Protected areas and renewable energy consumption: evidence from panel data across multiple countries

Against the global backdrop of accelerating climate change and the urgent need for energy transition, understanding the role of protected areas in shaping renewable energy consumption has become increasingly important. Using panel data covering more than 150 countries worldwide from 2013 to 2022, this study examines the extent to which protected areas shape national renewable energy consumption patterns. The results show that countries with larger shares of terrestrial and marine protected areas