Grid-based environmental governance and the energy transition of rural households: evidence from the China labor-force dynamics survey

Introduction We examine whether grid-based environmental governance promotes clean cooking fuel use among rural households through local grassroots governance and public service delivery. Methods We exploit the staggered rollout across Chinese cities as a natural experiment and link policy timing to rural household panel data from the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey covering 2012 to 2018. A multi-period difference-in-differences design identifies the policy effect. Results The policy significantly increases clean cooking fuel adoption. The mechanism estimates suggest three main channels: wider social security coverage, greater participation in public affairs, and higher household income. Effects are stronger in areas with weaker digital infrastructure, higher levels of human capital or urbanization, and among households with younger heads. Discussion Embedding environmental duties in local information collection, case referral, and public service networks allows the policy to ease information and service constraints during rural household energy transition. The findings suggest that stronger grassroots environmental governance can promote clean energy use across rural areas.