• Energy Research

Studies on urban environmental quality are evolving emphasizing the need for policy response concerning the enactment of environmental regulations to attain sustainable development goals (SDGs), mainly target 13. Over the years, the concerns to improve urban environmental quality especially managing noise, air quality, water, sanitation, and waste have increased. Consequently, limited studies exist on the determinant of urban environmental quality. This paper attempts to build on existing studies of environmental quality, by analyzing the determinants of environmental quality in urban Morocco in the context of important factors, such as energy consumption, urbanization, manufacturing, and financial development. The study draws on time series data covering the period from 1971 to 2019 and uses Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach to analyze the impacts of per capita income, energy consumption, urbanization, manufacturing value-added, capital investment, and financial development on CO2. The findings of this research reveal both short-run and long-run associations between these variables in Morocco. Manufacturing activities and financial development significantly deteriorate Moroccan environmental quality in the long-run. The findings suggest that efforts towards improving environmental quality in urban Morocco require the development and implementation of urban policies that advocate for the adoption and advancement of sustainable energy sources.

The rising urban population and accelerated resource consumption pose major environmental challenges. Given that around 75% of global resources are consumed in urban areas, understanding the true association between urbanization (UR) and ecological quality is necessary for better urban strategies. Alongside this, eco-innovation (ECO) can limit environmental pollution and thus, it is the cornerstone of environmental policies. On that note, this research discloses the nexus between eco-innovation, economic growth (EGR), and ecological quality by considering the non-linear effects of UR in the emerging seven (E-7) nations from 1992 to 2018. Unlike previous literature, the newly developed indicator of ecological quality (the load capacity factor (LCF)) is adopted to understand the connection between UR, eco-innovation, and ecological quality since this new comprehensive indicator is based on both biocapacity and ecological footprint (EF). In the methodology, the "Continuously Updated-Fully Modified" (CuP-FM) test is used since this method offers diverse benefits for panel data estimation by accounting for major panel data estimation issues including autocorrelation, endogeneity, heteroscedasticity, fractional integration, and cross-sectional dependence. The empirical estimates unveiled that the current levels as well as high levels of UR limit the LCF. This evidence suggests that UR in the E-7 nations expands ecological degradation. This finding contradicts the assertions of ecological modernization theory that expanding urbanization brings some ecological benefits. Similarly, economic growth alleviates ecological quality. However, eco-innovation and agricultural land (AGL) contribute to enhancing the LCF and promoting ecological quality. Further, UR and eco-innovation Granger cause the LCF. Lastly, comprehensive urban environmental strategies are discussed to promote sustainable urbanization backed by eco-innovation.

The objective of this study is to examine the role of renewable energy consumption and natural resource rents along with control variables of globalization and economic growth on the environmental sustainability of Jordanian economy from 1985 to 2019. These variables have been selected based on theory and empirical literature. We apply a Dynamic Autoregressive Distributed Lag (D-ARDL) technique along with robustness checks of Fully modified OLS (FMOLS), Dynamic OLS (DOLS), and Canonical Cointegrating Regression (CCR) techniques in order to achieve the above goal. The result from the analysis confirms that the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) is not valid for the Jordan in either long or short term. Our estimation results also confirm the highly significant and negative impact of renewable energy on CO2 emissions in both the long and short term. However, both natural resource rents and globalization are significant and positive in the long run, implying that these variables are detrimental to the environmental quality. The interaction analysis presents detrimental effect of globalization in terms of renewable energy while it shows beneficial effect of globalization in terms of natural resource for environmental quality. The frequency domain causality result shows causality at different frequencies across the variables. Based on the results, several policy directions are provided in order to achieve environmental sustainability in Jordan.

Unquestionably, energy transition, which entails increasing renewables in the energy mix, is among the most reliable strategies to discontinue the utilization of fossil fuels and achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this context, technological advancement can not only stimulate green energy supply but also promote resource efficiency for realizing ecological goals. Also, persistent long-term energy policies and uninterrupted investments are needed to progress on SDGs for climate control and sustainable development. Hence, factors such as economic and government stability are pertinent to implementing and governing energy strategies. Against this background, this study assesses the potential of energy transition in meeting ecological goals by taking into account the roles of economic stability, technology, and government stability in BRICS from 1992 to 2018. Using the second-generation Westerlund cointegration test, the study found a long-run association among variables. The findings from the Continuously Updated Fully Modified (CuP-FM) test disclosed that energy transition is effective in limiting the ecological footprint (EF) in BRICS. Alongside this, economic stability and technology reduce ecological degradation. In addition, government stability stimulates environmental sustainability, while population density decreases environmental sustainability. Finally, the implications of these conclusions for meeting SDGs are discussed and policy directions are provided.

