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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]

There are ample studies that document the tourism‐led growth for single countries and/or a specific region. The nexus on international tourist arrival‐induced pollutant emissions and energy consumption has been ongoing in the related literature. This is pertinent, given its inherent implications for environmental sustainability. This study explores the growth impact of international tourist arrivals on quality of the environment in terms of a causality relationship for 16 selected Mediterranean countries by a multivariate framework; this is based on tourism‐led growth and the tourism‐induced pollutant emissions model for annual data from 1995 to 2014. Our model, therefore, explores the dynamic causal links between tourism, growth, energy, and the environment. We employ the panel causality technique (Emirmahmutoglu and Kose 2011) that allows for heterogeneity and correlations across cross‐sections. The data shows correlation among international tourism, economic growth, energy consumption, and pollutant emission. The findings from the causality analysis support the evidence on tourism‐induced pollutant emissions and energy consumption as well as the validity of the tourism‐led growth hypothesis. The findings also suggest that international tourism is a catalyst for energy consumption and economic growth, which translates into pollutant emissions, implying insightful policy prescriptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Governments worldwide have prioritized carbon reduction and neutrality to address the escalating threat of climate change. These goals are in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG-13). These goals stress taking action on climate change to lessen the bad effects of human activities and using fossil fuels for energy. To this end, the present study investigates the connection between conventional energy usage, agricultural practices, economic growth, and their impact on environmental sustainability in South Africa. Additionally, it explores the role of renewable energy consumption and environmental technological innovation in mitigating these effects. To achieve the study objectives, a carbon-income function is fitted with an annual frequency data from 1975 to 2020. The present study leverages on Pesaran's Autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) method and for robustness analysis the dynamic ARDL simulations method to simultaneously explore the short and long-run coefficients of the study's outlined variables. Empirical analysis, confirmed by bounds testing for cointegration, reveals a long-term equilibrium relationship among the variables considered. Notably, economic growth, fossil fuel energy consumption, and agricultural activities have adverse effects on environmental sustainability in South Africa, indicating a trade-off between economic growth and environmental quality. Dynamic ARDL simulations provide further evidence of an Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) phenomenon. However, renewable energy consumption and environmental technological innovation positively influence environmental quality. These findings highlight the imperative for South Africa and its stakeholders to adopt green growth policies and transition to cleaner energy alternatives. • This study explored nexus between environmental pollution, economic growth, and environmental technological innovation in South Africa • Utilisation of Autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) estimators were employed • Agricultural activities dampens environmental sustainability in South Africa • Green growth policies should be pursued in South Africa energy mix [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]

Abstract This study explores the energy use and economic growth nexus from 1960 to 2016 in South Africa while accounting for capital, labour, and carbon dioxide emissions. We applied Bayer and Hanck (2013) combined co-integration approach, Pesaran et al. (2001) bounds test and Kripfganz and Schneider (2018) critical values and approximate p -values. The empirical evidence finds support for a long-run equilibrium relationship among investigated variables. The Granger causality test indicates one-way causality from energy use to economic growth, validating the energy-led growth hypothesis. Our study found an inverted U-shaped pattern between energy use and economic growth in the long run. This finding suggests that at a higher level of economic development there is less intensification of energy consumption, hence, signifying a decline in energy intensity while validating energy efficiency in South Africa. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • A unidirectional causality is observed from energy consumption to CO 2 emissions. • The results validate the energy-induced growth hypothesis in South Africa • Economic growth and carbon dioxide emission exhibits an inverse relationship. • Decoupling economic growth from energy use needed to achieve energy efficiency [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the asymmetric effects of energy consumption, car ownership and tourism activities on CO2 emissions in the UK. Empirical results from the Non-Linear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) model reveal that in the UK, only car ownership has asymmetric effects on emissions with a magnitude of −1.428% (positive) and 10.108% (negative) shocks that highlight the impact of car ownership on emission level in UK while rising energy consumption and GDP have symmetric positive impacts on emissions, and tourism has a negative impact on emissions. Furthermore, on causality analysis, we found a unidirectional causality runs from GDP per capita to car ownership, and that car ownership and tourism both causes energy consumption in a one-way relationship. Apart from encouraging environmentally friendly energy sources to reduce carbon emission in the UK, the short and long-run analyses disclose that economic expansion and energy consumption increase carbon emission. Empirical results also offer a new perspective on the ascending relevance of electric cars in UK. Hence, only policies that discourage the use of carbon emission inputs in the process of production should be encouraged. Electric vehicles seem to be more efficient when compared to combustion engines because most energy put in the battery is used to drive the cars and wastes less energy when they are driven in cities. This can be achieved by increasing tariffs and decreasing quotas on internal combustion-powered cars. Subsequently, promote and increase usage of electric vehicles that reduce greenhouses [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally we are at a crossroad whereby energy production and consumption in themselves is partly blamed for climate change issues and global warming menace. The question that comes to heart is do we stop seeking energy production and consumption? of course no. Thus, there is a need for innovation on part of economies as they seek energy for sustainable development. This country-specific study focuses on South African, which reflects the above highlights menace in no small measure where her economic growth trajectory is plagued with high CO 2 emission. To this end, we explore the nexus between coal energy consumption, economic growth, renewable energy consumption and CO 2 emission between annual periods of 1980–2017. This study applied a battery of econometric techniques to underscore the relationship between the outlined variables. According to the ARDL bounds test to cointegration in conjunction with Kripfganz and Schneider (2018) critical approximation p-values both affirm long-run equilibrium relationship between study variables. Empirical evidence gives credence to the growth-induced pollution emission in South Africa as reported by the Autoregressive distributed lag Method, fully modified ordinary least squares and dynamic ordinary least squares as robustness test for soundness of analysis. This finding suggests that South Africa's economic growth trajectory is not clean. This preposition is resonated with the result of coal energy consumption also dampening environmental quality. Financial development shows strong statistical strength to improve the quality of the environment. These outcomes are indicative for policymakers as there is urgent need to energy transition from conventional energy based on fossil fuel (coal energy) to renewable energy mix which is more environmentally friendly should be pursued in South Africa. [Display omitted] [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]

