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Sustainable growth and the reduction of environmental pressures are important priorities that are issues of concern for both developed and developing countries. However, while carbon emissions and ecological footprint are commonly used by researchers in the context of environmental deterioration, a broader and more extensive metric for ecological quality is considered necessary. From this perspective, the load capacity factor provides a more detailed sustainable environment appraisal by simultaneously considering biocapacity and ecological footprint. Limited studies have examined the determinants of load capacity factor (LCAP). This survey attempts to fill the gap, using the case of Japan. Employing the dynamic ARDL approaches, the present research investigates the effect of renewable energy usage, economic growth, economic complexity, financial development, and trade globalization on load capacity factor in Japan for the period between 1980 and 2017. The empirical evidence indicates that economic complexity, economic growth, and financial development adversely impact LCAP, whereas renewable energy usage and trade globalization positively affect LCAP. Hence, we recommend that it is essential for Japan to attain self‐sufficiency in essential goods and minimize its reliance on the rest of the world. Furthermore, policymakers should capitalize on the benefits of trade globalization by adopting additional measures aimed at facilitating trade liberalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the consequences for the climate and human well-being, there is unquestionable universal fear about the ecological impact of socioeconomic activity. Therefore, this research aims to investigate the effects of carbon tax and resource efficiency on environmental sustainability while controlling economic growth and total energy supply in France between 1995 and 2020. As a result, the empirical findings would shed light on ecological sustainability in France and spark new debate. This study employs a novel Fourier autoregressive distributed lag cointegration method for cointegration and a nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag approach for long-run estimation. The empirical outcomes show that resource efficiency is negatively connected to environmental pollution. Moreover, the impact of a carbon tax on environmental pollution is negative. Lastly, energy use and economic growth positively influence environmental pollution. The study concludes that carbon taxes can help to achieve sustainable development goals and resource efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using novel Fourier-based approaches, this paper investigates the effect of green logistics and financial innovation on environmental sustainability in China over the period 2000/Q1-2018/Q4. The Fourier ADL cointegration analysis indicates that all indicators are integrated. Additionally, the findings of the Fourier-ARDL long run indicate as follows: (i) Green logistics mitigate environmental degradation and increase environmental sustainability in China; (ii) in contrast, the impact of financial innovation and economic growth decreases the environmental quality and increases production-based CO2 emissions in the region. The research findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, providing a basis for adopting green logistics operations that promote sustainable practices in China. By implementing such practices, policymakers can mitigate the adverse impacts of economic and financial activities in the country, fostering sustainable development and environmental responsibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrialized nations must significantly reduce their emissions, necessitating the use of linkages with other environmental initiatives, in order to keep global warming and other adverse socioeconomic effects within reasonable bounds. Increasing resource efficiency, or lowering the amount of resources needed to produce one unit of economic output, is a common objective sought at all scale levels. How does decarbonization link to resource efficiency? Does increasing energy efficiency lead to a drop in emissions for economies? Considering these important issues, the present study aims to capture the effect of resource efficiency and energy productivity on environmental sustainability while controlling globalization and economic growth between 1995 and 2020 in Germany. To the best of our understanding, this is the first research to seek to undertake this connection for Germany. Therefore, the empirical results are expected to bring insights into and start a fresh discussion on environmental sustainability. The present study used both asymmetric and symmetric autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approaches. The empirical outcomes of the nonlinear ARDL method showed that economic progress instigated a negative impact on environmental sustainability. Moreover, a positive shock in resource efficiency drops the pollution level while any negative shock in resource efficiency increases the environmental pollution in Germany. The impact of energy productivity is negative on environmental pollution. Lastly, globalization increases the consumption-based CO2 emissions. Moreover, the outcomes of ARDL estimation also validated the outcomes of nonlinear ARDL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quest for ecological sustainability while reducing the impacts of environmental deterioration has become a worldwide endeavour. Furthermore, it is unclear how developing economies such as Brazil can considerably improve environmental quality (EQ). This paper contributes to the ongoing literature by evaluating the effect of green finance, economic growth, political risk, social globalization and green innovation on environmental quality in Brazil. The study used data spanning between 2000Q1 and 2018Q4. Unlike other investigations, the current study used load capacity factor as a proxy for environmental quality, which considers both demand and supply sides of environmental issues. The current study applied the novel dynamic ARDL to capture the short and long‐run nexus. The bootstrap causality test was also applied to capture causal connection instabilities over time. The results of this study are as follows: (1) a significant and positive association was found between political risk, green finance, green innovation and social globalization environmental quality; (2) a significant and negative interplay was detected between economic growth and environmental quality; (3) The time‐varying causality shows a feedback causality at various periods between political risk, green finance, green innovation, economic growth, social globalization and environmental quality. This study also serves as a reference