Addressing　energy　poverty　via　expanding　renewable　energy　sources　and　advancing　sustainable　development　strategy　is　a　crucial　goal　for　developing　nations.　Therefore,　the　study　aims　to　investigate　relationships　between　carbon　dioxide　emission,　renewable　and　nonrenewable　energy　resources,　economic　growth,　urbanization,　and　energy　poverty　in　the　North　African　region,　namely:　Tunisia,　Sudan,　Morocco,　Libya,　and　Egypt　from　1993　to　2021,　by　employing　Panel　PMG　ARDL　and　Granger　causality　approaches.　According　to　empirical　results,　addressing　energy　poverty　(access　to　electricity),　economic　growth,　and　using　renewable　and　nonrenewable　energy　sources　worsen　the　environment.　Two-way　causal　relationships　are　founded　between　environmental　deterioration　and　other　variables:　economic　growth,　energy　resources,　and　urbanization.　Based　on　the　findings,　policymakers　should　step　up　their　efforts　to　promote　green　urbanization　and　alleviate　energy　poverty　through　renewable　energy　sources.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd