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In this paper, we explore the co-movements between renewable and non-renewable energy sources and CO 2 emissions and GDP per capita in Saudi Arabia, respectively. Using the spectral Granger causality approach, our results suggested that non-renewable energy sources lead to carbon emission expansion in the frequency domain. Taken together, a significant causal relationship from fossil to economic growth is perceived over the long-term horizon while renewable energy source drives economic growth over different frequencies and considerably contributes to carbon emissions reduction. The wavelet plots revealed strong discrepancies in all variables in the time-frequency space. While non-renewable energy sources indorsed the economic growth across short-and medium-term scales and contribute to a polluted environment, renewable energy consumption has a substantial effect on carbon emission drop and on economic growth in the short-term. The multiple wavelet outcomes show that renewable energy may not only stimulate the economic growth but also promote sustainable and cleaner environment. The combined effects of non-renewable energy sources rise the carbon emissions. Thus, Saudi's government is counselled to promote the green energy investments and accelerate the transition to renewable energy production as its use as a substitute of fossil fuels carries advantages and opportunities alternating from environment to social-economic. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the validity of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis for the G7 group of countries through the ecological footprint and its components (namely built-up land, carbon, cropland, fishing grounds, forest land, and grazing land). Most previous contributions rely on CO 2 emissions as a measure of environmental damage, whereas using disaggregated ecological footprint allows us to consider resource consumption and waste generation compared to nature's resource generation and waste absorption. The empirical application is based on a panel data analysis for G7 countries from 1980 to 2018. The results indicate that the EKC hypothesis is confirmed for the ecological footprint overall, but the impact of GDP growth is unequal across its components. Long-term elasticities point to renewable energy generation significantly improving environmental sustainability. Globalization also decreases pollution indicators, while economic complexity seems to contribute to environmental degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite growing attention on the role of renewable energy in promoting economic growth and environmental sustainability, its adoption rate remains uncomfortably low, especially in developing countries. This study attempts to explore the ways to extend the installed capacity of renewable energy in 16 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries over the period 1980-2017. The results from panel cointegration econometric techniques suggest that policies to enhance financial integration should increase the installed capacity of renewable energy in SSA both in the long and short-run. This long-run effect holds, although disproportionately when the financial integration index is disaggregated into its de facto and de jure aspects. Moreover, the quantile regression analysis reveals that the effect of financial integration on renewable energy capacity is positive but heterogeneous across the conditional distribution of renewable energy capacity. However, the positive effect of financial integration is not enough to ensure the diversification of the energy mix. The results finally show that economic growth is positively linked to renewable energy generation capacity while financial development is negatively associated with renewable energy production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asian economies in contrast with other developing economies appear to be the lowest in competition when it comes to achieving sustainable development. The reason is connected with energy security and non-renewable energy as these are one of the key issues which are confronted by these nations. Therefore, the current study proclaims to investigate the crucial factors that play a bigger role in sustainable development. These factors are measured in the context of adjusted net savings and the study extracted the data from 10 Asian economies covering the time period of 1990–2020. The study adopted panel estimation, slope heterogeneity, co-integration, and CS-ARDL techniques to estimate the coefficient. Whereas, for robust analysis, AMG and CCEMG techniques were used. The findings revealed that REW energy, economic growth, and financial development altogether enhance adjusted net saving and reduce non-REW energy consumption. It is recommended in the study that the sample countries should adopt the required provisions in renewable sectors. • Renewable energy, financial development, and economic growth increase adjusted net savings. • Energy is a crucial enabler of sustainable development goals (SDGs) since it boosts productivity. • To achieve sustainable development, it has become imperative to meet the ever-increasing energy demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financial institutions are enforcing strict environmental rules to curb climate change, spurring the shift to renewable energy (RE) sources due to rising public awareness and engagement with stakeholders. As a result, this research examines the factors that have influenced China's economic development from 1990 to 2019. Using the dynamic autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) technique, we examine how changes in energy consumption, industrial expansion, urbanization, and carbon emissions affect China's GDP growth. According to these studies, which are inverted U-shaped, there is a high correlation between carbon dioxide emissions and gross domestic product in the long and near term. China's increased usage of fossil fuels has resulted in a rise in carbon dioxide emissions. Carbon dioxide emissions per capita rise by 0.311% for every one percent increase in fossil fuel consumption per capita. Consumption of RE may have a progressive impact on lowering carbon dioxide emissions. In the long term, a 1% rise in REC per capita reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 0.324%. At the same time, our findings show that the continued advancement of the RE industry in China simultaneously raises the emission of GHGs, and a 1% rise in REC increases the release of carbon dioxide gas by 0.245% to 0.252% in the short term. China must keep up the use of renewable energy and make people aware of the carbon emissions from China's rapid growth of renewable energy. • Financial institutions are enforcing strict environmental rules to curb climate change. • Autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) technique is employed for study. • Study examines how changes in energy consumption affect China's GDP growth. • There is a high correlation between carbon dioxide emissions and