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The G7 countries consist of some of the world's most economically developed nations. However, alongside such robust economic growth performances, the environmental qualities in these countries have simultaneously aggravated to raise deep concerns among the stakeholders. Hence, this study is designed to empirically examine the environmental effects of nuclear and renewable energy consumption, economic complexity, and economic growth in the context of the G7 countries for the period between 1995 and 2016. To ensure novelty, this study considers carbon footprints along with carbon dioxide emissions to measure environmental quality in the context of the G7 nations. The results reveal that although nuclear energy consumption is effective in mitigating carbon dioxide emissions and carbon footprints in the long run, renewable energy consumption degrades the environment in the G7 countries. Besides, the results also suggest that the G7 countries can transform their production processes in an environmentally friendly manner provided they can undergo a clean transition in energy use. Finally, economic growth is evidenced to be detrimental for the environment since higher economic growth levels are seen to boost both carbon dioxide emission and carbon footprint levels. Therefore, in line with the findings, this study recommends the G7 countries to significantly enhance their nuclear and renewable energy consumption levels, increase their economic complexity indices, and integrate environmental welfare policies within their economic growth strategies. • Determinants of CO 2 emissions and carbon footprints are evaluated in G7 countries. • Renewable energy use boosts CO 2 emissions and carbon footprints. • Nuclear energy use curbs CO 2 emissions and carbon footprints. • Economic complexity reduces CO 2 emissions and carbon footprints. • Economic growth stimulates CO 2 emissions and carbon footprints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving sustainable environmental development, while further avoiding environmental degradation is an unprecedented challenge for policymakers. This article aims to explore whether the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis holds if the relevant carbon emissions modelling approach includes both energy consumption and the Konjunkturforschungsstelle (KOF) globalization index. The analysis is performed through panel methods and for 67 developed and developing countries, spanning the period 1971–2018. The empirical results demonstrate that there is a significant and positive association between globalization and carbon emissions. At the same time, higher GDP increases carbon emissions, while higher coal energy also leads to higher emissions, with the coefficient of the squared GDP turning out to be negative, which lends amble support to the validity of the EKC hypothesis. The findings of this article might be helpful in policy making regarding overall energy structure, carbon emissions, and globalization trends in developing and developed countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]