Factors influencing the material footprint in the USA.

Using novel approaches, namely Fourier autoregressive distributive lag (F-ADL) cointegration and nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (N-ARDL), this article analyzes how infrastructure investment and environmental R&D affected the material footprint from 1995Q1 to 2019Q4 in the USA while controlling financial development and economic growth. The outcomes reveal that (i) a reduction in the material footprint can be achieved through increasing environmentally related R&D; (ii) by increasing the environmental R&D, material consumption can be used more effectively; (iii) an increase in financial development leads to an increase in the material footprint; and (iv) the slowdown of the economy contributes to efficient material consumption. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-8. © 2024 SETAC.

Role of energy transition in easing energy security risk and decreasing CO2 emissions: Disaggregated level evidence from the USA by quantile-based models.

Consistent with the increasing environmental interest, the clean energy transition is highly critical to achieving decarbonization targets. Also, energy security has become an important topic under the shadow of the energy crisis,. Accordingly, countries have been trying to stimulate clean energy use to preserve the environment and ensure energy security. So, considering the leading role of economic size and volume of energy use, the study examines the USA to define whether energy transition helps decrease energy security risk (ESR) and curb CO2 emissions. So, the study applies a disaggregated level analysis by performing quantile-based models for the period from 2001/Q1 through 2022/Q4. The results demonstrate that (i) the energy transition index decreases environmental ESR at higher quantiles and reliability ESR at lower and middle quantiles, whereas it is not beneficial in declining economic and geopolitical ESR; (ii) energy transition curbs CO2 emissions in building and transport sectors at lower quantiles, whereas it does not help decrease CO2 emissions in industrial and power sectors; (iii) energy transition is mostly ineffective on ESR, whereas it is highly effective in curbing CO2 emissions in all sectors except for transport across various quantiles as time passes; (iv) the results differ according to the aggregated and disaggregated levels; (v) the results are consistent across main and alternative models. Hence, the study highlights the dominant effect of energy transition in curbing sectoral CO2 emissions rather than easing ESR. Accordingly, the study discusses various policy implications for the USA.

Can undergoing renewable energy transition assist the BRICS countries in achieving environmental sustainability?

The BRICS countries ratified the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals agenda whereby ensuring environmental sustainability is of paramount importance for these emerging market economies. Although the BRICS nations have recorded noteworthy economic growth trajectories over the last couple of decades, these nations have not fared well in terms of improving their environmental indicators, especially due to gradually becoming more fossil fuel dependent over time. Hence, this study aims to explore whether undergoing the renewable energy transition can directly and indirectly establish environmental sustainability in the BRICS countries by containing their annual growth rates of carbon dioxide emissions. Additionally, the emission growth rate-influencing effects of technological innovation, foreign direct investment receipts, urbanization, and institutional quality are also evaluated. Based on data spanning from 1996 to 2021 and considering the result obtained using advanced panel data estimators, the findings endorse that the yearly carbon emission growth rates are (a) unaffected by undergoing the renewable energy transition on its own; (b) positively impacted by technological innovation, net receipts of foreign direct investment, and urbanization; and (c) negatively impacted by improving institutional quality through effective controlling of the spread of corruption. More importantly, the results verify the joint carbon emission growth rate-mitigating impact of renewable energy transition and institutional quality improvement. Hence, for abating the emission growth rate figures, several policies are prescribed.

Do environmental taxes, environmental innovation, and energy resources matter for environmental sustainability: Evidence of five sustainable economies.

This study explores the relationship between environmental taxation, environmental technologies, energy resources, and consumption-based carbon emissions in five leading green economies from 2000 to 2019. The study applied the Cross-Sectional Auto-Regressive Distributed Lag (CS-ARDL) model to derive benchmark results, with Augmented Mean Group (AMG) and Common Correlated Effect Mean Group (CCEMG) techniques being utilized for conducting robustness analyses. The empirical findings suggest that environmental taxation, environmental innovations, and the consumption of renewable energy are associated with a reduction in consumption-based carbon emissions, thereby contributing to enhanced environmental sustainability. Conversely, the utilization of non-renewable energy is linked to an increase in consumption-based carbon emissions. These results align with the objectives outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals' 2030 agenda, particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 13 (Climate Action), offering valuable policy implications.

Environmental taxes and environmental quality in Canada.