GDP in China. • China's increased usage of fossil fuels has resulted in a rise in carbon dioxide emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy-growth nexus has been explored extensively by researchers and academia; however, the role of cleaner energy, especially in the context of emerging economies, i.e., Nex-11 countries, have been ignored. Therefore, to fill the gap in the literature, this paper considers a non-parametric panel method, to test directly for the importance of renewable energy in economic performance for Next eleven (N-11) countries. The econometric estimations—which focused on a panel of N-11 countries—determined that: (i) renewable energy consumption boosts economic growth in short run only; and (ii) industry value added, human development, and consumption expenditures accelerate economic, whereas globalization decrease it. Hence, all countries need to reduce the risk associated with renewable energy so that to make them effective for economic growth. Moreover, there is a need to provide different types of invested capital for ongoing activities of renewable energy production. In general, this study provides relevant policy implications in the context of renewable energy, globalisation and economic growth for the Nex-11 economies. • Renewable Energy led Economic Growth Hypothesis is tested in the Next-11 countries. • The novel Method of Moments Panel Quantile Regression is employed. • Renewable energy led economic growth is valid in the selected panel economies. • Consumption expenditures, Human Development, Industry Value Added enhances growth. • Globalisation is found to limit economic growth in case of Next-11 countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the role of solar energy, environmental policy stringency (EPS), and climate technology in realizing environmental sustainability in OECD economies from 2001 to 2018. The preliminary findings confirm the issues of slope heterogeneity and cross-sectional dependency; thus, we apply the cross-sectional augmented autoregressive distributed lags (CS-ARDL) model. The overall results indicate that solar energy, EPS, and climate technologies are playing a positive and significant role in encountering environmental issues and ensuring environmental sustainability in the long run, while economic growth is the key driver of environmental degradation. A similar insight is observed in the short run; however, their coefficient size and significance substantially vary. Moreover, the Error Correction Term is significantly negative, implying the convergence towards long-run equilibrium in case of any shock in the short-run. These results are consistent with alternative estimators and suggest the promotion of solar energy, implementation of stringent ecological policies, and climate technologies to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth. • Cross-sectional dependence, Slope heterogeneity and cointegration properties exist. • Energy is reducing the environmental pollution like CO2 for OECD economies. • Economic growth is a direct contributor towards sustainability issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the relevance of establishing low-carbon economic growth has been extensively highlighted in the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals declarations, the analysis of the macroeconomic determinants of carbon productivity has remained overlooked in the literature. Therefore, this study makes a novel attempt to evaluate whether energy efficiency gains, along with renewable energy use, financial inclusivity, economic growth, globalization, and urbanization, improve carbon productivity in the emerging seven countries between 2007 and 2018. Moreover, the study contributes to the literature by predicting the net moderating and mediating effects of energy efficiency improvements on carbon productivity. The findings support that enhancing the level of energy use efficiency by 1% helps to improve carbon productivity by around 0.3% in the long run. In addition, the predicted net effects reveal that energy efficiency gains exert a moderating effect on the level of carbon productivity and reverse the negative impact of financial inclusivity, trade globalization, and urbanization on carbon productivity. However, energy efficiency gains cannot moderate to neutralize the carbon productivity-inhibiting impact associated with economic growth. Moreover, the analysis shows that energy efficiency gains mediate to jointly boost carbon productivity alongside higher renewable energy use. Lastly, financial globalization is evidenced to enhance carbon productivity in the emerging seven countries in the long run. Accordingly, a set of relevant policies are recommended. • 1% improvement in energy efficiency enhances carbon productivity by 0.3%. • Energy efficiency improvement exerts moderating and mediating effects. • Renewable energy use does not directly influence carbon productivity. • Financial inclusivity, economic growth, and urbanization reduce carbon productivity. • Globalization exerts heterogeneous impacts on carbon productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The studies exploring inter-relations between non-renewable energy consumption, renewable energy consumption, GDP, and CO2 emission are quite limited in Vietnam due to the limitation of data. Different major players in this market, such as investors, regulators, and other financial actors have different time horizons. By applying innovative multivariate wavelet analysis tools, including partial wavelet coherency and partial wavelet gain, this paper investigates these relations in the time and frequency dimensions in Vietnam during the 1985–2019 period. The multiple coherencies between the non-renewable energy consumption and GDP and CO2 growth suggest that these regions were located at medium frequencies (5–12 years) and concentrated on the 1985–2000 period and the 2003–2019 period. Regarding the relation between renewable consumption and GDP and CO2 growth that the region only concentrated in the high-frequency band (from 2 to 12-year frequency-band) running from 1985 to 2001 and low-frequency band (from 22 to 25-year frequency-band) running from 2011 to 2019. The partial coherency between non-renewable energy consumption and GDP reveals two phases. In the first phase (the beginning of sample to 2000), changes in the non-renewable energy consumption led to changes in GDP, and the relation is negative, while GDP is in-phase with non-renewable energy consumption leading in the second phase (from 2000 to 2015). The partial phase-difference between non-renewable energy consumption and CO2 emission suggests that changes in CO2 emission led to changes in non-renewable energy consumption, and the relation was negative. Regarding the partial coherency between renewable consumption and GDP, most regions were located in the 2–12-year frequency band running from 1985 to 2001, from 2001 to 2003, and from 2005 to 2012. During the 1985–2991 period, the results indicate the anti-phase relation with the GDP growth leading, while changes in renewable energy