Most researchers consider CO2 emissions to be the primary indicator of environmental degradation. Similarly, ecological footprint appears to be a significant proxy for environmental degradation in recent research due to its multifaceted impact on the natural environment. With this in mind, this study investigates fluctuations in CO2 emissions and ecological footprint as indicators of environmental degradation in Bangladesh from 1980 to 2020, and how they are influenced by net savings, natural resource depletion, technological innovation, and democracy. The non-linear ARDL (NARDL)-based asymmetric analysis finds that positive changes in net savings, natural resource depletion, and democracy positively impact both parameters of environmental degradation in the long run. On the other hand, a positive change in technological innovation reduces these parameters in the long run. Likewise, negative changes in net savings and technological innovation reduce environmental degradation. In contrast, negative changes in natural resource depletion and democracy exacerbate these two parameters and degrade environmental quality in the long run. However, there are some variations in the short-run influence of the predictors on the predicted variable. Overall, the findings of this study suggest that policymakers must strategically exploit natural resources, net savings, technology diffusion, and democratic principles to preserve the natural environment in Bangladesh.

Climatic changes are posing serious threats to crop production and food insecurity across the globe. This study explores the dynamic relationship between changing annual temperature and production of major crops such as wheat, rice, bajra, jowar, maize, barley, gram, sugar cane, mastered oil, and cotton in Pakistan from 2000 to 2019 through an eclectic production model. The estimated result of panel econometric analysis revealed a significant negative effect of rising temperature on selected crop production in the long run with an insignificant impact in the short run. Among other explanatory variables, the area under cultivation and fertilizer input have significant positive effects in both the long run and the short run. Improved quality seeds revealed insignificant effects and urging authorities to enhance quality research to develop climate change resilient crops. This study urges Pakistan to improve agriculture technology along with adopting other greenhouse gas mitigation, such as forestation and clean energy, and water conservation policies.

South Asian region is extremely vulnerable to climate change which hampers its attainment of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). This study explores how sustainable development of South Asian nations is affected by the clean or renewable energy consumption, globalization, population growth and deliberative democracy. To tackle the effects of shocks within the cross-sectional units as well as to account for endogeneity, this study utilizes Common Correlated Effects Mean Group-Generalized Method of Moments (CCE-GMM) estimation technique proposed by Neal (2015). Common Correlated Effects Mean Group (CCE-MG) of Pesaran 2006 and Augmented Mean Group (AMG) by Eberhardt and Teal (2010) and Eberhardt and Bond (2009) techniques are also utilized as robustness checks. The empirical results reveal that the consumption of renewable or clean energy can significantly and positively affect sustainable development, implying that deploying clean energy technologies is helpful to achieve SDG agenda in South Asia. Population growth is found to be hampering sustainable development while deliberative democracy ensures this development. The impact of globalization on sustainable development was found to be negative yet insignificant. Bidirectional causal relationship was discovered between sustainable development and renewable energy, between population and sustainable development, between deliberative democracy and sustainable development and between deliberative democracy and globalization. Finally, the study provides policy directions to achieve sustainable development in South Asia via enhanced integration of renewable energy in the region's energy mix.