This paper aims to capture the effect of environmentally related taxes on environmental quality in Canada while controlling economic growth, financial development, and energy consumption over the period of 1990Q1 to 2020Q4. The present study employs novel econometric approaches, namely, the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (N-ARDL) test and the gradual shift causality (GS-C) test. The outcomes of the study reveal that (i) there is long-run cointegration equation between environmental taxes (E-TAX), carbon dioxide emissions (CO2E), economic growth (ECG), financial development (FD), and primary energy consumption (PREC); (ii) E-TAX causes to decrease in environmental degradation in Canada; (iii) PREC and ECG increase (and cause) environmental degradation in Canada; and (iv) financial development also positively affect the environmental sustainability. This effort may also be of great importance for policymakers and decision-makers to better understand the factors of environmental degradation for developing effective tax policies that will alleviate human impacts and contribute to reducing environmental degradation.

Do green logistics and green finance matter for achieving the carbon neutrality goal?

Global warming, a persistent issue, needs comprehensive solutions. Shifting to sustainable resources and promoting green initiatives like green logistics, green investments, and environmental policies (such as environmental technology and environmental tax) are potential ways to address this challenge. The current study explores relationships between these factors and transportation emissions in China, with a focus on achieving the 2060 carbon neutrality goal. To investigate the research gap, the study employs the novel econometric, method of moments quantile regression (MMQR) for benchmark estimation and the bootstrap quantile regression (BSQR) technique for sensitivity estimations from 2000/Q1 to 2019/Q4, and the study confirms the hypothesis of "carbon neutrality." The results reveal that green logistics and green finance have a negative impact on transportation emissions across all quantiles. Environmental technology, environmental tax, and renewable energy also help reduce transportation emissions. On the contrary, economic growth increases transportation emissions, with a greater effect in the early quantile stages but a diminishing impact in later stages. Based on the study's findings, policymakers should prioritize sustainable development strategies to achieve the goal of "carbon neutrality." Implementing green logistics and promoting green investments are essential steps in this direction. Additionally, greater support should be given to the renewable energy sector, green technologies, and sustainable growth to achieve the carbon neutrality goal in China by 2060.

Green technologies, government stability, and green energy transition in a globalized world: evidence from E-7 nations.

Unsustainable development and rising environmental degradation are major challenges for emerging nations that tend to promote human welfare by expanding economic development. Green energy transition (GETR) can help these nations to continue their development, reduce fossil fuel utilization, and achieve environmental sustainability. However, previous literature overlooks the importance of green technologies, government stability, and economic globalization in the GETR process. Accordingly, this research takes a step forward and assesses the impacts of green technologies (GT), government stability (GOV), and economic globalization (EGL) on green energy transition including population density (POP) and economic growth (GDP) in emerging seven (E-7) countries from 1992 to 2020. The research applied the "continuously updated fully modified (CuP-FM)" methodology to acquire the long-run findings robust to endogeneity stationary regressors, autocorrelation, and cross-sectional dependence (CD). The results highlighted that green technologies can be enhanced to accelerate the energy transition process since GETR and green technologies are positively connected. Also, government stability and economic globalization support the green energy transition. However, both population density and economic growth obstruct the energy transition process. The Emirmahmutoglu and Kose test unveiled that green technologies, economic globalization, and government stability Granger cause the green energy transition. Based on these findings, policies are directed to promote the GETR by enhancing green technologies, economic globalization, and government stability for achieving ecological sustainability.

Role of natural gas and nuclear energy consumption in fostering environmental sustainability in India.

This paper investigates the role of nuclear energy in promoting ecological sustainability in India, focusing on three ecological indicators: ecological footprint (EF), CO2 emissions (CO2), and load capacity factor (LF). In addition to nuclear energy, the study considers the influence of gas consumption and other drivers of ecological sustainability using data spanning from 1970 to 2018. The analysis also takes into account the impact of the 2008 global financial crisis on the model, employing the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) and frequency domain causality approaches to assess the relationships. Unlike previous studies, this research evaluates both the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) and load capacity curve (LCC) hypotheses. The ARDL results support the validity of both the EKC and LCC hypotheses in the Indian context. Furthermore, the findings reveal that nuclear energy and human capital contribute positively to ecological quality, while gas consumption and economic growth have a negative impact on ecological sustainability. The study also highlights the increasing effect of the 2008 global financial crisis on ecological sustainability. Additionally, the causality analysis demonstrates that nuclear energy, human capital, gas consumption, and economic growth can serve as predictors of long-term ecological sustainability in India. Based on these findings, the research presents policy recommendations that can guide efforts towards achieving SDGs 7 and 13.

Energy productivity, financial stability, and environmental degradation in an Eastern European country: Evidence from novel Fourier approaches.