consumption led to changes in GDP growth, and the association is negative from 2001 to 2003. Since 2003, there was an anti-phase relation with the GDP growth leading. Lastly, the partial wavelet coherency of renewable energy consumption and CO2 emission indicates that regions were found to be statistically significant in the 3-4- and 7-15-year frequency band and there was the anti-phase relation with the CO2 emission leading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of renewable and non-renewable energy consumption on economic growth in the top ten renewable energy-consuming countries over the period 1970–2019 using newly developed Fourier panel cointegration and causality tests. The negligence of structural breaks can significantly alter causal relationships, leading to misinterpretation of renewable energy policies. This study eliminates the problem using Fourier-based techniques. The long-run estimates show that non-renewable energy supports economic growth in eight out of the ten countries, while renewable energy has a positive effect on economic growth in Brazil, the United Kingdom, and France. The Fourier causality test indicates that the energy-led growth hypothesis is valid for both types of energy in the United States, India, the United Kingdom, and Spain. While the non-renewable energy-led growth hypothesis is valid for Italy, the conservation hypothesis is valid for both energy variables for Germany and for renewable energy for China. The overall results show that renewable energy can also be an important driver of economic growth, although not as strong as non-renewable energy. Therefore, countries need to closely monitor economic development while pursuing policies to reduce fossil fuels and deploy renewables in a way that enables higher economic growth. • Advanced Fourier based cointegration and causality methods are employed. • Non-renewable energy supports economic growth more than renewables. • Renewable energy boosts economic growth in Brazil, the United Kingdom and France. • Renewable energy causes economic growth in the United Kingdom, the United States, India and Spain. • Energy conservation policies hurt economic growth in five out of ten countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focuses on examining the impact of R&D and industrialization on green economic growth. Financial assistance for environmentally friendly initiatives, the advancement of new technologies, and the growth of a green economy may all be achieved via green financing. Because of this, it is a key driver of green economic development and industrial structural change. This investigates the impact of renewable energy, R&D, and industrialization on the green economic growth of the South Asian region from 2008 to 2020. The endogeneity of this connection is addressed using a two-step ordinary least square (O.L.S.). The findings show that upgrading industries and R&D reduce carbon emissions and achieve green economic recovery. As a result, 33.4% of the energy was saved, and 35.2% of the emissions were reduced. The partial mediation impact findings show the policy's affecting framework. The empirical results showed that technology spillover had the most responsibility to minimize tiers of CO 2 emissions, accompanied by improvements in industrial structure change. Our findings suggest that developing nations gain more from the industrialization initiative than developed countries because of the stronger economic impacts of the strategy. • There is a dire need to measure the relationship between green finance and renewable energy. • The development of green economic growth, R & D and green finance has been measured. • The green economic growth rate reduces for every unit increase in green finance. • The latent variables account for more than half of the natural variation in all relevant variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As economies grow, they tend to prioritize industrializing with fossil fuels over protecting the environment, impeding efforts to combat climate change. Therefore, there is an urgent need to address the critical policy concern of financing a clean energy transition to ensure sustainable economic growth for current and future generations. We examine the effect of financial development on clean energy transition in 20 low-income and middle-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The study employs fixed-effects and instrumental variable two-stage Least squares (IV-2SLS) models to examine the effect of financial development on the transition to renewable energy. Overall, the results show a positive effect of financial development on renewable energy transition. However, the financial development effect is only significant for financial institutions instead of financial markets – a signal of weak financial markets in the region. More importantly, the results show that this financial development effect on renewable energy transition is significant only in low-income countries, contrary to middle-income economies. We recommend that governments in the region further develop and promote innovative financial market products such as green bonds and digital finance that support private sector investments in renewable energy. Regarding trade, it is critical to subsidize environmentally friendly green energy imports while taxing non-renewable products that promote the use of fossil fuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides some empirical evidence on the dynamic linkage between modern renewable (clean) energy consumption (SDG-7.2) and economic growth using the Dynamic Common-Correlated Effects (DCCE) estimation Approach in 20 Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries for the period from 2000 to 2017. The study also aims to examine the role of traditional energy dependence, income, and education in the linkage using the dynamic panel data threshold effects model with endogenous regressors estimations. The findings indicate that an increase in modern renewable energy in the total final energy mix is not conducive to economic growth (induces a certain economic cost) in the SSA region. This could be explained by the fact that modern renewables are not being utilized efficiently and fully in the region. However, the modern renewables-growth linkage depends on traditional energy dependence, the level of income, and education. Specifically, the negative effect of modern renewables tends to weaken in the regimes with lower traditional energy intensity, higher levels of income and education. Our main conclusion remains robust to additional control variables considered in the analysis. Hence, while expanding the use of clean energy technologies, basic enabling environments need to be created to make a smooth clean energy transition and reduce its economic costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on climate change in Turkey caused by energy consumption using an Autoregressive Distributed Lag and Toda-Yamamoto causality analysis. The motivation and aim are: Finding evidence of causality for the relationship between energy consumption, growing