point for governments and policymakers in terms of investing in eco‐friendly technologies in order to improve environmental quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The BRICS countries ratified the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals agenda whereby ensuring environmental sustainability is of paramount importance for these emerging market economies. Although the BRICS nations have recorded noteworthy economic growth trajectories over the last couple of decades, these nations have not fared well in terms of improving their environmental indicators, especially due to gradually becoming more fossil fuel dependent over time. Hence, this study aims to explore whether undergoing the renewable energy transition can directly and indirectly establish environmental sustainability in the BRICS countries by containing their annual growth rates of carbon dioxide emissions. Additionally, the emission growth rate–influencing effects of technological innovation, foreign direct investment receipts, urbanization, and institutional quality are also evaluated. Based on data spanning from 1996 to 2021 and considering the result obtained using advanced panel data estimators, the findings endorse that the yearly carbon emission growth rates are (a) unaffected by undergoing the renewable energy transition on its own; (b) positively impacted by technological innovation, net receipts of foreign direct investment, and urbanization; and (c) negatively impacted by improving institutional quality through effective controlling of the spread of corruption. More importantly, the results verify the joint carbon emission growth rate–mitigating impact of renewable energy transition and institutional quality improvement. Hence, for abating the emission growth rate figures, several policies are prescribed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The swift decline in the quantity and quality of natural resources and the public's increased awareness about it is putting steep pressure on manufacturing and services firms to follow eco-friendly practices. The United Nations has made it imperative for organizations to ensure sustainability in their operations. This study investigates whether the quality management system within an organization helps them achieve environmental innovation and sustainable development goals? It also examines does environmental innovation facilitates firms in achieving sustainable development goals? Six quality management practices are taken from the American 'Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award'; environmental innovation includes product and process innovation, and corporate sustainability includes environmental, social, and economic dimensions. The authors followed the non-probability convenience sampling technique to collect data from the junior, middle, and senior managers from medium and large-size services and manufacturing firms from July 2019 to October 2019. The structural analysis indicated that quality management facilitates firms to achieve their environmental innovation and sustainability goals; environmental innovation significantly enables organizations to achieve sustainability goals. Dimensional analysis indicated that quality management significantly impacts all studied dimensions. However, environmental innovation is found to have an insignificant impact on social sustainability. The findings of this study provide valuable insights to the managers of the manufacturing and services firms concerning eco-innovation and sustainability goals and conclude by offering recommendations for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, economies have become complex and new technologies have transformed and facilitated the modernization of economies. In the previous literature, economic complexity approach has become one of the popular tools in the development and innovation studies of economic geography. Researchers have found that green technology and eco-innovation approaches should be used to decisively reduce the effects of carbon emission on the environment. However, debates about the impact of economic complexity on environment remain unsettled since some emerging production technologies have far-reaching pollution effects. This study explored the impacts of economic complexity on environmental sustainability in Turkey using the novel Fourier-based approaches, namely: Fourier Augmented Dickey-Fuller (FADF) and Fourier autoregressive-distributed lag (FARDL) models. The Fourier-based approaches indicated that all variables (economic complexity index (ECI), GDP, energy consumption, and CO2 emission (CO2E)) are cointegrated in the long run. Additionally, the FARDL model implied that (i) in the long run, the effect of ECI (as a proxy for economic complexity), GDP (as a proxy for economic growth), and energy consumption on CO2E (as a proxy for environmental quality) is important; (ii) economic complexity decreases environmental degradation in Turkey; and (iii) economic growth and energy consumption negatively affect environmental quality. The results also showed that economic complexity could be used as a policy tool to tackle environmental degradation. The findings also revealed that the fossil fuel-based economy will continue to expand and undermine Turkey's efforts to meet its net zero emission target by 2053. Therefore, policy-makers should take actions and establish diversified economic, environmental, and energy strategies. For policy insights, the Turkish governments can use the combination of tax exemptions and technical support systems to support knowledge creation and the diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies The governments can also impose strict environmental regulations on the knowledge development phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to capture the effect of environmentally related taxes on environmental quality in Canada while controlling economic growth, financial development, and energy consumption over the period of 1990Q1 to 2020Q4. The present study employs novel econometric approaches, namely, the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (N-ARDL) test and the gradual shift causality (GS-C) test. The outcomes of the study reveal that (i) there is long-run cointegration equation between environmental taxes (E-TAX), carbon dioxide emissions (CO2E), economic growth (ECG), financial development (FD), and primary energy consumption (PREC); (ii) E-TAX causes to decrease in environmental degradation in Canada; (iii) PREC and ECG increase (and cause) environmental degradation in Canada; and (iv) financial development also positively affect the environmental sustainability. This effort may also be of great importance for policymakers and decision-makers to better understand the factors of environmental degradation for developing