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The climate crisis is recognized as one of the world's most serious concerns, posing a threat to environmental, social, and economic growth. However, previous work has failed to address the dynamic effects through which economic growth may affect green growth and climate crisis. In this research, we take a closer look at the impact of carbon emissions, eco-innovation adoption, and international collaboration on economic growth and the influence of economic growth on green growth. This paper used the generalized method of moments (GMM) for 54 African countries from 2010 to 2019, allied with an imbalanced panel of 540 observations. This paper finds a positive relationship between carbon emissions, eco-innovation international cooperation, and economic growth with p-values lower than 0.047. Our study discovers economic growth's robust and positive impact on green growth with a p-value of 0.009. This research finds a three-pronged mediating effect of economic growth between its driving factors and green growth. Lastly, this paper furnishes new visions into the argument over economic growth versus green growth. It informs policymakers of the need to pay attention to the growing effect of eco-innovation driving factors on attaining sustainable and greener growth and climate crisis mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has steadily gained attention as the global economy has grown more quickly, preventing continued high-quality economic growth. In this context, the eco-innovation concept has recently risen to the top of the list of academic research topics since it is a crucial tool that combines reduced environmental effects with a favourable socioeconomic impact. Nevertheless, the environmental situation is not improving despite the increasing eco-innovation level. From one perspective, instead of concentrating on how eco-innovation lessens carbon emissions, this research explores the indirect effect of carbon emissions on the GDP-eco-innovation nexus. From another perspective, since FDI might lessen harmful pollution, this research analyses the indirect effect of FDI on the economic growth-eco-innovation nexus. Therefore, this paper highlights the relationship between eco-innovation and economic growth (GDP), considering the dual mediating roles of carbon emissions and FDI. First, we examine the effects of GDP on eco-innovation activities in nine MENA countries from 2000 to 2019 using the geographic Durbin model based on spatial panel data. Second, this paper analysed the dual mediating effect of carbon emissions and FDI using the spatial stepwise regression model. The findings of this paper are as follows: (i) GDP positively impacts eco-innovation activities, and (ii) carbon emissions and FDI mediate the GDP-eco-innovation nexus. Therefore, GDP, FDI, and carbon emissions are significant drivers of eco-innovation. This research represents an essential step towards a better understanding of the need to support the transition to sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the most swiftly industrializing countries in the world, China is struggling with significant challenges facing its environment, in particular in its marine ecosystems. Hence, economic activities increasingly are influencing these ecosystems, requiring their study crucial for sustainable development. Therefore, it is paramount perceiving the potential implications of economic growth and foreign direct investment (FDI) for marine health. The study aims to explore the impact of economic growth and FDI on China's marine ecosystem during 1980–2019, examining the probable intersections of economic advancement, FDI, and marine sustainability, the study used a novel nonlinear Fourier Autoregressive Distributed Lags (FARDL) approach. Notably, the paper confirms the Fishing Grounds Load Capacity Curve (FGLCC) hypothesis, demonstrating a nonlinear affiliation among income levels and maritime conditions. Moreover, the results point out that FDI initially worsens marine conditions until a certain threshold is reached, marking a pivotal change in the influence of FDI from environmental degradation to improvement. In addition, the study underscores the critical need for policies that balance economic development with Chines' marine environmental sustainability, emphasizing the importance of intended regulatory and strategic interventions. These insights are vital for enhancing marine requirements and ensuring well-being and health of future generations, providing significant implications maritime policymakers in addressing marine environmental challenges amid economic development. [Display omitted] • Analyzes China's marine sustainability from 1980 to 2019 using the Fishing Grounds Load Capacity Factor. • Proposes and tests the Fishing Grounds Load Capacity Curve hypothesis. • Evaluates marine Pollution Haven and marine Pollution Halo hypotheses. • Provides evidence for FGLCC and marine Pollution Haven based on Fourier ARDL modelling. • Offers insights into balancing economic growth and marine ecosystem preservation in China through key policy levers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims at investigation of the nexus between Industry 4.0 (I4.0) and environmental sustainability in addition to exploring the long-run and short-run effects of Industry 4.0 on CO 2 emissions. For this end, energy consumption, internet and communication technology (ICT) exports, research and development (R&D), artificial intelligence (AI), ICT technology patents and