economies and climate change depending on parameters that vary over time, which are observed and argued through political implications. Temperature and precipitation are the dependent variables for climate change; energy types and Gross Domestic Product per capita are the independent variables for economic determiners. Data was collected annually from various institutions between 1980 and 2019. According to the Toda-Yamamoto test, a negative relationship is determined between renewable energy consumption and temperature in both the short and long term. The results reveal that a 1% increase in renewable energy reduces the temperature by 0.031%. The increase of renewable energy may help in decreasing temperature. Precipitation and non-renewable energy consumption have a positive relationship in both the short and long term, with a 1% increase in non-renewable energy consumption causing a 0.175% increase in precipitation, indicating a negative effect on climate change. Encouraging renewable energy consumption through government incentives can be a powerful solution to decrease the negative effects of climate change in Turkey. • This study examines the relationships between climate change and energy consumption. • It conducts an ARDL analysis and Toda-Yamamoto causality tests in a growing economy. • Renewable energy consumption has a positive effect (reduces) temperature. • Non-renewable energy consumption has a negative effect (increases) precipitation. • Renewable energy consumption is critical mitigating global warming in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since China's economic reform, the country's economy has thrived. Chinese foreign direct investment is attracting more and more attention throughout the globe. Although China's energy issues and environmental degradation have worsened as the economy has grown, the energy consumption structure has become more problematic. The generation of green finance and renewable energy resources is essential to addressing environmental issues and achieving sustainable development. Using data from 30 Chinese provinces from 2000 to 2019, this research examines the link between green finance, foreign direct investment, and GDP. Only economic growth is detected I(2) in the second stage, which uses first-generation and second-generation unit root tests for panel data (0). Due to these considerations, we adopted an autoregressive distributed lag technique with a Pooled Mean Group, Mean Group, and Dynamic Fixed Effect estimation model. According to the findings, only renewable energy was shown to be substantial and negative in terms of Greenhouse gas emissions, while FDI was determined to be important and beneficial only in the long run. This study shows that we need more strategic thinking about how we can deploy in the renewable sector while also advancing techniques, advancement, human capital, research, and development that will boost green finance production and sustainable development in the long run. • There is a dire need to measure the link between green finance, foreign direct investment, and GDP. • Chinese foreign direct investment is attracting more and more attention throughout the globe. • ARDL with Pooled Mean Group was conducted to examine the effects. • Only renewable energy was shown to be substantial and negative in terms of Greenhouse gas emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth of technological advancements and human activities has induced many undesirable effects in the environment that affect health and quality of life. Therefore, this study used a comprehensive indicator to measure the environment quality known as load capacity factor which is obtained from two main ecological components; bio-capacity and ecological footprints. The existing literature has not enough supporting evidence to explore the determinants affecting the load capacity factor in terms of environmental quality. This study evaluates the role of renewable energy consumption and health expenditures to improve the load capacity factor in ASEAN Countries from 1980 to 2018. The study employs the advanced Panel techniques (Banerjee and Carrion-i-Silvestre unit root and cointegration test and Cross sectional augmented ARDL) to evaluate the nature of association among model variables and address various econometric issues of panel data analysis such as cross-section dependency, structural break, and slope heterogeneity. The long-run results reveal that renewable energy consumption and health expenditures play a significant role in improving load capacity factors in ASEAN countries, whereas economic growth produces negative effects. These results imply that government should allocate a substantial budget for renewable energy and the health sector to improve the load capacity factor. • Load capacity factor (LCF) is estimated to capture environmental performance. • Advance panel estimations are applied. • Renewable energy consumption and health expenditures improve LCF. • Economic growth produces negative effects on LCF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates the impacts of political stability, renewable energy consumption, and economic growth on tourism in Turkey for the period 1996–2018. For this purpose, we used a cointegration test, long-run estimator, and causality test that account smooth structural breaks for the robust results. The results showed that the cointegration relationship is valid for the model in which tourism is the dependent variable. According to the long-run estimates, political stability and renewable energy consumption have a significant and positive impact on tourism. The causality test results confirm unidirectional causality from renewable energy consumption and political stability to tourism and from tourism to economic growth. The results, therefore, highlight the necessity of implementing environmentally-friendly tourism policies and maintain political stability. The comprehensive results of this study provide a guide for policymakers. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turkey's rapid economic growth has attracted attention, as resulting energy demand has increased, and the energy consumed in Turkey is primarily derived from non-renewable sources. In this context, this study investigates the long- and short-term effects of gross domestic product (GDP), health expenditure (HE), and renewable (REC) and non-renewable energy consumption (NREC) on CO 2 emissions in Turkey from 1980 to 2016. The autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) method is used to examine long- and short-term effects. The Toda–Yamamoto causality test is also employed to study the relationships between the variables. The results of the ARDL method reveal that the variables have a cointegration relationship. The findings suggest that GDP and NREC are correlated to an increase in CO 2 , whereas HE and REC are correlated to reducing CO 2 in the long term. Only GDP and REC are determined to be correlated to an increase CO 2 in the short term. According to the Toda–Yamamoto causality test results, a unidirectional