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Achieving environmental sustainability has become a global concern amidst increasing climate change threat. Using quarterly frequency data for the case of Russia from 1992 to 2018, the present study explores the interaction between disaggregated energy consumption (renewable energy and non-renewable energy), trade flow and economic growth on a broader measure for environmental degradation (ecological footprint). The choice of the variables draws strength from initiative of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDG, 7, 8 11 and 13) for responsible energy consumption and clean energy consumption while mitigating climate change issues. The study applied the quantile-on-quantile regression (QQR) and nonparametric causality-in-quantiles to capture these associations. The outcomes from the QQR disclosed that in the majority of the quantiles, trade openness and renewable energy use contribute to environmental sustainability, while nonrenewable energy amplifies ecological footprint. Furthermore, growth in Russia escalates its ecological footprint. Moreover, in the majority of the quantiles, all the exogenous variables can predict ecological footprint. Given the outcomes of this study, it outlines the need for a paradigm shift for alternative and clean energy consumption in Russian energy mix amidst its economic growth trajectory while accounting for green-development approaches. Pathways to fully achieve the sustainability targets are carefully outlined in the concluding section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In accordance with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Kyoto protocol and the United Nations Sustainable development goals (UNSDGs) on climate action (SDG-13), there has been a need across economies for transition from fossil-fuel-based energy sources such as coal energy consumption to cleaner energy options i.e., a transition to a low-carbon economy. To this end, the present study explores the asymmetric relationship between coal energy consumption, economic growth, rising urban population and emission level in South Africa. The present study span is conducted on an annual frequency basis from 1965-2018. This study applies the novel Non-linear Autoregressive distributed lag methodology (NARDL) for the highlighted variables. Empirical results validate the asymmetric relationship between the variables under review over the study period. The NARDL regression further shows positive shock by GDP increases CO2 emission level while negative impact affects otherwise in the long run. On the other hand, coal consumption positive shock exhibits a detrimental impact on environmental quality in South Africa. This is insightful for policymakers. The urban population shows non-significant effect on emission levels over the sampled period. The knowledge of both positive and negative shock effects of GDP, coal energy consumption and urban growth is vital for policy construction in terms of both economic and environmental sustainability. Thus, policy prescription ranges from energy transition to alternative and cleaner energy sources like renewables and responsible energy consumption (SDG-12) should be pursued in South Africa. More far-reaching environmental policies are highlighted in the concluding section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is currently known about how policy choices that seek to bridge the gap between low production capacity and growing consumption demands in developing economies impact the environment. To address this research gap, a quantile-based model is used to examine the impact of three policy-relevant variables on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions: international remittance inflows, trade liberalization, and renewable energy consumption. Territorial-based CO2 emissions are used to explain the environmental effects of the variables when emissions are calculated solely on the basis of domestic production capacity. To consider if trade-induced consumption demands provide a better measure for assessing the environmental effects of the variable, consumption-based CO2 emissions are used. The study focused on Sub-Saharan African countries with zero or net positive CO2 emissions from trade. The results show, among other things, that remittances and trade liberalization increase CO2 emissions irrespective of the accounting method. Trade, in particular, has a stronger effect through import-induced consumption activities. However, the effect is statistically insignificant for the lower quantile countries and statistically significant for the middle and upper quantile countries. Harnessing the potential of renewable energy to reduce CO2 emissions should thus be a priority for policymakers in net-importing developing economies if production and consumption activities are to be created in less carbon-intensive ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of increased renewable energy consumption has been widely debated, and this has become a central energy policy concern for developing and developed countries. The existing literature provides evidence that there is a positive relationship between energy consumption and economic growth in developed economies. However, findings in respect of developing/emerging economies remain inconclusive. Thus, this paper aims to investigate the impact on renewable energy consumption on economic growth by controlling other macroeconomic variables for regions of Sub-Saharan Africa (East, Central and West) covering the 1990–2018 sample period. For this purpose, common correlated effects mean group estimator (CCEMG) and Dumitrescu-Hurlin