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Environmental regulations have emerged as a critical policy tool for promoting environmental sustainability worldwide. However, there is a dearth of literature that investigates the impact of environmental regulations on load capacity factor in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies. This study aims to address this gap by examining the role of renewable energy consumption, human capital, and environmental regulations in improving load capacity factor. In doing so, the paper covers 14 APEC economies; applies second generations panel data models (i.e., CUP-FM (continuously updated fully modified) as the base model and CUP-BC (continuously-updated and bias-corrected) for the robustness); and runs data between 1992 and 2018. The empirical findings present that: i) renewable energy consumption and human capital contribute to improving load capacity factor; ii) environmental regulations are not at a level to increase load capacity factor; iii) economic growth and trade openness significantly reduce load capacity factor. Considering empirical outcomes, this study suggests that APEC should tighten environmental regulations to achieve sustainable environment. In addition, this study offers important sustainable environmental policies for APEC within the framework of empirical findings. • CUP-FM and CUP-BC methods are applied over the spanning from 1992 to 2018. • Examines relationship between renewable energy, environmental regulations, and human capital with load capacity factor. • Renewable energy and human capital significantly increase the level of environmental quality. • Environmental regulations are insufficient for APEC countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncertainty in economic policies and regulations incentivizes firms to delay investments in environmental research and developments (R&D) or postpone environmental projects that are costly to undo. A consequence of those decisions is that firms innovate less for the environment. Using 1026 U.S. firm data (equivalent to 13,241 firm-year observations) this study shows that a negative effect of policy uncertainty – a drop in environmental innovation – does not surface in the short term but in the longer term, i.e., in 5–6 years' time. The negative effect, nevertheless, dissipates after six years. These findings are of relevance to other developed countries as well as emerging countries that have a relatively higher uncertainty in their economic policies and regulations. In sum, the results call for attention from governments and regulators around the world: uncertainty in policies and regulations are detrimental to combating climate change and promoting environmental sustainability . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many pressing challenges that perennially affect countries today are those related to environmental sustainability. As major entities, business organizations play a primal role in boosting the economy, stakeholders are increasingly under pressure to achieve net zero emissions. However, in emerging economies, these entities are scarcely inclined towards implementation of newer environmental policies as they're oblivious to perils of excessive carbon emissions and its consequences. Therefore, it is essential to look for sustainability measures to secure a system that reduces the carbon footprint and ultimately reaches a zero-carbon future. This research proposes a method to identify and assess the barriers of carbon regulatory policies (CRPs) so that advancements in carbon emission reduction practices can be pursued; we present a specific focus on developing nations. An integrated multi-criteria decision-making approach is proposed to achieve environmental sustainability. Initially, the Best Worst Method is used to determine the relative importance of the barriers in the implementation of regulatory policies. Subsequently, we utilize Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory to establish interrelationships among the barriers of carbon policies. To elucidate the application of the proposed novel framework, a case considering multiple manufacturing firms with multiple stakeholders in India is examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores various forms of eco-industrial networks in advancing environmental sustainability. Prior research on environmental sustainability primarily identifies industrial actors as autonomous entities or considers the role of networks in advancing environmental sustainability from a rather narrow perspective. However, the networks of ties in which industrial firms are embedded profoundly impacts not only their own performance, but also the natural environment in which they operate. Based on a systematic literature review, we identify four forms of eco-industrial networks that have the potential to advance environmental sustainability: 1) symbiosis networks, 2) sustainable supply networks, 3) environmental issue networks and 4) environmental solution networks. The paper presents important insights on the operational logic for each of these network forms and the dimensions of their network architecture. The main implications of this comparison are that policy-makers and practitioners need to become aware of the various mechanisms through which inter-organisational networks can reduce environmental load. Furthermore, there is a need to build broad coalitions of organisations that are mobilised to address environmental issues. We suggest that network architecture which maximises its members' capability to self-organise while also including a coordinating organisation can be highly suitable for eco-industrial networks. We also suggest some fruitful avenues for future research on eco-industrial networks. In integrating research on eco-industrial networks with existing research on inter-organisational alliances and networks, the paper provides more understanding on the multifaceted role played by various forms of eco-industrial networks in advancing sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study, based on 12,615 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the energy sector in 26 European countries, investigates how country level environmental sustainability policies moderate the magnitude of the effect of debt on the value of European energy SMEs. The study aims to understand whether the degree of national attention to environmental sustainability is relevant per se , and affects the value of debt. We first empirically find that the use of debt reduces European energy SMEs' performance, indicating that in the energy sector, the costs of raising debt outweigh the relative benefits. Second, we observe how such effect surprisingly shifts from negative to positive, improving SME performance, when a strong environmental commitment exists at the country level. Thus, our findings suggest that although countries implementing policies to enhance environmental quality constrain SMEs in improving their production systems, they promote SMEs' financial efficiency through the valuable use of debt. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]