bitcoin are taken as control variables of Industry 4.0 for a panel of 9 countries that contribute to 62% of the total CO 2 emissions in the world. For this purpose, the paper follows two approaches. First, the paper proposes utilization of AI and ICT technology patents, technology-related R&Ds and ICT exports as variables of I4.0 in addition to investigating the effects of economic growth, energy consumption and bitcoin. Second, to control structural changes and nonlinearity in the cointegrating relations and existence of degenerate cointegration, Fourier panel bootstrap autoregressive distributed lag model (FPBARDL) is utilized. Afterwards, FPBARDL based long, short and strong causality analyses are conducted. The empirical findings revealed positive impacts of all I4.0-related variables on emissions in the long-run. Though I4.0 related AI and ICT innovation has no direct effect in the short-run, its effects are determined through increased energy consumption towards emissions. The strong positive effects of energy consumption and positive effects of economic growth, ICT exports and R&D are observed both in the short and long-run. In addition to positive impacts of I4.0 on environment, the findings favor insufficiency of policies focusing on lowering emissions in I4.0 context.Policy recommendations include strong commitment to energy efficiency and renewable energies and trade policies with environmental concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significance of environmental quality for the movement of human capital and economic development is growing. This study utilizes the difference-in-difference (DID) approach to analyze the effects of the implementation of new ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) on economic development and investigate its underlying mechanism. The research indicates that the NAAQS promotes urban economic growth, and this impact tends to progressively intensify over time. According to the analysis of the mechanism, the NAAQS had a significant impact on the city's human capital, which in turn contributed to economic growth. The analysis of heterogeneity indicates that the NAAQS promotes economic growth primarily in the eastern region, in large and medium-sized cities, and in cities where the government pays more attention to environmental protection. This study offers a new explanation for how environmental information disclosure (EID) promotes economic growth and provides policy enlightenment for local governments on how to increase talent inflow. [Display omitted] • New ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) are taken as a quasi-natural experiment. • The generalized multiperiod DID method is used in this paper. • NAAQS can promote economic growth. • Human capital structure plays an intermediary role between NAAQS and economic growth. • The policy effects are affected by the heterogeneity across cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bearing in mind the devastating nature of climate change, the question of how climate change affects economic growth is becoming increasingly important. The aim of this paper is to answer this question by eliminating the most important methodical shortcoming of the available literature. The analysis is based on an advanced plug-in model averaging procedure that allows taking into account a very large number of potentially important growth determinants. The results of the analysis show that the growth of CO 2 and CH 4 emissions by 1%, increases on average the economic growth rate by 0.00132 and 0.00537 percentage points, respectively. In addition, an increase in surface temperature change by one degree Celsius results in an average increase in the rate of economic growth by 0.865 percentage points. Finally, increasing the number of climate-related disasters by one leads to an average increase in the economic growth rate of 0.115 percentage points. The obtained findings also reveal the impact of climate change is very heterogeneous across countries. Such results imply that the current extent of global warming and climate change does not yet have a dominant negative impact on economic growth. • The impact of climate change on economic growth is very heterogeneous. • The average effect of climate change on economic growth is still positive. • Surface temperature change increase by Celsius degree, increases growth by 0.865 pp on average. • Surface temperature change doesn't affect growth in at least 30% of countries. • The negative impact of climate change on economic growth is still relatively rare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pursuit of sustainable development has become a prevalent goal in numerous countries. Therefore, renewable energy development is deemed the prime alternative, as it not only curtails CO2 emissions but also stimulates economic prosperity. Hence, there is a need to investigate rational options for renewable energy development. This paper utilises a research framework that combines linear and non-linear modelling. The specific results are as follows. The study's findings reveal that wind, solar and hydro energy can each promote economic growth and lower carbon emissions. Nevertheless, wind energy exhibits the most effective reduction in emissions, followed by solar energy, and lastly, hydro energy. When it comes to promoting economic development, hydro energy proves to be the most effective, followed by wind energy and then solar energy. Additionally, a panel threshold model is utilised to assess further the CO 2 reduction for