Alors que les objectifs de développement durable (ODD) 13 et 7 sont de plus en plus explorés dans la recherche sur le changement climatique, la financiarisation reste un élément fondamental du discours sur le développement des énergies propres et renouvelables. Cette étude se concentre sur une reconfiguration des politiques qui pourrait être nécessaire pour faire progresser l'environnement propre au Canada. Plus précisément, la recherche évalue le co-mouvement des émissions de dioxyde de carbone (CO2), le développement financier, l'électricité renouvelable et la croissance économique. Les données, qui englobent les périodes trimestrielles de 1984Q1 à 2021Q4, sont analysées via la nouvelle méthode de corrélation multiple locale en ondelettes. Cette méthode est capable de capturer l'effet de deux ou trois variables indépendantes sur la variable dépendante à différentes fréquences et périodes. Dans cette étude, les résultats montrent que la croissance économique intensifie la détérioration écologique à toutes les périodes, même si l'utilisation d'électricité renouvelable et le développement financier limitent la détérioration écologique à moyen et long terme. En outre, le développement financier et la consommation d'électricité renouvelable favorisent la croissance économique à court, moyen et long terme. Sur la base de ces conclusions, un programme politique qui s'appuie sur les ODD est proposé. Bien que ce cadre politique vise à atteindre les objectifs des ODD 13 et 7 au Canada, il peut être étendu à d'autres pays développés. Si bien los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) 13 y 7 se exploran cada vez más en la investigación sobre el cambio climático, la financiarización sigue siendo una parte fundamental del discurso sobre el desarrollo de energías limpias y renovables. Este estudio se centra en una reconfiguración de políticas que puede ser necesaria para avanzar aún más en el medio ambiente limpio en Canadá. Más precisamente, la investigación evalúa el co-movimiento de las emisiones de dióxido de carbono (CO2), el desarrollo financiero, la electricidad renovable y el crecimiento económico. Los datos, que abarcan los períodos trimestrales de 1984T1 a 2021T4, se analizan mediante el novedoso método de correlación múltiple local wavelet. Este método es capaz de captar el efecto de dos o tres variables independientes sobre la variable dependiente a diferentes frecuencias y periodos. En este estudio, los resultados muestran que el crecimiento económico intensifica el deterioro ecológico en todos los períodos, incluso cuando la utilización de electricidad renovable y el desarrollo financiero restringen el deterioro ecológico a mediano y largo plazo. Adicionalmente, el desarrollo financiero y el consumo de electricidad renovable promueven el crecimiento económico a corto, mediano y largo plazo. Sobre la base de estos hallazgos, se propone una agenda de políticas que se basa en los ODS. Aunque este marco de políticas tiene como objetivo lograr los objetivos de los ODS 13 y 7 en Canadá, puede extenderse a otros países desarrollados. While Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 13 and 7 are increasingly being explored in climate change research, financialization remains a fundamental part of the discourse on clean and renewable energy development. This study focuses on a policy reconfiguration that may be necessary to further advance clean environment in Canada. More precisely, the research evaluates the co-movement of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, financial development, renewable electricity and economic growth. The data, which encompass the quarterly periods from 1984Q1 to 2021Q4, are analysed via the novel wavelet local multiple correlation method. This method is capable of capturing the effect of two or three independent variables on the dependent variable at different frequencies and periods. In this study, the results show that economic growth intensifies ecological deterioration in all periods even as renewable electricity utilisation and financial development restrict ecological deterioration in the medium and long term. Additionally, financial development and renewable electricity consumption promote economic growth in the short, medium and long term. On the basis of these findings, a policy agenda that builds on the SDGs is proposed. Although this policy framework aims to achieve the objectives of SDG 13 and 7 in Canada, it may be extended to other developed countries. في حين يتم استكشاف هدفي التنمية المستدامة 13 و 7 بشكل متزايد في أبحاث تغير المناخ، لا يزال التمويل جزءًا أساسيًا من الخطاب حول تطوير الطاقة النظيفة والمتجددة. تركز هذه الدراسة على إعادة تشكيل السياسة التي قد تكون ضرورية لتعزيز البيئة النظيفة في كندا. وبشكل أكثر دقة، يقيّم البحث الحركة المشتركة لانبعاثات ثاني أكسيد الكربون (CO2)، والتنمية المالية، والكهرباء المتجددة، والنمو الاقتصادي. يتم تحليل البيانات، التي تشمل الفترات الفصلية من 1984 الربع الأول إلى 2021 الربع الرابع، من خلال طريقة الارتباط المتعدد المحلي للموجات الجديدة. هذه الطريقة قادرة على التقاط تأثير متغيرين أو ثلاثة متغيرات مستقلة على المتغير التابع عند ترددات وفترات مختلفة. في هذه الدراسة، تظهر النتائج أن النمو الاقتصادي يكثف التدهور البيئي في جميع الفترات حتى مع تقييد استخدام الكهرباء المتجددة والتنمية المالية للتدهور البيئي على المدى المتوسط والطويل. بالإضافة إلى ذلك، فإن التنمية المالية واستهلاك الكهرباء المتجددة يعززان النمو الاقتصادي على المدى القصير والمتوسط والطويل. وعلى أساس هذه النتائج، يُقترح جدول أعمال للسياسات يستند إلى أهداف التنمية المستدامة. على الرغم من أن إطار السياسة هذا يهدف إلى تحقيق أهداف هدفي التنمية المستدامة 13 و 7 في كندا، إلا أنه يمكن توسيعه ليشمل دولًا متقدمة أخرى.