effective tax policies that will alleviate human impacts and contribute to reducing environmental degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent academic and political interest has increased in the capability of regulatory quality to facilitate realization of environmental sustainability goals. This surge in interest in regulatory interventions relates to questions of whether regulatory deterrence is effective or are better alternatives to state regulations. This study investigates relationships between environmental sustainability and regulatory quality for a cross-section of Eastern European economies between 1998Q4 and 2017Q4 using advanced feasible generalized least square (FGLS) panel cointegration, Common Correlated Effects Mean Group (CCEMG), and Dumitrescu Hurlin panel causality estimation approaches. The outcomes indicate there are cointegrating relationships between regulatory quality and environmental sustainability. Instructively, we find that countries with strong regulations have improved environmental quality controlling unsustainable growth and fossil energy consumption. The Dumitrescu Hurlin panel causality check indicates bidirectional causality between ecological footprint and carbon dioxide emissions in the region. Additionally, there is unidirectional causality running (i) from CO2 emissions to regulatory quality and (ii) from gross per capital income to both regulatory quality and carbon dioxide emissions. For policymakers, it is important to reinforce stringent regulations as the economies begin to grow and consume more energy, which is considered a major cause of climate change and global warming. Similar strict environmental regulations are needed to ensure corporations are made accountable for their actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to examine the relationship between financial inclusion (FNI), technological innovation (TIN), and natural resources (NRS) and their impact on environmental degradation in the 45‐belt and road initiative (BRI) region from 2001 to 2018. The study utilized advanced econometric techniques, including the generalized method of moments–panel vector autoregressive, as well as traditional methods such as ordinary least squares and dynamic ordinary least squares, to examine the relationship between these factors and environmental degradation, measured by carbon footprint (CFP) and ecological footprint (EFP). The long‐run estimate confirms that NRS and FNI appear to have led to higher regional CFPs and EFP pressure. Meanwhile, the relationship with TIN, economic governance institutions (government effectiveness and regularity quality), and human capital contribute to overcoming environmental degradation and increasing environmental sustainability. The findings of this study have important implications for policymakers and central authorities in the BRI region to address environmental degradation and promote sustainable development. Recommendations for Resource Managers: Natural resources (NRS) and financial inclusion increase the regional carbon footprint (CFP) and ecological footprint.Human capital and technological innovation positively contribute to environmental sustainability.Belt and road initiative (BRI) economies should retain innovative access to financial services, sustainable forest, and biocapacity development to meet environmental disasters.Moreover, BRI economies should not increase NRS used extensively to minimize the regional CFP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the role of nuclear energy in promoting ecological sustainability in India, focusing on three ecological indicators: ecological footprint (EF), CO2 emissions (CO2), and load capacity factor (LF). In addition to nuclear energy, the study considers the influence of gas consumption and other drivers of ecological sustainability using data spanning from 1970 to 2018. The analysis also takes into account the impact of the 2008 global financial crisis on the model, employing the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) and frequency domain causality approaches to assess the relationships. Unlike previous studies, this research evaluates both the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) and load capacity curve (LCC) hypotheses. The ARDL results support the validity of both the EKC and LCC hypotheses in the Indian context. Furthermore, the findings reveal that nuclear energy and human capital contribute positively to ecological quality, while gas consumption and economic growth have a negative impact on ecological sustainability. The study also highlights the increasing effect of the 2008 global financial crisis on ecological sustainability. Additionally, the causality analysis demonstrates that nuclear energy, human capital, gas consumption, and economic growth can serve as predictors of long-term ecological sustainability in India. Based on these findings, the research presents policy recommendations that can guide efforts towards achieving SDGs 7 and 13. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental sustainability has been a priority of energy study experts, yet, until recently, the approaches largely ignored innovation issues. This paper investigates the relationship between environmental innovation and environmental sustainability in a Nordic country, Norway, from 1990:Q1 to 2019:Q4. In Norway, climate change, protection of the ozone layer, biodiversity, urbanization, acidification, eutrophication, persistently high toxic waste, and increased fragility have injected volatility and uncertainty into the Norwegians—a reality that may continue for a while. This study is unique in that it uses the nonlinear ARDL approach to analyze in depth how environmental innovation affects environmental sustainability in Norway while controlling for economic growth, renewable energy, and financial development. In particular, the findings reveal that (i) environmental innovation improves the environment in Norway over long-term horizons; (ii) strengthening patents on environmental innovations can foster clean living, green growth, and zero CO2 emissions; (iii) investing in renewable energy sources benefits the Norwegian environment by reducing carbon emission growth; and (iv) economic growth and financial development promote CO2 emission growth. The policy consequence is that Norway's policymakers should continue to invest in cleaner technologies and encourage environmental education and training of employees, suppliers, and consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study explores the relationship between globalization, GDP, the carbon intensity of GDP, patents, and its effect on consumption-based carbon emissions (CCO2E). For analysis, novel econometric approaches include nonlinear ARDL and Fourier ARDL, and for robustness, dynamic OLS applied. The results