causality relationship exists from GDP, HE, REC, and NREC to CO 2. Subsequently, Turkish policymakers are encouraged to pursue policies that promote economic growth through the use of renewable resources, and invest more in health and renewable energy projects to combat environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher life expectancy reflects better public health status, an essential element for countries' overall development. However, life expectancy can be affected by various socio-economic and political factors. To mitigate the debate of the contributory factors, a detailed empirical study on factors that affect life expectancy is still a necessity. Therefore the main aim of this study is to identify the role of a number of disparate issues: renewable energy, environmental pollution, economic growth, urbanization and good governance on life expectancy at birth in the ANZUS-BENELUX countries utilizing the annual data of 24 years (1996–2019) by using different econometric approaches like the Driscoll and Kraay's (1998) standard error technique and feasible generalized least square (FGLS) model. This study reveals that renewable energy economic growth, good governance and urbanization have positive influences on life expectancy. With 1% increase of these variables, life expectancy increases by 0.009%, 0.070%, 0.022% and 0.107%, respectively; whereas environmental pollution has a negative influence on the life expectancy with the elasticity of 0.015. The Dumitrescu and Hurlin panel causality test also identifies a causal association between the selected variables and life expectancy. All the findings are theoretically and empirically consistent and have important breakthrough for health policies. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to measure the relationship between technological progress, renewable energy, and green economic growth (GEG). This study uses a data envelopment analysis (DEA) estimation method to evaluate the association between government expenditure on research and development (R&D), renewable energy deployment, and GEG in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) between 1990 and 2018. The estimates revealed an inconsistent GEG indicator in the analysis, suggesting the lesser impact disposition of public policy. In addition, the energy efficiency ratio of ECOWAS sub-region is under 0.50, implying energy poverty in the sub-region. Many people do not have sufficient energy to heat and cool their homes to enough temperature and meet their basic needs and energy security concerns. This research discovered that a percentage growth increase in renewable energy deployment results in a 3.2% increase in growth in sustainable performance. Alongside an essential effect of one percentage point growth in R&D expenditure boosts economic system sustainable performance to 4.4% combined with a supported effect of one percent. This research reveals that the ECOWAS government expenditure on human resources and R&D of sustainable energy resources would result in a low carbon growth via an advanced technological production process; nevertheless, the impacts are varied in the various countries in ECOWAS. • The study applies a longitudinal dataset of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). • The energy efficiency ratio of the ECOWAS sub-region is under 0.50, implying energy poverty. • Many people don't have access to sufficient and affordable modern energy. • A 1% increase in renewable energy deployment growth results in a 3.2% increase in growth of sustainable performance. • More investment in R&D of sustainable energy resources results in a low-carbon economic growth in ECOWAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the global economies are in pursuit of achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda, it has become pertinent to undergo an energy transition and enhance energy use efficiency in tandem. This is creating a disparity in the renewable energy generation, which is arising out the structural transformation of the economies. Against this background this study aims to assess the impacts of structural transformation on inequality in renewable energy productivity across selected OECD countries between 1990 and 2019. This study is important from the perspective that due to inequitable economic growth trajectory attained by the OECD nations, the renewable energy consumption levels of the OECD nations display significant amount of disparity which can also be reflected in terms of unequal distribution of renewable energy productivity across these countries. Besides, since the OECD countries are gradually transforming their economies from being agriculture-oriented to service-oriented and are becoming more focused on energy innovation and energy efficiency aspects, it can be hypothesized that this structural transformation might reduce the inequality in renewable energy productivity among these nations. Using second-generation methods and dynamic elasticity analysis, this study finds that structural transformation helps to reduce the inequality in renewable energy productivity. Besides, technological innovation is also evidenced to exert inequality-reduction effects. In contrast, conflicts and economic conflicts are evidenced to generated adverse effects on inequality in renewable energy productivity within the OECD countries. Furthermore, the outcomes from this study have also identified the policy interventions responsible for the aggravation of inequality in renewable energy productivity. Based on these findings, a policy framework has been provided to help the OECD countries to attain the objectives of SDG 7 and SDG13. • Structural transformation impacts inequality in renewable energy productivity. • Study is done for the OECD countries. • Dynamic elasticity analysis is used. • Policy framework to address SDG 7 is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the relationship between renewable energy consumption and ecological footprint in Saudi Arabia by considering the important role of economic growth in the environmental function during 1980–2017 periods. Capital and trade openness are determinants of environmental degradation. To determine the cointegration between the variables, we relied on the bootstrap autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bound test. We also used the Granger causality based on the bootstrap ARDL approach to identify causal relationships between the factors of environmental degradation in the presence of structural break. The empirical results show the presence of cointegration between variables with a structural break. Furthermore, the results of the ARDL model state that an increase in human capital and renewable energy consumption improves environmental quality (decreasing the ecological footprint), while an increase in trade openness and GDP deteriorates environmental quality (increasing the ecological footprint). In the short run, the results of the VECM model show the existence of a bidirectional causal relationship between human capital and trade openness. GDP causes the ecological