Granger causality test approach are used to consider both cross-sectional dependency and cross-country heterogeneity across countries. The CCEMG result indicates that an increase in renewable energy consumption led to reduction in economic growth even when the sample is analyzed based on geographical locations as East, West, and Central Africa. Granger causality results validate the feedback hypothesis for only Central Africa; the growth hypothesis is supported for East and West Africa. The empirical results suggest that energy planners, governments, and policy makers must act together to increase the renewable energy consumption share in her energy mix to promote economic growth for regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there is concerted efforts to boost the tourism industry in Nigeria, and regulatory bodies were created for the tourism industry. This study is contributing to the ongoing debate on the tourism-energy-environment literature. Thus, we explore the linkage between tourism development, energy consumption, carbon dioxide (CO2) emission, and renewable energy consumption in Nigeria for the period of 1995–2016. The present study leverages on Bounds testing to cointegration in a carbon-income function environment while incorporating renewable energy consumption to the econometric framework. Subsequently, autoregressive distributed lag methodology alongside dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS) is utilized for robustness of estimations. Empirical results give credence to the energy-induced emission hypothesis in Nigeria. This outcome is suggestive to policymakers as fossil fuel-based energy consumption deplete the quality of the environment. Similarly, the study also affirms the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) phenomenon. The emphasis on Nigerian growth trajectory (real income level) relative to her quality of environment via the channel of economic development and energy consumption from fossil-fuel source is indicated. On the other hand, renewable energy consumption in Nigeria shows significant ability to reduce emission level in Nigeria. This result is insightful, which implies that environmental quality is not threatened with an increase in tourist arrivals, hence tourism does not degrade the environment but is sustainable to the environment. Interesting and laudable for stakeholders' international tourism arrival did not deplete the quality of the environment. The plausible explanation is attributed to the scale of tourism in Nigeria which at the moment is still low or much more there is caution/awareness on ecotourism for sustainable environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global travel and tourism have enjoyed a significant boost due to the progress in air transport. However, the debate on air transport and the influx of foreign investments and global energy demand on economic development remains questionable. Therefore, this study is an attempt to contribute to the body of knowledge in the energy-tourism-led growth hypothesis literature. For this purpose, a novel approach to the effects of international tourism on economic growth is introduced for the Next-5 largest economies, namely (China, India, Indonesia, Turkey and the USA) between 1990 and 2018. Empirical results reveal a positive connection between foreign direct investment and income levels, electricity production and income levels, as well as between urbanization and economic growth. Moreover, the validation of the environmental Kuznets curve and the halo effect of foreign direct investment on the environmental degradation process provides a shred of more substantial evidence and fitting environmental instruments for policymakers. The empirical results encourage sustainable economic growth in these countries, mainly through the attraction of clean and high-technology foreign investment, the increase of the share of renewable energy sources in the energy mix and the regulation in the tourism industry. The novel contribution of this study to the empirical literature is the unification in the same research of the TLGH and the EKC for the Next-5 largest economies, establishing recommendations for tourism, energy efficiency and environmental correction process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving environmental sustainability has become a global initiative while addressing climate change and its effects. However, the role of energy production and consumption in economic development remains critical amidst environmental pollution. Thus, the need for innovation and clean energy alternatives is critical while pursuing sustainable development. This country-specific study focuses on Argentina, where economic growth trajectory is embedded with high CO2 emissions. This study assesses the long-term and causal impact of financial development and renewables on environmental pollution while accounting for the role of economic development and globalization using yearly data spanning 1980 to 2017. A battery of econometric methods is applied to underscore the interaction between the parameters of interest. The findings of Maki and ARDL tests of cointegration alongside Kripfganz and Schneider critical approximation p-values affirm long-run equilibrium interaction between variables. The outcomes of autoregressive distributed lag, fully modified, and dynamic ordinary least squares demonstrate that while economic expansion dampens environmental quality—globalization and renewables improve the environment. This finding suggests pollution-driven economic growth trajectory in Argentina with high dependence on fossil fuels. Besides, the gradual shift causality test finds