Narrow Results

The aim of this paper is to analyze the dynamic relationship between economic growth and CO₂ emissions for a set of 98 countries over the lengthy period from 1951 to 2014. We describe the topology and hierarchy of countries and introduce a different concept of economic performance based on the idea of dynamic regimes. These regimes are defined by the average levels of per-capita CO₂ emissions and the growth rates of per-capita GDP. By presenting a nonparametric clustering technique, the paper identifies two main groups. One cluster can be identified as the group of developed countries, which presents a homogeneous structure and tends toward more similar dynamics over time. The other cluster, associated with developing countries, is homogeneous but the dynamics of the countries do not show convergence. The study also finds some, though little, mobility between the groups.

In this paper, we examine the impact of vehicles executing a full turn or U-turn in a single-lane roundabout system using a cellular automaton model. We investigate how increasing the number of these U-turning vehicles affects traffic flow characteristics and energy dissipation. Our findings reveal that as the prevalence of U-turning vehicles rises, the phase diagram undergoes significant changes; the maximum current phase expands, detrimentally impacting the free flow and congestion phases, while giving rise to a jamming phase. This shift results in a gradual increase in capacity at circulating lanes and a steady decline at entry/exit lanes. We also explore the role of aimless vehicles — those circulating without a fixed destination. As the proportion of such vehicles augments, it fosters an enlargement of the maximum current phase at the expense of the free flow and congestion phases. Furthermore, these vehicles influence energy dissipation across the three lanes of a roundabout. Significantly, we elucidate that variations in the percentage of these specific vehicular groups critically affect CO₂ emissions. Our research unravels vital insights into optimizing roundabout management to enhance traffic flow and reduce environmental impact.

In this paper, we propose the hypothesis: Given the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis, regional income inequality has a negative, indirect impact on the average level of CO₂ emissions through decreasing marginal emission propensities (MEP) of GDP. We have employed a vector error correction model and three inequality measures in our empirical analysis. The empirical results support the hypothesis in China. The main findings of this paper suggest that a trade-off exists between reducing CO₂ emissions and narrowing regional income disparity and that the MEP contributes to this negative effect.

This paper examines the relationships among CO₂ emissions, energy use, GDP, and financial development for 25 OECD countries over the 1971–2007 period. From the results of the panel FMOLS and the cross-sectional dependence regression, we do not find any support for the existence of the EKC for OECD countries. Moreover, the results present that the coefficient of financial development to CO₂ emissions is negative and statistically significant for eight countries (Austria, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and the U.S.). The findings of this study thus show that financial development can help EU countries to adjust their CO₂ emissions.

Recent trade literature highlights production sharing among economies [Johnson, R and G Noguera (2012). Accounting for intermediates: Production sharing and trade in value added. Journal of International Economics, 86(2), 224–236), and some studies report that 20–25% of CO₂ emissions can be attributed to international trade [Peters, G, J Minx, C Weber and O Edenhofer (2011). Growth in emission transfers via international trade from 1990 to 2008. Proceedings the National Academy of Sciences USA, 108(21), 8903–8908.]. However, the mechanism explaining how and to what extent production sharing affects CO₂ emissions remains unclear. This study, as an extension of [Meng, B, J Xue, K Feng, D Guan and X Fu (2013a). China’s interregional spillover of carbon emissions and domestic supply chains. Energy Policy, 61, 1305–1321.], adopts the perspective of demand spillovers to provide new insights regarding the position of Chinese domestic-regions’ production in Global Value Chains (GVCs) and their associated CO₂ emissions. To this end, we employed a new type of World Input-Output Database (WIOD) in which China’s domestic interregional input–output table for 2007 is endogenously embedded. The pattern of China’s regional demand spillovers across both domestic regions and countries is revealed by employing this new database. These results were then connected to endowments theory, which helps to make sense of the empirical results. It is found that China’s regions are located relatively upstream in GVCs, and had CO₂ emissions in net exports, which were entirely predicted by the environmental extended Heckscher–Ohlin–Vanek (HOV) model. Our study points to micro policy instruments to combat climate change: for example, tax reform for energy inputs that helps to change the production pattern, which then has an impact on trade patterns and so forth.