from cointegration tests reveal that there exists a significant long-run relationship between CCO2E, globalization, economic growth, patents, and the carbon intensity of GDP. Additionally, the empirical results indicate that only positive shock in patents on environmental innovations have a negative and significant impact on CCO2E, while positive and negative shocks in GDP and carbon intensity of GDP significantly increase CCO2E. However, only a negative shock in globalization demonstrates the increase in CCO2E. Also, dynamic OLS findings confirmed the robustness. Given the outcome, it is recommended that the Danish government be cautious when approving policies intended to increase economic growth, as this could negatively affect environmental sustainability. More so, research and development must contribute to technological advancement in the Danish manufacturing sector. Despite this, it is important to prioritize patent promotion. Patent protection can enable Denmark to develop eco-friendly technologies that can reduce carbon emissions, thus enabling life to be more sustainable by utilizing fewer resources and energy. Denmark can reduce CO2E and foster economic development through a strong patent system on environmental technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using Fourier-based ARDL and Fourier Toda Yamamoto causality methods, this study aims to detect the impact of financial risk on environmental sustainability in Poland while controlling economic growth, primary energy consumption, and renewable energy consumption from 1990Q1 to 2019Q4. The outcomes of the Fourier ADL cointegration test indicate all variables are cointegrated. Additionally, the Fourier ARDL long-form estimates indicate both renewable energy consumption and financial risk contribute to reducing environmental degradation in Poland. However, the Fourier ARDL long-form estimates show that both primary energy consumption and economic growth have detrimental impacts on the economy's level of environmental degradation. Analysis of causality direction with the Fourier Toda Yamamoto causality test indicates both financial risk and renewable energy consumption for the period had a one direction causal effect on environmental degradation. For policy insight, the government could support environmental policies requiring companies to factor climate-related risks into their supervision and financial stability monitoring. The Polish government requires financial institutions to prioritize climate risk scenarios in stress testing to control catastrophic weather-related losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For Western European countries, many macroeconomic factors that have influenced environmental quality in several studies have been investigated. In this region, no empirical inquiry has explored the relationship between green technologies, renewable electricity, financial development, economic expansion, and eco-quality. To fill this gap, this inquiry is conducted to estimate the role of green technology innovation and green electricity on ecological balance in Western European countries. This study investigates how carbon dioxide emissions (CO2E) may be influenced by its determinants (economic expansion, renewable energy, environmentally friendly technology) through some robust econometric techniques (second-generation panel unit root, Westerlund cointegration, FMOLS, and DOLS). Empirical findings confirm that renewable electricity and environmentally friendly technological innovations reduce CO2E. However, the economic upsurge is positively correlated with CO2E, suggesting that expanding the market has a deterioration effect on environmental quality. Policymakers in this region should allocate more resources to renewable electricity generation capacities and green technologies in order to minimize environmental damage. Further, the promotion of green and low-carbon energy development will contribute to a new form of global environmental governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study fills a gap in the relevant literature by exploring the linear and nonlinear effect of energy productivity on environmental degradation based on economic growth, trade openness, and energy consumption variables for the case of Cyprus, over the period from 1990Q1 to 2018Q4. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study attempt to conduct this nexus for Cyprus, so the empirical findings are likely to shed light on and open a new debate on the subject of environmental sustainability. The empirical findings of the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag approach revealed that the outcomes of energy productivity instigated a positive (negative) impact on the atmosphere, where a 1% upsurge in positive shock of energy productivity decreased CO2 emissions (CO2E) by 0.265%, and a 1% rise in negative shock caused a 0.837% increase in pollution in the long run. GDP is positively related to pollution in both shocks. Trade results disclosed that trade openness stimulated a positive (negative) influence on the atmosphere. A 1% increase in positive shock of trade openness decreased CO2E by 0.268%, and a 1% growth in negative shock instigated a 0.423% rise in pollution in Cyprus. These results are consistent and supported by both linear and nonlinear techniques. As a part of its long-term climate policy goals, policymakers in Cyprus should invest in energy productivity and R&D that embraces cleaner technology innovations and prioritize cross-cutting environmental technology policies to combat climate challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the time-frequency dependency between government expenditures and tax revenues by employing the wavelet coherence approach using data from the United States of America (USA) for the period of 1960Q2 to 2019Q3. The four leading concepts regarding the correlation between government expenditures and tax revenues are the tax-and-spend, spend-and-tax, fiscal synchronization and institutional separation hypotheses. Our results indicate that government expenditures lead to tax revenues in both the short and long run for specific time intervals as proposed by the spend-and-tax hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental sustainability is a pressing global concern that demands urgent attention from policymakers and researchers. The objective of our research is to investigate the influence of economic policy uncertainty (determined by the world uncertainty index) and financial development on carbon emissions, followed by green technological innovation, institutional quality, economic growth, foreign direct investment, energy consumption, and trade in Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development, for the period 2003-2019, to analyse the data, the second-generation econometric