Search

This paper attempts to inform policy makers and legislators on how to set energy efficiency standards and labelling (S&L) regulations. It draws lessons from the literature on S&L regulations in the Asia–Pacific region and from practical experience in drafting the S&L regulations for Brunei Darussalam. The paper proposes necessary components for effective S&L regulations, as follows: clear liabilities, authoritative administration, open principles for technical systems, and enforceable mechanisms. It also recommends some key issues in good practice toward effective S&L regulations, such as policy making in advance, customised legislation, inclusive and transparent legislative procedure, and flexibility in the legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Convergence in energy efficiency of BRI counties and its factors are studied. • Energy efficiency along BRI experienced an increasing trend except 2009 and 2010. • BRI countries with low TFEE are catching up with countries with high TFEE. • High-income & Eastern Europe and West Asia countries have faster catch-up rate. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has raised concern that it may involve an extensive economic growth pattern at a higher cost of energy and the environment, and China is making a great effort to construct a green BRI, which may improve the general energy efficiency of BRI countries. Therefore, it is important to investigate whether backward countries with low energy efficiency are catching up with frontier countries or falling behind. In response, this paper adopts DEA to calculate the total-factor energy efficiency (TFEE) of the BRI countries, and investigates heterogeneous beta-convergence in energy efficiency of BRI counties and its factors. The results indicate that: (1) except for 2009 and 2010, the TFEE along the BRI experienced an increasing trend due to the global finance crisis; (2) BRI countries with low TFEE are catching up with countries with high TFEE, and more significantly when the TFEE growth rate is greater; (3) the TFEE converges at a faster rate in high-income BRI countries and Eastern Europe and West Asia countries; and (4) inadequate innovation ability and a weak R&D absorption capacity may decelerate the energy efficiency convergence rate of BRI countries, especially those with low-income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]