solar, wind, and hydro energy across a range of economic levels. The results indicate a double threshold effect for wind energy, whereby the effectiveness of CO 2 suppression initially increases and then decreases as the economic level rises. In contrast, the use of solar power displays a sole threshold effect that incentivizes CO 2 emissions at sub-threshold economic levels, yet significantly curbs them beyond it. Similarly, hydro energy also demonstrates a single threshold effect, but lacks statistical significance below the established threshold and actually heightens carbon emissions above it. Our observations can assist in creating sustainable renewable energy development strategies. [Display omitted] • Investigating the impacts of solar, wind, and hydro on economic growth and carbon emission. • Using the linear and nonlinear panel data in 22 countries from 2001 to 2020. • Solar, wind, and hydro contribute to economic growth and carbon emissions reduction. • Countries with a good economy prioritize wind and solar, while others prioritize hydro and wind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper, firstly, investigates the relationship between clean energy and economic growth using satellite remote sensing data to proxy economic activities. Then, this paper constructs a spatial autoregressive model, spatial error model, and spatial Durbin model to study the spatial spillover effects of financial development and clean energy. Further, this paper adopts the difference-in-differences (DID) model and the propensity score matching-DID (PSM-DID) method to conduct quasi-natural experiments on clean energy and examine whether China's energy policy can promote clean energy, thereby promoting economic growth. The analysis results reveal a positive correlation between clean energy and economic growth; local financial development promotes clean energy in the region but negatively impacts the clean energy in surrounding areas. Moreover, the findings confirm a significant positive relationship between the "policy treatment effect" and clean energy. Finally, we put forward relevant policy recommendations based on the empirical results. • Satellite remote sensing data acquired by DMSP/OLS is used to proxy GDP. • Clean energy has a significant role in promoting economic growth. • Spatial econometric models are constructed to study the spatial spillover effects. • The DID model and PSM-DID method are used to conduct quasi-natural experiments. • China's energy policy has a significant promoting effect on clean energy and GDP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental regulation provides new constraints and opportunities for economic growth. Based on OLG (Overlapping Generation) model, this paper re-characterizes the relationship between the intensity of environmental regulations and economic growth rate from two perspectives: technical level and healthy human capital. By using the panel data of 31 provinces and cities in China from 2004 to 2017, empirical tests were conducted through the mediation effect method and the contrast groups of OLS (Ordinary Least Squares) regression experiment to support the theoretical part. The results show that: (1) The non-linear relationship between environmental regulations and economic growth rate shows an "inverted U-shaped" curve, where the economic growth rate displays a correlation with the intensity of environmental regulations from positive to negative; (2) The internal action path of environmental regulations on economic growth shows the differentiated characteristics according to different industrial types. Specifically, under the established intensity of environmental regulation, the effect of regulatory policies on labor-intensive enterprises is more based on the technological level, while it is more inclined to the path of healthy human capital for capital-intensive enterprises. This paper enriches the theoretical system of economic growth under environmental regulations, which has important reference significance for promoting green development and ecological civilization construction. • Verify the relationship between intensity of environmental regulations and economic growth. • Analyze the role of technology level and healthy human capital to economic growth. • Explain the contributions of different factors to the production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Military expenditures in the Asia-Pacific region have grown rapidly in tandem with economic growth over the past few decades. The military sector's impact on environmental change has not been given enough attention. Renewable energy utilization in the Asia-Pacific region also has increased significantly. This paper examines the relationship between militarization, economic growth, renewable energy utilization, and environmental change in the 15 countries participating in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Cooperation (RCEP) agreement using data that covers 1990–2018. The panel cointegration and cross section autoregressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) models are used to examine the long- and short-term relationships among variables. The empirical results show that economic growth and rising levels of militarization have a positive impact on a country's ecological footprint. The increase in military capital intensity has aggravated the environmental harm caused by the military. Improving the utilization rate of renewable energy can alleviate detrimental environmental effects in the long term. This study also puts forward policy