evidence of one-way causality from renewable energy consumption, economic growth, and globalization to CO2 emissions. Argentina's pathway in achieving sustainable development requires gradual and inclusive economic shift towards green growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following universal debate for energy sources and sustainable development across the globe, with its far‐reaching implications on the environment, this crusade aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN‐SDGs). The study variables are based on the SDGs‐7, 8, and 13 that highlights access to clean energy, sustainable economic growth and mitigation of climate change issues. Awareness of environmental sustainability has received much consideration because of the hazards associated with climate change issues in recent times. Studies on environmental quality and pollution emissions (CO2) are becoming increasingly interesting. It is reported that human activities and increasing economic issues resolve environmental‐related challenges. In the light of this, we assess how employment moderates energy consumption and climate change for G7 countries. We utilise panel co‐integration and long‐run regression using dynamic ordinary and fully modified ordinary least squares to institute the magnitude of long‐run elasticity among the outlined variables. Panel heterogeneous techniques are used to detect the direction of causality for the annual data from 1990 to 2016. The empirical result shows a clear significant correlation between variables and the long‐run relationship between pollutant releases and energy utilisation, employment and real output. The study finds an inverse relationship between trade and pollutant emissions, thus suggesting that openness trade mitigates against environmental degradation in the sampled blocs. The causality analysis reveals a bidirectional causality between emissions and employment and a unidirectional causality between emissions, real GDP, energy utilisation and trade. These results have far‐reaching outcomes on environmental fronts and economic growth highlighted in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United Nations Climate Conference 25, held in December 2019, reached a significant agreement against implementing the Paris agreement come 2020. Bound by the contract, 189 countries who are party to the deal agreed to constrain worldwide temperature to ascend to 1.5° Celsius. To this end, the present study attempts to investigate the readiness of selected countries in the European Union to implement the agreement, which will better the quality of the global environment. In line with this, this study appraises the connection between economic growth, renewable and non-renewable energy consumption, on emissions in 11 countries in the European Union from 1990 to 2016. The study utilises the Pooled Mean Group-Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (PMG-ARDL) model estimator and Dumitrescu and Hurlin Panel Causality analysis to analyse the long-run and short-run impact and direction of causality among these factors, respectively. The long-run study's empirical results show a U-shaped Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) and a negative connection between renewable energy use and emissions in the EU-11 countries. In the short-run, non-renewable energy use worsens CO2 emissions while renewable energy use leads to a fall in emissions. Similarly, causality tests show a feedback mechanism between emissions and renewable energy use and between non-renewable energy and renewable use. Also, there is unidirectional causality from income to CO2 emissions, non-renewable energy use to CO2 emissions. The investigation recommends an expanded proportion of renewable energy sources in the EU countries' energy mix to cut down on emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electricity remains the most important form of end-use energy consumption and an important factor for economic growth and development. However, electricity generation also constitutes a great source of concern for global warming and climate change with threats to sustainable development as fossil fuels dominate electricity generation fuel mix for most economies of the world. This is exactly the case for Italy with fossil fuels dominating electricity generation fuel mix over the last couple of decades. Thus, there is a need to reverse this trend by increasing the shares of renewable energy sources in the fuel mix. This study, therefore, investigates the potentials for renewable energy sources of hydropower and solar energy to substitute the fossil fuels of coal and natural gas in electricity generation for Italy. Adopting the ridge regression procedure to obtain the parameter estimates, the results provide evidence that substitution is possible among all fuels. While both hydropower and solar energy are found to be substitutable for the fossil fuels, solar energy is found to provide more substitutability than hydropower. This implies that Italy has the potential to gradually move away from the carbon-intensive fossil fuels of coal and gas to more environmental-friendly solar energy and hydropower in the process of generating electricity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent times, physical-capital investment has been outweighed by research and development expenditure in terms of their growth impact. However, how such expenditure affect economic expansion in the presence of energy consumption is yet to be given thorough attention in the literature. Consequently, this study used data from 1997 to 2015 for 16 EU countries to demonstrate how expenditure on research and development