techniques are used. We applied the two-stage sequential techniques of the linear panel data model and generalised method of moments approach to tackle the endogeneity problem and report robust findings. The findings of the study revealed that economic policy uncertainty, financial development, economic growth, energy consumption, and trade decrease environmental quality by increasing CO2 emissions, while green technological innovation and institutional quality increase environmental degradation by reducing CO2 emissions. Our evidence-based study provides significant outcomes for green technological innovation and institutional quality conditioning's role in reducing carbon emissions in OECD economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of environmental sustainability formed the basis of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations conference in Rio de Janeiro. Empirically, without environmental sustainability, everything else could fall apart or be aimless. This study investigates factors affecting global environmental sustainability spanning 1966Q1 to 2019Q4. However, there are many micro-/macroeconomic factors engendering the environment, and the absence of robust clarity on whether factors such as economic growth, urbanization, trade openness, and energy consumption matter for global environmental sustainability remains a global academic dilemma in the economics literature. This paper utilized the unrestricted nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) bounds test techniques to model their relationship. Furthermore, the study adopted fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS), dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS), and canonical cointegrating regression (CCR) methods to test the research hypothesis, catering to the problem of endogeneity and serial correlation. Up-to-date of this study, no empirical study has examined the nexus of these variables within the global framework. The outcomes suggested that (i) NARDL bounds test of cointegration confirmed evidence of long-run and short-run relationships among the variables; (ii) long-run asymmetric relationship was affirmed among the variables; and (iii) DOLS, FMOLS, and CCR models demonstrate that economic growth, energy consumption, and trade openness are positively significantly correlated with environmental sustainability except for economic growth which shows negative and insignificant correlation. These findings validate the protracted argument in literature that these estimated variables are significant for global environmental sustainability. This study recommends that environmental policymakers integrate global economic incentives with favorable regulatory changes for achieving the goals of a global sustainable environment in the long-run equilibrium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to discover the impact of political risk, globalization and technological innovation on the ecological footprint in the BRICS economies by employing a dataset covering the period between 1990 and 2017 and incorporating non-renewable energy utilization and economic growth as other regressors through the utilization of panel quantile regression. The outcomes established that economic growth, non-renewable energy usage, political risk and technological innovation increase ecological footprint. Conversely, globalization significantly decreases the ecological footprint. The panel ordinary least squares approach serves as a sensitivity test for the robustness of the analysis. Furthermore, the Dumitrescu-Hurlin panel causality test confirmed that a bidirectional causal interaction exists between ecological footprint and the regressors of technological innovation, globalization, non-renewable energy and economic growth, while a one-way causal interconnection runs from ecological footprint to political risk. Notably, the general policy suggestion indicates the need for policymakers to intensively coordinate efforts to combat the serious environmental deterioration in the BRICS economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current paper examines the effect of public–private partnerships investment in energy (PPIE) on CO2 emissions while taking economic growth (GDP), foreign direct investment (FDI), and trade openness (TOP) into consideration for Bangladesh from 1997 to 2019. This paper utilizes Bayer and Hanck cointegration approach, fully modified ordinary least squares, dynamic ordinary least squares, canonical regression, and frequency domain causality technique. The outcome of this paper reveals that (i) the cointegrating association among PPIE, GDP, FDI, TOP, and CO2 emissions is verified; (ii) PPIE, GDP, and TOP affect environmental sustainability negatively; (iii) in the long term, PPIE, FDI, and TOP Granger-cause CO2 emissions in Bangladesh. This research suggests technical development for a greener production procedure and public–private partnership funding in green energy. Therefore, as a policy endorsement, this study proposes to invest in the latest technological advancements to manufacture environmentally sustainable goods via public–private partnerships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through an in-depth evaluation of the potential effectiveness of intellectual property protection on environmental technologies, the aim of the present research is to investigate the effect of patents on environmental innovation, energy use, GDP, and trade openness on environmental deregulation in Spain using nonlinear ARDL techniques. Specifically, the study findings indicate that patents on environmental technologies enhance environ-mental sustainability in Spain, as evidenced by the novel results from the nonlinear ARDL. Secondly, our study reveals that Spain's growing economy degrades the quality of the environment. Based on the findings of the study, positive changes in trade openness could have positive effects on Spain's environmental sustainability, suggesting that better productivity, more international trade, and increased economic openness could facilitate an improvement in Spain's environmental impact. Lastly, this study provides evidence demonstrating that Spain's environmental quality could suffer due to excessive energy consumption. In the light of this study's policy recommendations, the policymakers and the Spanish government should encourage collaboration between private and public partnerships on environmental technologies to address global climate change or regional pollution. It is necessary for research and development to contribute to the development of technological progress in the Spanish energy sector; however, promoting patenting should be prioritized. By expanding patent protection, eco-friendly technologies that can combat carbon emissions can be developed swiftly in Spain, which