The global transition to net zero is largely based on the existential threats of carbon emissions to humanity and global sustainability. Policymakers have committed to finding pathways that reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted. To get insights for policy making, this study aims at investigating the effect of financial stability and energy productivity on environmental degradation in Bulgaria using novel Fourier estimators. The outcomes of the study indicate (i) both energy productivity and financial stability have positive effects on environmental degradation; (ii) rising economic growth exerts a positive effect on CO2 emissions. The outcomes offer weighty policy insights on energy productivity investments for the government of Bulgaria, particularly on smart energy technologies; energy productivity financing; smart manufacturing; efficient transportation, energy use behavioral change, and smart water infrastructure. Additionally, the government of Bulgaria could enact policies for financial stability improvements; and for controlling fossil fuel-facilitated economic growth. Finally, given that price stability policy focus failed during the 2008 global financial crisis, a major policy focus could be to improve on the new macroprudential policy framework for Bulgarian Central Bank towards delivering financial stability and environmental sustainability.

Environmental innovation and environmental sustainability in a Nordic country: evidence from nonlinear approaches.

Environmental sustainability has been a priority of energy study experts, yet, until recently, the approaches largely ignored innovation issues. This paper investigates the relationship between environmental innovation and environmental sustainability in a Nordic country, Norway, from 1990:Q1 to 2019:Q4. In Norway, climate change, protection of the ozone layer, biodiversity, urbanization, acidification, eutrophication, persistently high toxic waste, and increased fragility have injected volatility and uncertainty into the Norwegians-a reality that may continue for a while. This study is unique in that it uses the nonlinear ARDL approach to analyze in depth how environmental innovation affects environmental sustainability in Norway while controlling for economic growth, renewable energy, and financial development. In particular, the findings reveal that (i) environmental innovation improves the environment in Norway over long-term horizons; (ii) strengthening patents on environmental innovations can foster clean living, green growth, and zero CO2 emissions; (iii) investing in renewable energy sources benefits the Norwegian environment by reducing carbon emission growth; and (iv) economic growth and financial development promote CO2 emission growth. The policy consequence is that Norway's policymakers should continue to invest in cleaner technologies and encourage environmental education and training of employees, suppliers, and consumers.

Energy productivity and environmental degradation in the Netherlands: evidence from the novel Fourier-based estimators.

Due to the incessant quest for economic growth, global energy demand has increased to a level that requires urgent rethinking. The Netherlands depends heavily on traditional energy sources, which are finite and equally emit a lot of greenhouse gasses, causing further environmental destruction. To sustain economic growth and protect the ecosystem, it is crucial for the Netherlands to consume energy efficiently. Given that policy directions are required, this paper investigates the effect of energy productivity on environmental degradation in the Netherlands between 1990Q1 and 2019Q4, using the Fourier ARDL (autoregressive distributed lag) and Fourier Toda-Yamamoto causality approaches. The Fourier ADL estimates indicate that all variables are cointegrated. Additionally, the long-run Fourier ARDL estimates indicate that investments in energy productivity could help reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the Netherlands. Furthermore, the Fourier Toda-Yamamoto causality outcomes suggest that energy productivity, economic growth, and renewable energy consumption have a unidirectional causal effect on CO2 emissions. These revealing outcomes provide significant policy insights for the Netherlands' energy productivity objectives in their new energy policy proposed in 2022. The government could, through the new energy policy, increase investment in smart meters and review existing fossil fuel subsidies and energy trade taxes. Additionally, the government could consider reviewing the Netherlands' economic structure by increasing the share of the primary and tertiary sectors to the rising economic growth to reduce energy consumption.

Corrigendum to "CO2 behavior amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom: The role of renewable and non-renewable energy development" [Renew. Energy 189 (2022) 492-501].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2022.02.111.].

Insights from Poland on the long-run effect of energy productivity on environmental degradation: a Fourier ARDL-based approach.

The globally increasing trend of fossil fuel consumption has culminated in a historical degradation of the environment and the rising threat of global warming. Researchers and policymakers aim at examining critical relationships between energy productivity and environmental degradation to make recommendations for global policy action. This paper aims to capture the effect of energy productivity on environmental degradation in Poland from 1990Q1 to 2019Q4, using novel Fourier-bases ADF unit root and Fourier-based ARDL approaches. First, outcomes of the Fourier ARDL bounds test indicate that variables are integrated; second, outcomes of the Fourier ARDL long-run estimates indicate that (i) energy productivity has long-run negative effects on CO2 emissions; and (ii) economic growth, globalization, and primary energy consumption have positive effects on CO2 emissions. Among the options available to Polish policymakers are (i) liberalizing domestic energy markets to offer an opportunity for electricity consumers to switch companies and (ii) continuing to pursue a policy of decarbonizing energy supply by investing heavily in renewable energy, nuclear power, e-mobility, and energy productivity.