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]

The aim of this present study is to assess the causal link between nuclear energy consumption and economic growth in the United Kingdom using Toda Yamamoto causality and wavelet coherence tests with the objective of responding to the following questions: (a) Does consumption of nuclear energy lead to economic growth in the United Kingdom and/or does economic growth lead to the consumption of nuclear energy sources in the United Kingdom, and (b) if so, why? The findings from wavelet coherence reveal that changes in economic growth lead to changes in nuclear energy consumption in the United Kingdom at different frequencies, especially in the long‐run, and in different periods between 1998 and 2017. In addition, there is a positive correlation between nuclear energy consumption and economic growth between 2002 and 2006 in the short‐run. In this study, we also check the consistency of the findings from wavelet coherence which is confirmed by the outcomes of Toda Yamamoto causality test. Therefore, the present study is likely to attract great interest from the policy‐makers and researchers in this field. At the same time, it is likely to start a new debate. [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]

Inspired by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this study focuses on the need for responsible and clean energy consumption, climate change mitigation, and sustainable economic growth. To this end, the study investigates the connection between biomass energy consumption, real GDP, investment in the energy sector, and CO2 emissions in the emerging (E7) countries – China, India, Brazil, Mexico, the Russian Federation, Indonesia and Turkey – for the period 2000–2018. The study uses a battery of techniques, namely Pooled Mean Group‐autoregressive distributed lag, ordinary least square, dynamic ordinary least square, Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (PMG‐ARDL, OLS, DOLS FMOLS) and causality estimators, to measure the robustness of the conceptualized relationship among the variables of interest. Empirical results show that conventional energy from fossil fuel sources is a driver of CO2 emissions within the E7 economies. On the other hand, biomass energy consumption and investments in the energy sector decrease CO2 emissions. Furthermore, a feedback causality relationship between biomass energy consumption and CO2 emissions is observed. Similarly, a feedback causality relationship is seen between economic growth and biomass energy consumption. Our study's empirical findings reveal that biomass energy consumption mitigated CO2 emissions in the E7 economies that were examined, suggesting the pivotal role for biomass energy consumption in creating an eco‐friendly environment and environmental sustainability. This requires investment from the private sector, stakeholders, and government administrators in cleaner energy technologies initiatives like biomass. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming issues have been on the front burner of most economies and Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa countries (BRICS) are no exception. The region has joined the rest of the world on the global strides to mitigate against global warming in terms of decoupling carbon dioxide emissions from economic growth. This is the motivation for the present study to consider the interaction between economic growth, pollutant emissions, coal rent while accounting for the role of other covariates like regulatory quality. The study is conducted in a balanced panel setting over annual frequency data from 1990 to 2014. To this end, Pooled mean group with dynamic autoregressive distributed lag [PMG-ARDL (1,1,1,1,1)] was conducted to explore the coal-rents-energy nexus. The empirical study shows that for BRICS countries, unlike coal consumption, coal rents have a significant but negative impact on CO 2 emissions. Also, in contrast to expectation, regulations on coal rents in form of carbon damage costs have a significant but positive impact on CO 2 emissions. This suggest that in line with the drive for growth by BRICS countries, and to achieve a reduction in the levels of CO 2 emissions for green growth and sustainable development, more stringent environmental-energy-related regulations are inevitable. Thus, for policymakers it is vital to reinforce the use of stringent regulations as these economies opens up to more use of coal energy. However, the need to shift, the energy mix in BRICS to renewables is pertinent in a time of global environmental consciousness for cleaner energy sources and environmentally friendly ecosystem. Unlabelled Image • BRICS economies were investigated on coal rent, economic growth and CO 2 emissions. • Unlike coal consumption, an increase in coal rents does not increase CO 2 emissions in BRICS countries. • Energy diversification in BRICS economies can abate global dwindling energy market. • Environmental sustainability is achieved by decoupling CO 2 from GDP in BRICS economies. [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]