footprint, while human capital causes renewable energy consumption. Moreover, there is a causal relationship from GDP and renewable energy consumption to trade openness. In the long run, all variables cause renewable energy consumption on the one hand, and trade openness on the other. In view of these results, policy makers have an interest in implementing favorable measures that reduce the ecological footprint and improve the quality of the environment by using renewable energy consumption as an economic tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present era, economic sustainability depends in many ways on energy security, and this is more applicable for the emerging countries of the world in the perspective of sustainability of their growth. To this end, the present study analyzes the impacts of institutional quality, economic growth, and exports on renewable energy consumption using panel data for 19 emerging countries from 2002 to 2019. This research is based on the panel PMG-ARDL approach and examines the long-run relationship among the variables. The panel co-integrated model has also been employed to cross-examine the result. The robust results of the empirical analysis show that institutional effectiveness, economic growth, and export growth have significant effects on renewable energy consumption. Unidirectional causal link is found from economic growth and export to renewable energy while renewable energy is unidirectionally linked to corruption control. This result provides valuable insights on how emerging countries should best focus on their institutions to make those more effective and corruption-free so that countries can sustain their economic growth with better exploration and utilization of renewable energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an alternative perspective on the renewable energy-economic growth nexus from the lens of installed capacity. Twenty OECD countries in Europe are assessed using panel data methodologies with data period spanning from 1993 to 2018. Electricity generation share-weighted coal and natural gas price indexes are incorporated in explaining country differences in fossil fuel reliance. Compared to results obtained from unweighted price indexes, weighted energy price indexes seem vital in obtaining a more plausible description of the relationship between energy prices and renewable capacity growth. Our findings confirm the crucial role of economic growth for renewable energy capacity development and long-term causality is apparent. Results indicate coal price increases trigger a greater positive impact on renewable capacity than natural gas. Finally, climate policies that raise fossil fuels costs could potentially stimulate the addition of renewable capacity and expedite the transition to renewable energy through price effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the relationship among economic growth, CO2 emissions, fossil fuels consumption, renewable energy consumption, foreign direct investments, and trade by taking into account countries with oil reserves (export groups) and countries without oil reserves (import group). The factors affecting CO2 emissions in countries with and without oil production have been investigated by using Panel VAR (PVAR) and Granger causality methods for the period of 1990–2015. In both country groups, growth positively affects CO2 emissions. While there is a negative relationship between CO2 emission and foreign direct investments in the oil importing country group, there is a positive relationship between CO2 and trade in the oil-exporting group. PVAR analysis results illustrate that the growth hypothesis is valid in both groups of countries. In addition, when both country group examined, the countries sacrifice their national income to reduce carbon emissions, which makes it difficult to reduce emissions in the world. According to the variance decomposition results, while the CO2 variable defines itself as 98% for oil importing countries, the second important variable that pollutes the air is GDP. In addition, the variables FDI, REN and FOSSIL affect air pollution by 4% over a 10-year period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the world's largest energy consuming country, it is important to study the mechanisms of improving renewable energy and energy efficiency to achieve green economic growth in China and globally. Therefore, this study investigates the impact of environmental regulations on green economic growth and renewable energy development in China, respectively. First, this study measures the level of green economic growth in Chinese cities by the Metafrontier-Global-SBM super-efficient data envelopment analysis (DEA) model from the perspective of energy efficiency. And the environmental regulation intensity was measured using an improved fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method. Second, a spatial econometric model based on longitudinal data was constructed to examine the non-linear effects of environmental regulations on green economic growth and its spatial spillover and feedback effects. The results indicated a U-shaped non-linear effect of energy efficiency-related environmental regulation on green economic growth as well as a spatial spillover effect and spatial feedback effect. Finally, the impact of environmental regulation on renewable energy development was investigated. The results show that renewable energy development, an important component of green economic growth, is equally dependent on the implementation of environmental regulation policies and that environmental regulation makes a significant contribution to renewable energy development. The findings of this paper provide a basis for the realization of green economic growth and the formulation of renewable energy policies in China. • Impact of environmental regulation on renewable energy development was investigated. • A spatial econometric model of 286 Chinese cities from 2003 to 2018 was constructed. • Environmental regulation has a significant U-shaped effect on green economic growth. • Non-linear effects include spatial spillover and spatial feedback effects. • Environmental regulation promotes green growth earlier in resource-based cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the high commitments of the European Union (EU) member countries toward achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs), on average, the region has reportedly under performed in the area of ensuring sustainable production and consumption. This paper uses the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimation of panel vector autoregressive (PVAR) with impulse response functions (IMFs) to assess the effects of domestic material consumption, renewable energy, financial development, and greenhouse gas emissions on environmental quality in the EU-28 countries based on the panel data for the period 2000:Q1–2017:Q4. The empirical results reveal that the shocks to domestic material consumption, renewable energy, economic growth, financial development, and greenhouse gas emissions affect the