drives growth in the presence of renewable and nonrenewable energy consumption. Empirical results from the Pool Mean Group Autoregressive distributive lag model (PMG-ARDL) revealed that in the short run, investment in research and development adversely affect growth prospect in the EU. However, in the long run, research-led growth is evident alongside energy consumption, although the latter outweighs the former. Additionally, result from Dumitrescu and Hurlin Panel Causality tests showed a feedback causality between energy consumption, research and expenditure and economic growth. The findings of this study make it essential for EU countries to boost spending on renewable energy sources. Additionally, EU countries should pay closer attention to investment in research and development in order to sustain the plan for long term advancement in sustainable power sources for feasible energy and economic development. Image 1 • Economic impact of R&D and energy consumption in EU is examined. • Physical-capital investment outperforms R&D expenditure. • Energy consumption affect economic growth than the effect of R&D in the long run. • Increased renewable energy development in the EU is encouraged. • More investment in research and development by the EU states should be sustained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides empirical evidence on the relationship between energy efficiency and production- and-consumption based carbon emissions by assessing the impact of population size, income, and clean energy on the carbon dioxide (CO 2) emissions function. Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MM-QR) and Augmented Mean Group (AMG) estimators are applied to observe long-term associations between the variables, and Dumitrescu-Hurlin (DH) Ganger causality test is used to identify the direction of causality. Findings reveal that, across all specifications, energy intensity and population size have positive (increasing) impact on both estimates of CO 2 emissions while renewable energy use has a negatively significant impact and stronger on consumption-based estimates. The presence of an inverted U-shaped curve in the relationship between per capita income and CO 2 emissions, as predicted by the Environment Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis, only exists when CO 2 emissions are calculated based on production pattern. Further empirical analysis based on DH causality tests show a bidirectional causality between energy intensity and production-based CO 2 emissions, population size and consumption-based CO 2 emissions, per capita income and consumption-based CO 2 emissions, and energy intensity and renewable energy use. In addition, a unidirectional causality runs from per capita income to production-based CO 2 emissions, and from energy intensity and renewable energy use to consumption-based CO 2 emissions. This analysis outlines a paradigm for the formulation of a green development strategy in developing economies via energy and environmental resources. • This study explore nexus between energy efficiency and carbon emissions Production-based. • Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MM-QR) and Augmented Mean Group (AMG) estimators are used. • Validity of inverted U-shaped curve in the relationship GDP and production-based CO 2. • Bidirectional causality exists between energy intensity and production-based carbon emissions. • Green growth policies should be pursued in the developing energy mix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the symmetric (linear) and asymmetric (nonlinear) impact of economic growth (EG), capital formation (CF), renewable and non-renewable energy (NRE) consumption on CO 2 emissions and ecological footprint (EF) of seventeen OECD countries spanning data from 1970 to 2016. The autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model is used to examine the symmetric impact and the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) model is employed to explore the asymmetric impact of the variables on the environment. The results indicate that economic growth and gross capital formation dampens environmental quality in the OECD region over the sampled period. Our estimation using the ARDL model shows that a 1% increase in renewable energy (RE) is projected to reduce CO 2 emission by 0.2% and a 1% increase in NRE is estimated to increase CO 2 emission by 1.08%. Similarly, a 1% rise in EG and NRE is expected to increase ecological footprint (EF) by 0.10% and 0.53%, respectively. Estimation using NARDL decomposed EG with positive (negative) shocks shows that a 1% increase (decrease) in EG is expected to reduce CO 2 emissions by 0.4% (0.16%). Similarly, 1% positive (negative) shock in RE is expected to decrease CO 2 emission by 0.5%. The findings indicate that conventional energy obtained from fossil fuels is observed to worsen the environment. Interestingly, renewable energy consumption enhances environmental quality for both fitted models with CO 2 emission and ecological footprint. This is insightful for stakeholders and government administrators in the region. This demonstrates the importance of a paradigm shift towards renewable energy consumption in the OECD countries to improve economic growth and productive capital stock. This finding also aligns with the non-linear investigation of the pivotal role of renewable energy consumption for a cleaner environment. • This study examines the symmetric (linear) and asymmetric (nonlinear) impact of Economic Growth, Capital Formation, Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy consumption on the CO 2 emissions and Ecological footprint of seventeen OECD countries spanning the data