The effect of mineral saving and energy on the ecological footprint in an emerging market: evidence from novel Fourier based approaches.

Environmental degradation has been one of the hot topics discussed since the 1980s. In the literature, CO2 emissions are generally used to represent environmental degradation. However, in this study, environmental degradation is examined in the context of ecological footprint. The study aims to investigate the effect of economic growth, energy consumption, and mineral saving on the ecological footprint in Turkey for the period of 1975-2017. For this purpose, the bootstrap autoregressive distributed lag model with a Fourier function (FARDL) method is utilized to test the long-term relationship between the variables. The findings indicate a long-term relationship between the variables. In addition, long-run estimation results based on the FARDL model show that economic growth and mineral saving increase the ecological footprint in Turkey. The conclusion discusses these findings and presents long-term policy recommendations for Turkey.

Consumption-based CO2 emissions in Denmark: The role of financial stability and energy productivity.

Climate change can be mitigated and policies can be catalyzed with the aid of financial institutions. By maintaining and strengthening financial stability, the financial sector's resilience could help mitigate climate-related risks and uncertainties. Hence, an empirical investigation on the effect of financial stability on consumption-based CO2 emissions (CCO2 E) in Denmark is long overdue. This study investigates the financial risk-emissions relationship in the presence of energy productivity, energy consumption, and economic growth in Denmark. Furthermore, by adopting an asymmetric approach to analyze the time series data for the period between 1995 and 2018, this study helps bridge this major gap in the literature. By adopting the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag approach (NARDL), we discovered that the positive variation in financial stability causes a reduction in CCO2 E, but the neutral connection was reported between the negative shock in financial stability and CCO2 E. The positive shock in economic growth and energy consumption intensifies CCO2 E; however, a neutral interaction exists between the negative shock in economic growth and CCO2 E. The negative shock in energy consumption has a positive effect on CCO2 E, indicating a mitigating implication on environmental degradation. In addition, a positive shock in energy productivity enhances environmental quality, while a negative shock in energy productivity increases environmental degradation. In light of the results, we suggest some robust policies for Denmark and other smaller but wealthy nations. Moreover, in order to develop sustainable finance markets, policymakers in Denmark need to mobilize both public and private finance while maintaining a balance with other economic needs of the nation. The country must also identify and understand potential avenues for scaling up private financing for mitigating climate risk. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:1485-1494. © 2023 SETAC.

Enhancing environmental quality in Portugal: can CO2 intensity of GDP and renewable energy consumption be the solution?

Despite Portugal's effort to reduce carbon emissions, the country still emits about 1.6% of the European Union's CO2 emissions. Meanwhile, limited empirical studies have been undertaken in the context of Portugal. As a result, this study examines the asymmetric and long-term impact of CO2 intensity of GDP, energy consumption, renewable energy and economic growth on CO2 emissions in Portugal from 1990 to 2019. The nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) is employed to uncover the asymmetric connection. The findings show that there is nonlinear cointegration among the variables. The long-run estimation reveals a positive change in energy consumption positively affects CO2 emissions, while a negative shock in energy consumption has a neutral effect on CO2 emissions. Furthermore, positive shocks of economic growth and CO2 intensity of GDP enhance environmental deterioration by increasing CO2 emissions. Meanwhile, the negative shock of these regressors positively impacts CO2 emissions. In addition, positive shocks in renewable energy enhance environmental quality, while negative shocks in renewable energy increase environmental deterioration in Portugal. Policymakers should focus on reducing per-unit energy usage and CO2 efficiency gains, which would necessitate a significant reduction in CO2 intensity and energy density of GDP.

Does environmental tax matter for environmental degradation in the Netherlands? Evidence from novel Fourier-based estimators.

This paper aims to capture the effect of an environmental tax on environmental degradation in the Netherlands while controlling economic growth, primary energy consumption, and trade in the Netherlands. As part of its climate change plan, the Netherlands government aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to industrial levels by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The present study used novel Fourier ADL cointegration, Fourier ARDL, and Fourier TY causality approaches. The outcomes of this study reveal that environmentally related taxes cause the mitigation of environmental degradation in the Netherlands, while primary energy consumption affects environmental sustainability negatively. This study provides policy implications based on the empirical results of this study, which support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of 2030 through (SDG 7) affordable and sustainable energy, (SDG 9) innovation, and (SDG 13) environmental sustainability.