According to pip docstring it will use pkg_resources on < python 3.11 but can be forced with this env var.

matteius · matteius · commit 82f6d3a7f7c3 · 2024-04-23T23:50:00.000-04:00
diff --git a/pipenv/__init__.py b/pipenv/__init__.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 
 # Load patched pip instead of system pip
 os.environ["PIP_DISABLE_PIP_VERSION_CHECK"] = "1"
-os.environ["_PIP_USE_IMPORTLIB_METADATA"] = "1"
+os.environ["PIP_USE_IMPORTLIB_METADATA"] = "1"
 
 
 def _ensure_modules():
