Climate change, renewable energy, institutional factors, and environmental determinants of food availability in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region: Implications for food security during and after the COVID-19 pandemic

Food availability remains a challenge in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development region, where institutional weaknesses, environmental degradation, and external shocks constrain agricultural production. This study analyzes seven IGAD countries from 2011–2022 using a fixed-effects model with Driscoll–Kraay standard errors. Renewable energy significantly improves food availability (β = 0.640, p < .01), while CO2 emissions (β = −66.174, p < .05) and forest-area changes (β = −158.032, p < .01) have negative effects. Political stability is weaker, while fertilizer and arable land are insignificant. The findings support renewable energy, environmental management, and progress toward SDGs 2, 7, and 13.