In this paper, we explore the economic impact of promotion and realization of an electric vehicle society (EVS). More concretely, this paper emphasizes a computable general equilibrium (CGE) modeling approach to evaluate the following issues: economic impacts of subsidies for promotion of an EVS, the possibility of price reductions, industrial structure change toward an EVS, and modal shift occurring toward an EVS. Our simulation results demonstrate that after applying 5–25% up subsidies to five industries, such as electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing, EV transport, solar power, cogeneration and other transport, the total industrial output and city GDP increase. A large growth rate is found in industries where subsidies are introduced alone with non-ferrous metal industry. However, it is interesting that decreasing proportions are found in oil and coal product, mining, heat supply and gasoline vehicle (GV) transport industries. Moreover, all the commodity prices decrease since subsidies are given to some industries. Hence Toyohashi City’s economy shows a direction where the demand for conventional vehicles and energy use are decreased, conversely, the demand for EVs and renewable energy are increased illustrating a different life style from the current one. However, it does not mean that the total CO₂ emission is decreased. EV society makes some industrial outputs larger. Due to the fact that some industrial outputs are increased, CO₂ emissions of EV manufacturing and nonferrous metal are increased more than decreased industries. Thus, introducing 5–25% subsidies to EV manufacturing, EV transport, solar power, cogeneration and other transport can really represent a realistic alternative society to EVS if the total CO₂ emission can be reduced. Therefore, we have to think what can make the total CO₂ emission reduced.

This paper examines the environmental kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis for China in the presence of globalization. We have applied Bayer and Hanck combined cointegration test as well as the auto regressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach to cointegration by accommodating structural breaks in the series. The causal relationship among the variables is investigated by applying the vector error correction method (VECM) causality framework. The study covers the period of 1970–2012. The results confirm the presence of cointegration among the variables. Furthermore, the EKC hypothesis is valid in China both in short and long runs. Coal consumption increases carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions significantly. The overall index and sub-indices of globalization indicate that globalization in China is decreasing CO₂ emissions. The causality results reveal that economic growth causes CO₂ emissions confirming the existence of the EKC hypothesis. The feedback effect exists between coal consumption and CO₂ emissions. CO₂ emissions Granger causes globalization (social, economic and political).

Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is one of the key requirements for sustainable production and consumption, but while the Canadian chemical industry has been very successful in reducing emissions to water and air, and while non-CO₂ greenhouse gas emissions have been minimised as well, reduction of CO₂ emissions has been less successful. The industry itself forecasts that further reduction of CO₂ emissions will be minimal. On the other hand concerns about global warming are increasing, while at the same time the chemical industry increases its commitment to sustainability. Determining the carbon footprint of a chemical plant and of its products will help to identify more emissions reduction possibilities and is a necessary step for the further reduction of the chemical industry's environmental impact.

Carbon footprint determination is a corporate goal for AkzoNobel, an international coatings and specialty chemicals company, but the carbon footprint is not yet established for many products, and the information available from the chemical industry is scarce. This paper presents a case study of AkzoNobel's Saskatoon Plant and its attempt to calculate and analyse the carbon footprint of the plant and its main products which are used in the potash industry.

The nexus between trade openness and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions remains unsettled in the existing literature. Using a balanced panel dataset for 76 countries from 1990 to 2019, this study empirically investigates the non-linear relationship between trade openness and CO₂ emissions. Given the potential cross-sectional interdependence in the panel, we employ the system-generalised method of moments. We also conduct a mediating effect analysis to explore potential mediation effect in the trade openness-CO₂ nexus. Finally, the regional heterogeneity is discussed. The empirical results revealed an inverted U-shaped relationship between trade openness and CO₂ emissions, indicating that CO₂ emissions increase initially with an expansion of trade openness, then decline after trade openness crossing the turning point. Furthermore, three mediation effects (i.e. scale effect, technique effect and composition effect) exist in the nexus between trade openness and CO₂ emissions. Additionally, the impact of trade openness is heterogeneous across different regions. The main research results show that technique spillover is an important way to achieve a win-win situation in emission reduction and trade openness.

Accurate implementation of eco-innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to mitigate climate change and related environmental turmoil emanating from economic activities is always ignored. The study seeks to investigate the role of eco-innovation in enhancing environmental sustainability; the effect of eco-innovation on carbon dioxide (CO${}_2)$ emissions for the aggregated Sub-Saharan Africa panel of 35 countries and low-income and middle-income countries sub-panels over the period 1990–2017 is investigated. Bearing in mind the potential occurrence of residual cross-sectional reliance and heterogeneity, this extant study employed second-generation estimation approaches which include the cross-sectional Im, Pesaran and Shin and the cross-sectional augmented Dickey–Fuller unit root tests together with the Westerlund and Edgerton as well as the Durbin–Hausman panel cointegration tests. The augmented mean group long-run estimation method was finally employed to estimate the long-run liaison amid variables. Based on the outlined robust approaches, the main outcomes are elaborated as follows: (i) eco-innovation significantly reduces environmental pollution in all the panels Sub-Saharan Africa; (ii) income is revealed to have insignificant effect on environmental pollution across all panels, although a positive effect occurred in both the middle-income panel and aggregated panel, whereas an adverse effect is noted in the low-income panel of SSA nations; (iii) energy consumption and urbanisation contribute to environmental pollution in all the panels; (iv) trade openness contributes significantly to environmental pollution in the SSA aggregated panel but has insignificant effect in the sub-panels; and (v) foreign direct investment has no effect on carbon emissions among all panels. The findings also reveal invalid environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis in the various country groups. Based on the findings, we recommend a solid policy framework for investments in more innovation activities that facilitate sustainability transition, prioritise green investments, reduce the importation of emissions-intensive technologies and encourage green production processes which in turn could guarantee sustainable development.