will enable life to be more sustainable by lowering the use of energy and resources. A strong patent protection sys-tem will foster environmentally-friendly technologies and economic development while reducing CO2 emissions in Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent environmental sustainability literature, ecological footprint is largely seen as the most appropriate indicator of environmental destruction. However, due to lack of clarity in its relationship with economic growth, ecosystem services, biodiversity and human well-being, serious academic and political attention on environmental sustainability has not really reflected on ecological footprint. Using CADF unit root test, Westerlund cointegration test, common correlated effects and Dumitrescu Hurlin causality approaches, we conduct empirical analysis of the relationship among urbanization, economic growth and ecological footprint: evidence from Eastern Europe between 1998Q4 and 2017Q4. We address the following protracted questions in the literature: (1) Can we find a relationship between ecological footprint, urbanization and growth? (2) What explains the relationship, if any? The outcomes of the Westerlund cointegration test reveal cointegration among the variables, (ii) the outcome of the Dumitrescu Hurlin causality test indicates that there is a long-run unidirectional causality running from growth to the ecological footprint and (iii) urbanization does not homogeneously cause ecological footprint. The study has implications for regional policy actions that could support the reduction of ecological deficits through growth and urbanization policies towards improving regional environmental quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa is one of Africa's most polluted countries, with rising CO2 emissions posing a threat. South Africa must discover ways of minimizing pollution and take necessary steps before it is too late in order to achieve sustainable growth. For this purpose, this research assesses the ecological consequences of globalization, nonrenewable energy use, economic growth and renewable energy consumption in South Africa. The study leverages on the non-linearity advantages of the novel quantile on quantile regression (QQR) method for a robust analysis as opposed to the use of conventional linear approaches, thereby overcoming conspicuous shortfalls in extant studies, while offering a detailed explanation of the overall dependency structure between CO2 emissions and globalization, nonrenewable energy use and renewable energy use using a dataset covering the period between 1970 and 2018. The outcomes suggest that nonrenewable energy use, globalization, and economic growth contribute to environmental degradation in the majority of the quantiles, while the effect of renewable energy use on CO2 is not strong at all quantiles. The study highlights that economic expansion, nonrenewable energy use and globalization play key roles in in mitigating environmental sustainability in South Africa, while renewable energy is not sufficient to meet environmental requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, many empirical studies investigated the effects of globalization on the ecological footprint (EF). Most of these studies relied on the KOF index of globalization and studied the effects of total globalization and disaggregated impacts of economic, social, and political globalization on the EF. However, less attention has been given to financial globalization which can also influence the EF. Hence, this study investigates the association between financial globalization (FG), economic growth (GDP), and EF controlling population density (PD) in the selected West Asian and the Middle East (WAME) nations from 1990 to 2017. The study relied upon second-generation methods for checking stationary properties and Westerlund and other techniques to scrutinize cointegration. The evidence showed cointegration in the model. The long-run approximations from continuously updated fully modified (CUP-FM) and continuously updated bias corrected (CUP-BC) tests divulge that financial globalization is an important factor to promote ecological sustainability in the sample countries because it decreases EF. Population density exacerbates EF and worsens environmental deterioration in sample countries. The study detected the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) between EF and economic growth in the presence of financial globalization and population density. Besides, financial globalization Granger causes EF, while the feedback effect exists between EF and economic growth. Based on these results, WAME economies can accomplish ecological sustainability and sustainable development by enhancing their financial globalization levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature analyzing the ecological impacts of financial development (FD) documents mixed results. In addition, very limited researches consider the role of technological innovation in ecological sustainability even though technological innovation is indispensable to achieve technological advancement, which may help in sustainable development and ecological sustainability. Therefore, this work probes the effects of technological innovation, financial development, and economic growth (GDP) on the ecological footprint (EF) controlling urbanization and employing a STIRPAT framework. The analysis of data from West Asia and Middle East nations from 1990 to 2017 revealed cointegration in the model. The long-run coefficients produced by the continuously updated fully modified technique revealed that a 1% upsurge in technological innovation decreases EF by 0.010%. Interestingly, technological innovation is helpful to decrease EF and enhance economic growth in the West Asia and Middle East (WAME) countries. However, a 1% rise in FD boosts the level of EF by 0.0016% inferring that FD stimulates ecological degradation. Likewise, urbanization in the WAME countries raises EF levels and contributes adversely to ecological quality. In addition to this, the study revealed the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis in the selected countries accounting for technological innovation, FD, and urbanization in the model. The causal analysis provided evidence of unidirectional causality from FD to EF and bidirectional causality between technological innovation and EF. The study recommends more investment in research and development and strong collaboration between the universities and industries to promote the level of technological innovation for both sustainable development and ecological sustainability. In addition, urban sustainability policies are necessary without decreasing the urbanization level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to investigate coal consumption and environmental sustainability