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Understanding the complex interactions between the economy and the environment is crucial for promoting sustainable development and mitigating the negative impact of human activities on the Planet. The importance of this issue for Serbia is evident as the country strives to balance economic growth and environmental protection to ensure a sustainable and resilient future. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to investigate and model the relationship between CO2 emissions, economic growth, electricity consumption, and trade openness in Serbia. Initially, an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model is used to characterize the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) using data from the period from 1995 to 2019, followed by the construction of a bootstrap logistic regression model to predict environmental quality in Serbia. Long-term estimates of the model confirm an inverted U-shaped relationship, where all three variables exert a statistically significant influence on CO2 emissions. In the short run, however, a causal relationship is only observed between electricity consumption and CO2 emissions. The logistic regression results show that all three factors significantly influence environmental quality. The study proposes policy recommendations for Serbia, such as promoting sustainable economic growth, implementing long-term programs to reduce CO2 emissions, reviewing trade policies to prioritize sustainable practices, and investing in renewable energy sources to reduce emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of a greater worldwide aspiration for wealth and economic progress, increased use of natural resources for diverse industries resulted in increased pollution emissions, mainly carbon dioxide. Energy security, economic stability, job security, biodiversity loss, climate change, and global warming all require reconciliation and resolution now, more than ever before. This paper explores the causal relationship between CO2 emissions, economic growth, available energy, and employment for a panel of eight South-Eastern European countries from 1995 to 2019. We investigate the relationship using panel unit root tests, panel cointegration methods, and panel causality tests. The results show a short-run bidirectional panel causality between CO2 emissions and employment and between available energy and employment. The results further indicate a unidirectional causality from available energy and employment to GDP. The long-run causal relationship results show that the estimated coefficients of the lagged ECT in the CO2 emissions, GDP, and employment equations are statistically significant, implying that these variables could play a significant role in the system's adjustment process as it departs from long-run equilibrium. We also conducted a variance decomposition analysis, which allowed us to compare the extent of the individual factors' contributions to each other over the next 5 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to balance economic growth with environmental preservation, the implementation of sustainable policies is necessary. As such, it is imperative to have a comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationship between the economy and the environment. This study examines the relationship between CO2 emissions and GDP per capita in five WB countries during 1960-2018, using a methodological framework that includes panel unit root testing, cointegration testing, and a Vector Error Correction Model. The study provides robust evidence of a long-term cointegration between CO2 emissions and GDP per capita. Furthermore, the study also reveals a short-run bidirectional causal relationship between CO2 emissions and GDP per capita. In the long run, no statistically significant causality exists from GDP per capita to CO2 emissions, but it is statistically significant from CO2 emissions to GDP per capita. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers to develop comprehensive policies that promote economic growth and environmental sustainability, such as investing in clean energy, implementing stronger environmental regulations, and encouraging environmentally sound management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Balancing environmental objectives with energy security poses a significant challenge for Central and Eastern European (CEE) economies undergoing substantial energy sector reforms, particularly in the electricity sector. Apart from implementing market principles, improving electricity infrastructure and increasing the use of renewable energy sources (RES) are crucial for fostering industrial and overall economic growth. This study analyzes a panel of 15 Central and Eastern European economies (CEE) from 1995 to 2021. It employs various analytical techniques such as cross-sectional dependency testing, unit root testing, cointegration analysis, and the Augmented Mean Group (AMG) estimator. The results indicate that inefficient electricity infrastructure negatively impacts GDP and industry value-added (IVA) growth rates, regardless of control variables. Conversely, electricity generated from RES positively affects GDP and IVA growth rates in fully developed models. However, increased RES-generated electricity in models without control variables adversely affects IVA growth rates. These findings, coupled with the specific characteristics of CEE economies, lead to policy recommendations for sustainable economic and energy development. • The study examines the impact of electricity infrastructure and RES on GDP and industry value-added in CEE. • Electricity infrastructure inferiority negatively impacts GDP and industry value-added. • RES generation has a positive effect on GDP and industry value-added. • Policies fostering green energy and infrastructure boost economic sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]