This paper aims to determine the dynamic influence of provincial tourism development on carbon emissions and ecological efficiency in China. For this purpose, the paper first develops a new index to evaluate the ecological efficiency and then utilises the SYS-GMM method by using the provincial data during 2004–2017. Besides, we explore the heterogeneous, asymmetric, and mediating impact effect in the tourism–carbon–ecological efficiency nexus. The following findings are highlighted: (1) An inverted U-shaped nexus exists between tourism development and carbon emissions, which confirms the existence of the tourism–environment Kuznets curve; (2) tourism development can promote ecological efficiency, and this positive impact of tourism on the economy is enhanced by the tourism infrastructure; (3) the impact of tourism development on carbon emissions is heterogeneous and asymmetric, while its influence on ecological efficiency is consistent; and (4) investment effect is the significant mediator. This paper puts forward several policy suggestions based on the conclusion.

This study aims to highlight the asymmetric impact of economic growth (GDP), trade openness (TO), energy consumption (EC), foreign direct investment (FDI), and financial development (FD) on carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in Vietnam over the period 1990–2022, using quantile-on-quantile regression and Granger causality in quantiles techniques. Our mainstream findings indicate that the selected macroeconomic indicators have a strong positive effect on CO₂ emissions in this country, and this effect is more pronounced in the lowest and highest quantiles of the respective variables. In addition, the results of Granger causality suggest a bidirectional causal relationship between the examined indicators. These findings suggest that fostering economic growth, promoting trade openness, managing energy consumption, encouraging foreign direct investment, and enhancing financial development can contribute to a sustainable environment in Vietnam.

Reducing environmental degradation due to the waste of natural resources and increasing global warming have been the main sustainable development goals for preserving biodiversity and ensuring sustainable growth established by the United Nations since 2015. Elucidating these goals requires effective and efficient environmental policies, substantial financial resources, and technological innovation to ensure an energy transition and reduce fossil fuel divestment and polluting technologies. In this context, this paper aims to examine the impact of environmental sustainability policy and institutions on green economic growth. Using a CS-ARDL panel model for a sample of 69 low-income countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America over the period 2005-2020, we find that the effect of environmental sustainability policy and institutions on green GDP per capita is positive and statistically significant. The intensity of this effect is moderated by increases in renewable energy consumption and decreases in CO₂ emissions. Furthermore, the subsample analysis indicates that the relationships between environmental sustainability policy and institutions and green growth remain positive for the four continents. In the long run, the intensity of this effect is stronger in Europe and Asia than in America and Africa. Moreover, these impacts are more effective as renewable energy increases and CO₂ emissions decrease. It seems to be more important in Europe and Asia than in America and Africa. Overall, low-income countries should pay particular attention to policy and institutional index for environmental sustainability to promote green growth, taking into account the moderating effect of renewable energy consumption and CO₂ emissions reduction.

This paper intends to compare various learning algorithms available for training the multi-layer perceptron (MLP) type of artificial neural networks (ANNs). By using different learning algorithms, this study investigates the performances of gradient descent (GD) algorithm; Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) algorithm; and also Boyden, Fletcher, Goldfarb and Shannon (BFGS) algorithm to predict the emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in Malaysia. The impact factors of emissions, such as energy use; gross domestic product per capita; population density; combustible renewable and waste; also CO₂ intensity were employed in developing all ANN models investigated in this study. A wide variety of standard statistical performance evaluation measures were employed to evaluate the performances of various ANN models developed. The results obtained in this study indicate that the LM algorithm outperformed both BFGS and GD algorithms.

This paper provides some insights into the linkages between energy consumption, carbon emissions and the sectoral components of output growth using Tunisian data over the period 1971 to 2005.

Results of the long–run analysis do not support the neutrality hypothesis between energy consumption and sectoral output growth in Tunisia. Results from short–run dynamics indicate that linkages between energy consumption and economic growth, as well as economic growth and environmental pollution are not uniform across sectors (agriculture, industry and services). These outcomes suggest that prudent energy and environmental policies should distinguish the differences in the relationship between energy consumption and output growth by sector.

By reallocating resources among more or less polluting sectors, trade reforms affect pollution levels directly. They also affect pollution indirectly through their impact on economic activity and income levels, which then affect not only emissions, but also the demand for higher environmental standards. The sign of the direct and indirect effects is ambiguous. In other words, whether trade openness leads to more or less pollution is an empirical question. Using cointegration techniques, we disentangle the long- and short-run relationship between trade openness, income per capita and CO₂ emissions in Tunisia, as well as the extent of Granger causality among these variables. Results suggest that the direct effect of trade openness on CO₂ emissions is positive both in the short and the long run, but the indirect effect is negative at least in the long run. The overall effect is positive both in the short and long run, highlighting the importance for trade reforms to be accompanied by strong environmental policies.