recommendations from the policy perspective of sustainable development to reduce the level of regional militarization and improve the utilization of renewable energy. • Militarization is the cause of environmental degradation. • The increase of military capital intensity will aggravate its damage to the environment. • Renewable energy use can ease ecological footprint expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By using Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence, and Technology (STIRPAT) model, this paper explores the influence of electricity generation and technological innovation on CO 2 emissions, as well as that of population and economic growth, in China during the period of 1985–2019. Econometric methods of smooth transition regression (STR) are used to calculate the threshold effects of the linkage among the selected variables. The conversion function of LSTR(1) (logistic STR with one regime switch) is selected by F-statistics based on third-order Taylor approximation. The results of the diagnostic test indicate that when the growth rate of electricity generation exceeds 8.914%, the relationships become nonlinear. Moreover, 1% increases of electricity generation and technological innovation may lead to increases of 2.91664% and 0.31016% in China's CO 2 emissions, respectively, while a 1% increase in economic growth can decrease China's CO 2 emissions by 1.16441%. Finally, some implications are suggested, such as strengthening the publicity surrounding environmental protection to reduce the footprint of CO 2 emissions, extending the green GDP even further, and building a more diversified power supply structure. [Display omitted] • Nonlinear STR model is established based on STIRPAT model in China. • Positive impacts of population, electricity, and innovation on emissions are found. • Economic growth may lead to emissions reduction. • Translation of technological innovation should be advocated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the nexus between renewable energy consumption (REC) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in G7 countries. To this end, we analyse data from 1980 to 2020 employing Toda and Yamamoto (1995) time causality test, Lemmens et al. (2008) frequency causality test and Hatemi-J's (2012) asymmetric causality approach. The findings differ across countries and are as follows. The conservative hypothesis is validated for the US and Canada. Specifically, we find significant and positive causal effect from GDP to REC in the long-term horizons (periods greater than 15 years for the US and 7 years for Canada). The growth hypothesis is confirmed for Germany. Precisely, significant and positive causal impact is shown from REC to GDP in the long-run horizons (periods longer than 7 years). The neutrality hypothesis is supported for France, the UK, Italy and Japan as there is no significant causal link at any time horizon. This is likely because the clean energy consumption does not reach a threshold beyond which it will start to have considerable interaction with economic growth. This study provides policymakers a better understanding of the REC-economic growth nexus to formulate appropriate policies. • We examine the nexus between renewable energy consumption and economic growth in G7 countries. • We use Toda and Yamamoto (1995) and Lemmens et al. (2008) tests and Hatemi-J's (2012) asymmetric causality approach. • For the US and Canada, significant and positive causal effect is shown from GDP to REC in the long-term horizons. • For Germany, significant and positive causal impact is displayed from REC to GDP in the long-run horizons. • For France, the UK, Italy and Japan, no significant causal link is found between REC and economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the downward pressure of the economy, China's extensive economic growth that relies on factor input is difficult to sustain. Scientific analysis of the industrial restructuring and energy consumption has become the key to realizing China's economic growth from high-speed to high-quality. Based on the fully-modified least square method and panel vector error correction model, this paper explores the equilibrium relationship and Granger causality among the industrial restructuring, energy consumption and economic growth at aggregated and disaggregated levels. The results show that: (1) The effect of industrial structure rationalization on economic growth is higher than that of industrial structure upgrading. When emphasizing industrial structure upgrade, the more reliable industrial policy to achieve China's sustainable economic growth is to pay attention to the industrial structure rationalization, especially in western China. (2) The impacts of natural gas and renewable energy consumption on economic growth are much smaller than coal and electricity consumption; more energy policies should be designed to encourage clean energy development. • The industrial structure rationalization has highest contribution to the economic growth of eastern China, followed by central and western China. • There exists unidirectional causality from industrial structure upgrading to structure rationalizing in western China and bidirectional causality between them in central China. • Effects of natural gas and renewable energy consumption on economic growth are much smaller than coal and electricity consumption. • Unidirectional long-term causality from renewable energy to economic growth exist in each sub-region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of