The European Union (EU) is one of the strongest, but most complex unions in the world with a competitive tourism industry. The aim of this study, therefore, is to account for economic complexity index (ECI), Brexit and other crisis episodes in the growth-energy-emissions nexus. Theoretically, the traditional Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) model is assessed by adopting a One-step System Generalized Method of Moment (Sys GMM) on data for 26 EU member states over the period from 1995 to 2018. For the first time, an EU-macro regional analysis is conducted with and without the UK. Empirical results reveal that an increase in tourism, real GDP per capita, and energy use across the four EU macro regions leads to increase in carbon emission. In some regions, it was observed that tourism, ECI, Brexit, and the Greece bailout have no significant impact on carbon emission. This suggests that the increase in international travel, complexity of the economy, and financial crisis do not accelerate environmental crisis in such regions. However, where such factors are statistically significant, Brexit and the Greece bailout crisis both heighten emissions. Particularly, when the UK is excluded, Brexit and the Greece bailout crisis increase and reduce emissions, respectively. The EKC hypothesis, however, holds in either scenario. Based on these empirical findings, vital policy directions are suggested for a post-Brexit EU-UK energy and environmental relations. • We examined ECI, Brexit and other crisis episodes in the growth-energy-emissions nexus. • An increase in tourism, real GDP per capita, and energy use lead to increase in carbon emission. • In some regions, tourism, ECI, Brexit, and the Greece bailout have no significant impact on carbon emission. • When the UK is excluded, Brexit and the Greece bailout crisis increase and reduce emissions, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emerging industrialized seven (E7) economies are not excluded from the global warming issues which is a major problem for most economies. The E7 member countries have partaken in policies to mitigate against global warming in terms of decoupling CO 2 emission from economic growth trajectory in the highlighted economies. It is on this premise that the present study is motivated to consider the connection among economic growth, pollutant emissions, coal rent while accounting for the role of other co-variates such as CO 2 damage and energy from a nuclear energy source, oil gas energy between 1990 and 2016 on an annual frequency. This study adopts the use of panel ordinary least squares alongside panel quantile regression to explore the coal rent-energy and environment nexus. The empirical result shows a positive and significant effect of both real GDP and coal rent on CO 2 emissions. More precisely, a 1% increase in GDP growth increases pollution emission by 0.400% while for coal rent, an increase in coal consumption dampens environmental quality by 0.088% as reported by the panel regression which is resonated by the quantile regression estimations at different tails of the data. Nevertheless, we observe that 0.95 percentile GDP growth strongly contributes to environmental pollution while at the median tail i.e. 0.5 percentile renewable energy consumption dampens the adverse effect of environmental degradation. Additionally, renewable energy, on the other hand, was found a negative and significant impact on CO 2 emissions in E7 countries as a 1% increase in renewable energy consumption improves environmental quality by 0.588% Moreover, the estimated results indicate that regulation of coal consumption through the rent in addition to the cost of carbon damage will further increase the CO 2 emissions in E7 countries. This study implies that putting stringent regulations on coal consumption as it concerns the increasing cost of carbon damage will not be of help to environmental sustainability within the E7 economies. The adoption of renewable energy consumption, nuclear energy, oil energy will reduce CO 2 emissions in E7 countries. Thus, suggesting a paradigm shift for low-carbon energy sources which are more environmentally friendly. [Display omitted] • We explore the nexus between renewables, nuclear, coal, oil, gas energy on CO 2 emission in E7. • Coal rent and renewable energy decreases CO 2 emission in E7 countries. • Energy diversification in the E7 countries can abate global dwindling energy market. • Environmental sustainability is obtained by decoupling CO 2 emission from economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]