This paper explores how reductions in carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions of Indian manufacturing would impact the export competitiveness of Indian manufacturing firms, by estimating production functions of alternate specifications using data on manufacturing companies for 2007–2008. The results indicate substantial scope for reduction in CO₂ emissions through factor substitution and reduction in technical inefficiency. The analysis presented in the paper indicates that a reasonable carbon tax of US$ 4–15 per tonne of CO₂would cause costs in industrial companies to increase, on average, by 0.36%–1.33% and the consequent loss of exports because of the carbon tax is likely to be small.

For EMF 32, we applied a new version of our Intertemporal General Equilibrium Model (IGEM) based on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). We simulated the impacts arising from the Energy Modeling Forum’s broad range of carbon taxes under three revenue recycling options — lump sum redistributions, capital tax reductions, and labor tax cuts. We examined their consequences for industry prices and quantities, for the overall economy, and for the welfare of households, individuals, and society, the latter in terms of efficiency and equity. We rank recycling mechanisms from most to least favorable in terms of the magnitudes of their impacts on net social welfare — efficiency net of equity — recognizing that other objectives may be more important to policy makers and the public. Finally, we and the EMF 32 effort focus only on the economic effects of carbon taxation and revenue recycling; the environmental benefits arising from emissions reductions are not within our scope of study.

We find CO₂ emissions abatement to be invariant to the chosen recycling scheme. This means that policy makers need not compromise their environmental objectives when designing carbon tax swap options. We also find additional emissions reductions beyond the scope of coverage and points of taxation.

Reducing capital taxes promotes new saving, investment and capital formation and is the most favorable recycling mechanism. In 2010 dollars, the welfare loss per ton abated ranges from $0.19 to $3.90 depending on the path of carbon prices. Reducing labor taxes promotes consumption and work through real-wage incentives and is the next most favorable recycling scheme. Here, the welfare loss per ton abated ranges from $11.09 to $16.49 depending on the carbon tax trajectory. Lump sum redistribution of carbon tax revenues is the least favorable recycling option. It incentivizes neither capital nor labor. Consequently, the damages to the economy and welfare are the greatest among the three schemes. With lump sum recycling, the welfare loss per ton abated ranges from $37.15 to $43.61 as carbon taxation becomes more aggressive. While this ranking is common among the participating EMF 32 models, the spread in our results is the greatest in comparison which we attribute to the substitution possibilities inherent in IGEM’s econometrics, the absence of barriers to factor mobility, and likely differences in the manner in which tax incentives are structured.

We find welfare gains are possible under capital and labor tax recycling when emissions accounting is viewed from a top-down rather than a bottom-up perspective and carbon pricing is at an economy-wide average. However, these gains occur at the expense of abatement.

We find capital tax recycling to be regressive while labor tax recycling is progressive as is redistribution through lump sums. Moreover, we find that the lump sum mechanism provides the best means for sheltering the poorest from the welfare consequences of carbon taxation. Thus, promoting capital formation is the best use of carbon tax revenues in terms of reducing the magnitudes of welfare losses while the lump sum and labor tax options are the best uses for reducing inequality.

Climate policies can bring local air quality and health co-benefits, which may partially or entirely offset the costs of implementing these policies. In this study, we introduce an integrated health co-benefits assessment model, the Regional Emissions-Air quality-Climate-Health (REACH) Modeling Framework, which is capable of evaluating the impact of policies on air pollution-related mortality and morbidity in the whole economic system overtime at the provincial level for China. We first provide a detailed description of the modeling framework and conduct a case study to estimate the health benefits of different climate policy scenarios. We show that a scenario consistent with the 2^∘C target that peaks China’s emissions before 2025 could avoid around 190 thousand premature deaths in 2030. The health benefits could partially or fully cover the policy costs under different assumptions of the value of a statistical life (VSL). Our framework also illustrates that estimated costs and health benefits distribute unevenly across regions in China.

In this paper, I estimate the price elasticity of residential electricity demand using household-level panel data for Russia. The study takes advantage of the variation in tariffs across regions and over time, as well as the introduction of increasing block rate (IBR) schemes in a number of regions. I show that in those regions consumers appear to be aware of the block cut-offs, even though the latter are based on the prescribed social norms and are household and dwelling specific, to the point that there are up to a total of 31 different tier cut-offs. Based on these results, I estimate the price elasticity of electricity demand to be around −0.1. I also predict the associated changes in electricity consumption, CO₂ emissions, and revenues if similar IBR policies are implemented countrywide.