environmental regulation needs to consider not only pollution control but also its impact on economic growth. Using the provincial panel data in China from 2000 to 2017, this paper constructs dynamic spatial panel models and employs system GMM approach to evaluate the nonlinear and spatial effects of environmental regulation on economic growth and CO 2 emissions, respectively. The results suggest that, first, environmental regulation presents a significant "N"-shaped effect on economic growth and an inverted "N" effect on CO 2 emissions at the national level and in the eastern and central regions; while the effects are both"N"-shaped in the western region. Second, environmental regulation presents significant spatial effects on economic growth and CO 2 emissions. The enhancement of regional environmental regulation helps the economic growth and CO 2 emissions reduction in neighboring provinces at the national level and in the eastern and central regions, however, the spatial effects are opposite in the western provinces, proving the co-exists of "race to the top" and "race to the bottom" strategies of environmental regulation competition among China's regions. Third, the effects of environmental regulation on economic growth and CO 2 emissions are affected by FDI, and the moderating effect of FDI is regional heterogenous. • Building a dynamic spatial panel model based on the spatial spillover theory. • Proving an "N"-type effect of environmental regulation on economic growth. • The effect of environmental regulation on CO 2 emissions is regionally different. • Environmental regulation affects the role of FDI on economy and CO 2 emissions. • The spatial spillover effects of environmental regulation are proved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the deployment of technological innovation was able to avert a devastating global supply chain fallout arising from the impact of ravaging COronaVIrus Disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, little is known about potential environmental cost of such achievement. The aim of this paper is to identify the determinants of logistics performance and investigate its empirical linkages with economic and environmental indicators. We built a macro-level dataset for the top 25 ranked logistics countries from 2007 to 2018, conducting a set of panel data tests on cross-sectional dependence, stationarity and cointegration, to provide preliminary insights. Empirical estimates from Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS), Generalized Method of Moments (GMM), and Quantile Regression (QR) model suggest that technological innovation, Human Development Index (HDI), urbanization, and trade openness significantly boost logistic performance, whereas employment and Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) fail to respond in such a desirable path. In turn, an increase in the Logistic Performance Index (LPI) is found to worsen economic growth. Finally, LPI exhibits a large positive effect on carbon emissions, which is congruent with a strand of the literature highlighting that the modern supply chain is far from being decarbonized. Thus, this evidence further suggest that more global efforts should be geared to attain a sustainable logistics. • Examining 25 topmost Logistics Countries on many fronts. • Technological innovation, HDI, urbanization, and trade openness spur logistic performance. • Logistic performance does not improve with employment rate and Gross Fixed Capital Formation. • Logistic performance increases carbon dioxide emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to examine the causal relations between economic growth, electricity consumption, and urbanization indicators. Heterogeneous panel data techniques are performed to help shed light on the importance of the heterogeneity among three economic regions within China from 2000 to 2017. Our results show that the three indicators are all stationary and cointegrated after the first difference. Heterogeneity of the Granger causality is found between these three variables varies across the eastern, central, and western economic regions in China. In the long run, the eastern region presents a similar trend as the national level that long-run Granger causality of the three variables is found. Conversely, there is a unidirectional long-run causal relationship from economic growth to electricity consumption in the central region, while there is a bi-directional long-run causal relationship between economic growth and electricity consumption in the western region in China. Our empirical findings highlight the "urbanization ladder" effect which implies that as development, urbanization factor in the eastern region may play a promotion role in the tri-variate system when the urbanization reaches a higher level, while it may lack the influence in the central and western regions of China. From a regional perspective, it is further indicated that the improvement of urbanization can be practical measures in the central and western parts of China in the long run. • Economic growth, electricity consumption, and urbanization are cointegrated in eastern, central, and western China. • Granger causalities between the three variables vary across the three economic regions in China. • Urbanization does not have a causal effect on economic growth & electricity consumption in central-western China. • It is essential to accelerate the urbanization process in the central-western areas in China in the long run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]