Pathways to Sustainable Human Development: Modeling the Integrated Effects of Energy Transition, Digital Transformation, and Environmental Quality on Health Outcomes

ABSTRACT

Rising health inequalities across developing regions have intensified the need to understand how energy transitions, environmental pressures, and digital transformation jointly shape population well‐being. In MERCOSUR countries, where energy access disparities and pollution burdens persist, identifying the multidimensional drivers of health outcomes is essential for achieving Sustainable Development goals. Guided by the health production model (HPM), human capital theory (HCT), and energy transition theory (ETT), this study examines how renewable energy access, clean cooking adoption, digitalization (DIG), healthcare expenditure, and environmental pollution influence infant mortality, maternal mortality, and life expectancy. The study used panel data from 2000 to 2022 and applied Generalized Quantile Regression, complemented by Kernel regularized least squares (KRLS) to improve the robustness of the estimates. The analysis reveals heterogeneous health effects across the distribution. Green energy and access to clean cooking consistently lower mortality and increase longevity, with the most substantial improvements observed among the most vulnerable quantiles. DIG and healthcare spending also enhance health outcomes, though their effects strengthen more gradually toward the upper quantiles. Conversely, carbon emissions (CEM) and PM2.5 pollution significantly worsen all health indicators, with disproportionate harm in high‐risk groups. KRLS results confirm these directional and nonlinear impacts. By integrating HPM–HCT perspectives, the study provides a comprehensive empirical understanding of quantile‐specific health determinants and actionable insights for targeted policy interventions to accelerate equitable and sustainable health.