from 1970 to 2016. • The estimation of the study using the ARDL model shows that 1% increase in renewable energy (RE) is projected to reduce CO2 emission by 0.2%: and 1% increase in NRE is estimated to increase CO2 emission by 1.08%. Similarly, 1% rise in EG and NRE is expected to increase ecological footprint (EF) by 0.10% and 0.53%, respectively. • Estimation using NARDL decomposed EG with positive (negative) shocks shows that 1% increase (decrease) in EG is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 0.4% (0.16%). Similarly, 1% positive (negative) shocks in RE is expected to decrease CO 2 emission by 0.5%. • The results show that economic growth and gross capital formation dampens environmental quality in the OECD region over the sampled period. • This study suggests the need for a paradigm shift to renewable energy consumption in the OECD for a better economic growth trajectory and productive capital stock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of low-carbon energy and trade on the environment has drawn several studies that have looked at issues from different perspectives, thus yielding differing conclusions. Considering the current emphasis on the COP25 conference and the commitment to cut down carbon emissions level, this study also draws strength from the United Nations Sustainable development Goals (UNSDGs) that comprises of positive strides for access to clean and responsible energy consumption (SDGs 7, 12) and climate change mitigation issues (SDG-13). To this end, this study is a timely outlook that underpins the case of the European Union (EU) countries as well as the root cause of anthropogenic activities on clean trajectory of global environment. Hence, we investigate the connection between alternative and sustainable energy source, trade, income and emissions in 27 selected European Union economies by utilizing data covering the period 1990–2017 on an annual frequency. We used second-generation panel model estimators to analyze the relationship between the variables in the long-run. Specifically, the long run results from the MG (Mean Group), AMG (Augmented Mean Group), and CCEMG (Common Correlated Effects Mean Group) estimators reveal that sustainable and alternative energy sources have a negative significant impact on pollutant emissions while trade and income have a positive impact on carbon emissions except that the impact of trade is insignificant. Although the positive impact of openness in trade on carbon emission is insignificant, the positive impact suggests that the free-trade policy that is currently in place in the EU should further incorporate sustainable development goals (SDGs) to avoid the outsourcing of carbon emissions among the member countries. Causality tests reveal a feedback hypothesis between renewable energy, income, trade, and carbon emanations. The investigation proposes expanded utilization of sustainable power source to mitigate carbon emissions in the European Union. • Outlook of EU-27 alternative energy and regional trade. • The panel techniques of common correlated effect is employed. • Alternative energy utilization in the regional bloc aids. • Regional trade policy in the EU could posit environmental hardship. • Real income growth in the region hampers environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in consumption and the increase in the use of resources linked to increasing human activity puts both energy security and sustainability at risk, which has led to a global restructuring of the policy agenda to ensure and integrate environmental well-being through channels such as energy efficiency (EE). Bearing this in mind, the objective of this research is to analyze the relationship between energy efficiency, renewable energy and financial development? For this reason, an analysis is conducted, which includes energy intensity measured by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per unit of energy use as a measure of efficiency for 43 European countries (period 1990–2019). The objective is to observewhether the use of renewable energy and the investments being made are driving economies towards higher EE and sustainable economic growth. The present study leverages on spatial econometrics models, which allow for the analysis of spillovers between economies. The results obtained allow us to observe the existence of spatial autocorrelation of EE between countries in Europe. Secondly, it is observed that the use of renewable energies promotes EE in neighbouring economies, as well as in the return effect. On the other hand, financial development shows that only the institutional component favours EE by generating a return effect on the economy itself, while the stock market component deteriorates the EE of neighbouring economies and on the same economy. Therefore, the analyzed data shows that the use of renewable energies promotes the improvement of EE and that being close to countries that replace the use of traditional energies with alternative sources has a positive effect on national EE. These mechanisms would allow policy makers to develop mechanisms for greener and more sustainable development, while encouraging efficient energy use. • The indirect effects of the nexus of renewable energy and financial development on energy efficiency for the EU bloc are explored. • The present study explores the use of robust Spatial Durbin Model (SDM). • Renewable energies promote energy efficiency in neighbouring economies. • Financial development shows that only the institutional component favours energy efficiency. • Green growth policies should be pursued in EU bloc energy mix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]