in South Africa by examining the role of financial development and globalization by using a dataset covering the period from 1980 to 2017. The study utilized the Auto-regressive Distributed Lag Model (ARDL) approach in addition to the Bayer and Hank combined co-integration, fully modified Ordinary least squares (FMOLS), and Dynamic ordinary least Squares (DOLS). The study further utilized the frequency domain causality test to capture the causal linkage between the series. The advantage of the frequency domain causality is that it can capture causal linkages between series at different periods. The Bayer and Hanck co-integration and ARDL bounds tests reveal co-integration among the series. The empirical findings based on the ARDL long-run estimation reveal that a 1% increase in coal consumption increases environmental degradation by 1.077%, while a 1% increase in financial development decreases the environmental degradation by 0.973%. Furthermore, a 1% increase in economic growth decreases environmental quality by 1.449%. The outcomes of the FMOLS and DOLS approaches also provide supportive evidence for the ARDL long-run results. Furthermore, the results of the frequency domain causality test reveal that at a significance level of 1%, coal consumption Granger causes CO2 emissions at different frequencies, while financial development Granger causes CO2 emissions in the long run and short run at a significance level of 10%. In terms of policy suggestions, South Africa should embrace policies that encourage energy consumers to shift toward renewable energy. Furthermore, financial reforms should be implemented to curb environmental degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study provides a macro-level framework for gender issues and their link to energy policies and environmental quality, in line with the sustainable development goals (SDG). It examines the relationship between environmental sustainability, gender equality in education, energy consumption, and sub-Saharan Africa's income by using cointegration analysis and autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) method. The study's estimation results are consistent with the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis and policy actions suggested by eco-feminist theories in both the short-run and long-run and show that gender equality in education has positively related to environmental sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to explore the long‐run and causal effect of financial development and renewable energy consumption on environmental sustainability while controlling technological innovation and economic growth within the global framework. In line with the aim of the study, the fully modified OLS (FMOLS), dynamic OLS (DOLS), canonical cointegrating regression (CCR), Bayer and Hanck cointegration, and frequency‐domain causality tests are employed. Empirical evidence confirms the existence of a long‐run linkage among the variables. The present study also finds that in the long run, global financial development and global renewable energy consumption have a long‐run significant positive effect on environmental sustainability, while economic growth increases carbon emission flaring around the world. Within the global framework, the study, therefore, recommends that in order to increase environmental quality, global policy‐makers should further consider the roles of renewable energy and financial development by implementing reform energy policies in both developed and developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to explore the co-movement between urbanization and environmental sustainability for the period 1950 to 2014 using the wavelet coherence technique within the global framework. The wavelet coherence technique allows us to investigate both the long-run and short-term causal relationships between urbanization and environmental sustainability within the global framework. The findings reveal that (i) wavelet correlation from the global perspectives indicates a significant wavelet relationship between urbanization and environmental sustainability for medium- and long-term horizons; however, the correlations are not significant for the short-term horizons; (ii) significant vulnerabilities in urbanization and environmental sustainability are observed at different periods and different frequency levels; (iii) urbanization has reliable power for explaining environmental sustainability at different periods between 1970 and 2000. Based on our study, we suggest that global urban planners and policymakers should support modern environment-friendly technologies and renewable energies to control global CO2 emissions and pollutions created by industrialization; policy action to fight climate change is as well recommended as evidence supports to compact city theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given that the volume of carbon emissions in the US is a significant share of the global greenhouse gas emissions, some salient factors are being currently examined so as to reverse the threat to global environmental sustainability. To this regard, the current study investigates the co-movement and long-term and short-term causal relationship between CO2 emission (a proxy for environmental quality) and renewable consumption, immigration, and healthcare by using the wavelet coherence approach which primarily provides information on dynamic correlations over time and for different time scales. The coherence approach allows the one-dimensional time data into the bi-dimensional time-frequency sphere between the variables. In addition to investigating the causal relationship between CO2 and renewable consumption, immigration, and healthcare, this study also employs gradual-shift causality and Toda-Yamamoto causality tests. With this, the study found a high variation for CO2 emission in the US at 8 scales (8 quarters) from 1999 to 2008. Additionally, there is significant feedback causality between CO2 emission and renewable consumption at different scales while a positive correlation between the variables is observed in the short run. Similarly, the result reveals that immigration significantly causes CO2 emission in the US from 2008 to 2010 and a two-way causality is detected between CO2 emission and healthcare at different frequencies and time period. Moreover, the Toda-Yamamoto causality and gradual-shift causality tests provide supportive evidence to the outcomes of the wavelet coherence–based causality test in this study. Overall, the investigation offers significant policy directive especially toward addressing the potential adverse effects from the country's immigration and healthcare amendments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the asymmetric and long-run effect of energy productivity on the quality of the environment