Energy policies for sustainable livelihoods and sustainable development of poor areas in China

►Energy consumption characteristics of the study areas are as follows: low per capita energy consumption, high proportion of non-commercial energy, low utilization rate of new energy resources, etc. ►Physical conditions, socio-economic factors, energy endowment, and transportation conditions are the major affecting factors of energy consumption and characteristic indexes of energy policy zoning. ►According to the matrix classification of both the suitability for energy development and types of regional energy endowment, the poor areas in China can be divided into three energy policy-oriented zones.