and securing the well-being all people. In current political-economic regime, no country does so. Here, we assess which socio-economic conditions might enable societies to satisfy low use, reconcile with mitigation. Using a novel analytical framework alongside multivariate regression-based moderation approach data 106 countries, analyse how relationship between six dimensions need satisfaction varies wide range factors relevant provisioning goods services ('provisioning factors'). We find that such as public service quality, income equality, democracy, electricity access are associated higher lower requirements (‘beneficial factors’). Conversely, extractivism economic growth beyond moderate affluence greater (‘detrimental Our results suggest improving beneficial abandoning detrimental ones could countries provide sufficient much lower, ecologically use. However, key pillars required changes in run contrary dominant broader transformation system may be prioritise, organise for,