Adoption of nature based solutions for energy transition in rural households of Northern Nigeria

Abstract

Transition to clean energy is crucial to reducing deforestation, improving health and the socio-economic development of developing countries. Little is known about energy transition decision making processes in the poorest areas of the developing world. The present study focuses on the Hadejia Valley in northern Nigeria, which has been affected by the invasion of the Typha spp. plant. The primary aim is to investigate the acceptance and the willingness to adopt and pay for nature-based clean cooking technologies based on Typha spp. spp. biomass, considering socioeconomic and cultural dimensions, while considering gender differences, within the household. The findings indicate that a considerable proportion of individuals are willing to adopt and pay for biogas, particularly women. Hence, our findings indicate that gender (female), concerns about the extensive time employed in cooking, technology concerns and decision-making power, among other factors, significantly influence adoption rates, with notable differences when considering preferences of men and women separately. These results highlight the importance of raising men’s awareness of the benefits of biogas and policies that empower women in decision-making to ensure effective and equitable adoption of the technology in these rural communities. This study may provide guidance to successfully link energy transition with nature-based solution in other contexts.