drives towards a sustainable environment. Particularly, the shocks to renewable energy and financial development improve environmental quality, while the shocks to domestic material consumption and greenhouse gas emission deteriorate environment quality. The shock to economic growth improves environmental quality up to the 4th horizon after which it begins to deteriorate environment quality. Furthermore, the panel causality results indicate bidirectional causality between greenhouse gas emissions and the rest of the variables except renewable energy, which is unidirectional. The causality between economic growth and renewable energy, economic growth and financial development, and financial development and renewable energy has a feedback effect while a unidirectional causality flows from economic growth to domestic material consumption. These findings have implications for sustainable production and consumption. • Effects of domestic material consumption, renewable energy, and greenhouse gas emissions on the environment are examined • Improved GMM estimation of Panel VAR and impulse response functions are explored • Renewable energy and financial development improve environmental quality • Domestic material consumption and greenhouse gas emissions deteriorate environment quality • Economic growth only improves environmental quality up to the 4th horizon after which it deteriorates the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the dynamic effect of non-renewable energy, renewable energy, economic growth, and foreign direct investment on environmental degradation in twenty selected African countries over the period 2000–2015. We have adopted Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis and the Pollution Haven/Halo hypothesis simultaneously. In the first stage, this paper performs cross-independence test and found cross-sectional dependence in carbon emissions, non-renewable energy, and renewable energy. In the second stage, it applies first generation and second generation unit root tests for panel data and found that all concerning variables are I(1) except for economic growth which is found I(0). Therefore, we used the Panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag approach using Pooled Mean Group, Mean Group, and Dynamic Fixed Effect estimators. The results indicate that all independent variables are significant and positive to CO 2 emissions except for renewable energy found significant and negative to CO2 emissions, and foreign direct investment found significant and positive only in the long term. Moreover, the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis did not hold in our sample, while we found strong evidence for the Pollution Haven hypothesis in selected African countries. • non-renewable energy, renewable energy, economic growth, and foreign direct investment-CO 2 emissions relationship is investigated. • Positive effect of non-renewable energy and negative effect of renewable energy are found. • The Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis does not hold. • The Pollution Haven hypothesis is verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental sustainability and economic growth are the two ends of a stream whereby when an economy excels towards growth and stability it causes harm to the environment whereas whenever there is less generation of domestic product there is less harm to the environment. Therefore, the present study intends to explore the role of green innovation and renewable energy in carbon emissions and economic growth by employing the unique methodology of Bootstrap ARDL proposed by McNown, Sam, and Goh (2018) on the theoretical guidelines of the neo-classical and STIRPAT model, in the context of Malaysia. The data have been collected from World Bank and OECD database from 1971 to 2017 (47 observations). The result reported that green innovation has a positive and negative relationship with growth and CO2 emissions respectively in both the short and long run. On the other hand, the result reported interesting findings in the relationship of renewable energy with economic growth in the short-run which was found negative however it becomes positive in the longer period, whereas the relationship of renewable energy with CO2 emission remains negative for both short and long run. Lastly, the present study recommended to the regulators that they should formulate the effective policies related to the innovation that enhance the sustainable development. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work highlights the impact of renewable and non-renewable energy, capital formation, and economic growth on CO 2 emissions in the economies that are emerging due to China's Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB) initiative. In this context, data for 24 SREB economies from 1995 to 2014 are analyzed through the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach. The results suggest that using a high share of renewable energy to execute economic activities and improve the level of capital formation significantly decreases the rate of CO 2 emissions in both the long term and short term in the considered SREB countries. The presence of the Environmental Kuznets Curve and the existence of an inverted U-shaped relationship between economic growth and CO 2 emissions are also determined. The negative impact of Gross Capital Formation (GCF) and the negligible effects of trade openness on CO 2 discharge are also observed. The negative effect of GCF on carbon emissions suggests either that the SREB economies are investing in low-carbon economic activities or simply that those assets are being produced using cleaner energy sources. It is suggested that these countries should pay more attention to renewable energy resources to improve the environment and maximize the economic benefits of the SREB initiative. • Renewable energy is a significant source for controlling CO 2 emissions in SREB nations. • Improvement in Gross Capital Formation mitigates CO 2 emissions in the SREB region. • The findings show that the SREB economies are investing in low-carbon assets. • In SREB countries, CO 2 emissions and GDP growth show a bell-shaped relationship. • Trade openness has an insignificant role in controlling CO 2 emissions in SREB economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy, just like any other factors of production, plays a vital role in boosting the economic growth of nations. Various researches have observed a significant positive effect of energy on economic growth, indicating that boosting energy sources will tend to raise the economic growth of nations. Due to this reason, the European Union (EU) needs to come up with a stable and reliable supply of energy to ensure high economic growth and stability in the prices. The current study seeks to examine the role of primary energy supply on economic growth in the EU. The study employs a panel data of 27 EU countries from 1990 to 2019. Dynamic Generalised Method of Moments which is robust over endogeneity, Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) and Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) are