in Finland. Finland, as one of the Nordic countries, is a major contributor to the global drive to achieve decarbonization by 2050. In effect, this study seeks to contribute to the strides by querying the extent to which shocks in energy productivity make or mar the sustainability of the Finland environment from 1990:Q1 to 2019:Q4. The other impacts of financial development, economic growth, and trade openness are considered in the model estimated by using the novel hidden panel cointegration and nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) methodology. The results reveal a significant asymmetric equilibrium cointegration relationship among the variables over long-run time horizons; energy productivity utilization enhances the quality of the environment in Finland over the long run while trade openness, financial development, and economic growth contribute to environmental degradation in Finland in the long term. In particular, a 1% positive and negative fluctuation in energy productivity lowers carbon emissions by 1.79442% and 0.84799% in the long term. Whereas 1% change in trade openness, financial development, and economic growth trigger CO 2 emissions (CO 2 E) by 1.15298%, 0.271365%, and 2.93402% in Finland's economies. The results of the frequency domain causality model corroborate the NARDL results. On the basis of these empirical findings, this study suggests that policymakers in Finland should consider the asymmetric behavior among these variables in setting their trade, environmental, growth, and energy policies. [Display omitted] • The effect of energy productivity on environmental degradation in Finland is examined. • Nonlinear ARDL, Fourier ADL cointegration and frequnecy domain causality tests are employed. • Energy productivity leads to lower environmental degradation in Finland. • Energy productivity causes environmental sustainability at different frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to develop and validate an instrument called sustainable performance (SP) in the banking sector. A mixed research design was used to understand the nature of SP techniques used by managers and employees from the banking sector. A qualitative approach was first employed to assess the types of SP techniques used through a set of interviews conducted with 11 bank managers. This was followed by a quantitative method to develop and validate an SP scale for use in the banking sector. Items for the assessment of SP were developed with a dataset comprising 415 people, and statistical analyses supported both the validity and reliability of this measurement instrument. This instrument consists of 39 items designed as a 5-point Likert scale. The study is restricted to the investigation that was conducted in certain banks operating in North Cyprus. The implications of the study suggest that managers and researchers could use SP to improve the firm performance of their organizations. This study makes a strong contribution by filling a gap in the literature. It focuses on assessing the SP performance of banks to understand their level of competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study is to explain the long-run and causal effects of innovation, financial development, and transportation infrastructure on CO 2 emissions using the combined cointegration and wavelet coherence approaches over the period from 1971 to 2018 , while using economic growth as a control variable in the model. The outcomes of the Bayer-Hanck cointegration test show that there is an important cointegration equation among CO 2 emissions, innovation, financial development, transportation infrastructure, and real GDP. Moreover, the findings from a wavelet power spectrum reveal that there is a significant vulnerability in innovation, financial development, transportation infrastructure, and CO 2 emissions at different time frames and frequencies. Furthermore, the outcomes of wavelet coherence approach reveal that (i) Innovation is observed as a significant predictor of CO 2 emissions over the period from 2007 to 2013; (ii) In the long run, there are negative correlations between CO 2 emissions and financial development; (iii) Over the periods from 2000 to 2015, and from 1985 to 1989, transportation significantly causes CO 2 emissions. Our findings have substantial policy implications that suggest there is a need to strengthen innovation and transportation infrastructure to achieve environmental sustainability targets. • This study examines the determinants of CO 2 emissions in China following COP21. • This study employs Bayer-Hanck cointegration and wavelet coherence approaches. • Transportation and innovation significantly cause CO 2 emissions in the long run. • There is negative correlation between CO 2 emissions and financial development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the role of fiscal decentralization cannot be overlooked in tracking sustainable development goals targets of a clean environment and climate mitigation, it is inevitable to understand the comprehensive picture of its link with environmental quality. Unlike past studies, this study investigates the combined influence of energy prices and non-linear fiscal decentralization on carbon emissions in the presence of institutional quality and gross domestic product in the model. It employed advanced econometric panel techniques on data from 1990 to 2018 for the top seven fiscally decentralized Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations, including Spain, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Australia, and Canada. The main outcomes are as follows: first, a cointegrating equilibrium link is existent among the study variables. Second, the linear term of fiscal decentralization promotes carbon emissions, while the non-linear term mitigates it. It verified the inverted U-shaped curve between fiscal decentralization and carbon emissions. Third, increasing energy prices for non-renewable energy decrease carbon emission due to a substitution effect. Among other explanatory variables, improvement in the quality of institutions decreases carbon emissions, while the gross domestic product increases it. These findings suggest strengthening fiscal decentralization, lowering non-renewable energy prices, and improving institutional quality to check the deteriorating environmental quality in the study sample and other worldwide regions. • Employed Westerlund cointegration and found long-run equilibrium association. • Applied CS-ARDL and AMG techniques to obtain the influence estimates. • Linear (non-linear) fiscal decentralization promoted (reduced) carbon emissions. • Fiscal decentralization presented an inverted U-shaped association with carbon emissions. • Energy prices and institutional quality mitigated carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]