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Green growth is of great importance in terms of solving environmental problems and achieving sustainable development goals. However, the existing literature has not investigated how green growth affects environmental degradation and environmental sustainability variables. In light of this gap, this study aims to analyse the impact of green growth and institutional quality on CO 2 emissions, ecological footprint and inverse load capacity factor in OECD countries by constructing three different models. The results of the analysis indicate that (i) green growth exerts a significant mitigating and differentiating effect on CO 2 , ecological footprint and inverted load capacity factor in the long run. This is evidenced by a 1% increase in green growth reducing CO 2 , ecological footprint and inverted load capacity factor by 0.563%, 0.373% and 0.198%, respectively. (i) The impact of green growth on CO 2 and inverted load capacity factor in the long run is negative and statistically significant; (ii) the impact of green growth on CO 2 and inverted load capacity factor in the short run is negative and statistically significant; (iii) the impact of institutional quality on deterioration is positive and significant in the long run; (iv) the impact of population on deterioration and sustainability is significant and mixed. The findings indicate that decision-makers in OECD countries should review green energy policies when setting the sustainable development goals, as environmental sustainability is more challenging than reducing pollution. • We explore the role of green growth and institutional quality in sustainability. • Green growth has different impacts on pollution and sustainability. • The effect of institutional quality on pollution is positive in the long run. • The effect of population on degradation and sustainability is significant and mixed. • OECD countries should follow green growth policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent times, there has been increase in climate change protest across the globe. However, whether decrease in emissions is connected with climate change protest or not is yet to be documented in the literature. Consequently, the aim of this study is to fill this gap by examining ex-post detection of how climate change protests and its interconnectedness with CO2 emissions. Using the Bai and Perron (1998) structural break test, we estimate the number of breaks as well as the date of such structural breaks in CO2 emissions series for 41 countries. Our aim is to match the date of the climate change protests to those of the structural breaks. We observe that climate change protests are fairly consistent with the dates of breaks in Europe and Asia, but not in BRICS economies or US, Canada and other countries. Therefore, this method allows us to solve a gap in the energy industry related to the modelling and correct allocation of positive shocks in CO2 emissions to climate change protests. • The number and the date of structural breaks in global CO 2 emissions are presented. • Bai and Perron (1998) structural break test for 41 countries is used alongside the Lee-Strazicich Unit Root Tests for robustness checks. • We contribute to knowledge as regards ex-post detection of the role of climate change protests in global CO 2 emissions. • Date of climate change protests is compared to those of these structural breaks. • Climate change protests are fairly in agreement with break dates and differ across regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]