Protocol for a scoping review of theorised pathways between home energy decarbonisation and health and health inequalities

Abstract

Introduction: Access to adequate energy in the home is necessary for a healthy and well life, however current energy use, particularly in high-income countries, is unsustainable. Decarbonisation of home energy can benefit climate mitigation and health but there is the potential to create new, or compound existing, inequalities in health if not implemented equitably. Mapping the theoretical causal pathways between home decarbonisation and health will contribute to further understanding of these mechanisms. Aims: Firstly, to identify theoretical pathways between decarbonisation of home energy and health and health inequalities in high-income countries, and secondly, to synthesise these into a putative causal evidence map. Inclusion criteria: All populations in high-income countries are included, as defined by the World Bank in 2023/24. Included concepts are decarbonisation of home energy, and health and health inequalities. Context for this review comprises of the inclusion of a clear theory linking the concepts. All study designs are included. Methods: This protocol is for a review of theories rather than of intervention effectiveness. Medline/OVID, Scopus, and EconLit will be searched, with no limitation on date. Relevant international policy websites will also be searched. The search is limited to papers in English. Citation tracing may identify further relevant papers. Abstracts and full texts will be screened using Rayyan. At least 10% will be double-screened, and the rest screened by one author, and included full texts will be screened until data saturation is reached. Study inclusion is based on consistency with the inclusion criteria, with some flexibility allowed due to the theoretical nature of this review. Data extracted from papers will be used to develop a diagrammatic map of pathways.