employed. The current study differs from past studies in that it considers the interaction between energy and capital, "effective capital", hence its main novelty. The study results show that carbon emissions, renewable energy, capital, effective capital and population size have a significant positive impact on GDP in the EU-27 countries. Primary energy supply is observed to exhibit a negative significant effect on GDP, whereas the results of DOLS technique gives a significant positive effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, there has been an urgent need to fully implement renewable energy sources to realise green energy transitions and combat environmental pollution. This study uses a benchmark estimation model to analyse the links between green economic growth, green financing, and green energy from 2010 to 2020 and green energy advancement in China. Within the context of renewable energy, scholars have investigated various, unequal, and mediating influence connections. According to the extant literature, green economic expansion and green finance are significantly linked with renewable energy, but with diverse influences in various types of renewable technology and in various regions. The effect of green growth in the economy on green energy is non-linear, while green finance is coherent. Green technological advancement is efficiently facilitates green productivity expansion and green energy, and the investment impact is partially mediated. This study contributes significantly to the formulation of several practical initiatives to strengthen the green energy sector and facilitate sustainable growth. The results indicate that it is essential to maximise the potential of green economic activity to advance the green energy sector through the full utilisation of green accomplishments in their transformed forms. • Urgent need for renewable energy: Implementing renewables for green transitions. • Linking green growth, financing, and energy: Analyzing connections in China. • Diverse influences on renewables: Varied impacts by region and technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a new measure of energy diversity. The impact of digital finance innovation effects of green financing (GF), economic growth (EG), renewable energy (RE), inflationary pressures, and geopolitical risks for enhancing sustainability in China were obtained using micro- and macro-level data from 2011 to 2020. A regression prediction method was applied, considering both the direct and indirect relationships between the factor predictions. Our results confirm that major economies experience significant economic growth as long-term energy diversification increases. However, energy diversification has a negative impact as short-term economic development in some nations is negatively affected by. The findings also show that in the medium- and long-term, energy variation does not support financial development in low-income nations. Therefore, additional safety precautions must be taken when diversifying energy sources. • Renewable energy and digital finance synergy in China (2010–2021). • Funding impact: renewables, emissions, capacity, access. • Nexus of digital finance and renewable electrification in China. • Advancing renewables: funding trends, emissions, capacity, access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the relationship between biomass energy consumption and economic growth for 26 OECD countries for 1980 to 2013 period. This study used panel unit root analyses, panel cointegration analyses, dynamic OLS analyses, fully modified OLS analyses and panel VECM Granger causality to examine the relationship. The results reveal the presence of long-run equilibrium relationship between the variables supporting the feedback hypothesis. As policy implication, OECD countries have to improve the biomass energy infrastructure as an important source of renewable energy to promote economic growth. • Investigation of relationship between biomass consumption and economic growth. • Focus on 26 OECD countries for 1980 to 2013. • Feedback hypothesis is confirmed. • Policy suggestion: promotion of biomass will enhance economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy sources (RES) can play a significant role in economic growth. This article examines the development of the wind energy market in the EU. The applicable regulations, directives, and legal acts are reviewed, and the State's role in the development of the renewable energy market is discussed. The analyses were carried out based on the available literature and Eurostat data. The authors of the paper used basic statistics to summarize the changes in wind energy and make a prognosis. The data analysis uses the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average Method (ARIMA). The survey found that the highest average wind cumulative installed capacities were in Germany (31026 MW), Spain (18602 MW), United Kingdom (7894 MW) and France (6108 MW). Our analysis indicates that the biggest average annual installed wind capacity was in Germany (2952.6 MW), Spain (1224.5 MW) and the United Kingdom (1363.8 MW). These same countries achieved the highest average wind gross electricity production in the years 2004–17: Germany (50.9 TWh), Spain (39.3 TWh) and United Kingdom (18.9 TWh). The study finds that wind cumulative installed capacity will increase in most countries of the EU. • The European Union onshore wind energy market seems to be stable. • Wind power plays an important role as a source of energy supply. • The most important wind gross electricity producers in the EU are: Germany and Spain. • The highest increase of wind cumulative installed capacity in 2022 will be in Croatia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent times, physical-capital investment has been outweighed by research and development expenditure in terms of their growth impact. However, how such expenditure affect economic expansion in the presence of energy consumption is yet to be given thorough attention in the literature. Consequently, this study used data from 1997 to 2015 for 16 EU countries to demonstrate how expenditure on research and development drives growth in the presence of renewable and nonrenewable energy consumption. Empirical results from the Pool Mean Group Autoregressive distributive lag model (PMG-ARDL) revealed that in the short run, investment in research and development adversely affect growth prospect in the EU. However, in the long run, research-led growth is evident alongside energy consumption, although the latter outweighs the former. Additionally, result from Dumitrescu and Hurlin Panel Causality tests showed a feedback causality between energy consumption, research and expenditure and economic growth. The findings of this study make it essential for EU countries to boost spending on renewable energy sources. Additionally, EU countries should pay closer attention to investment in research and development in order to sustain the plan for long term advancement in sustainable power sources for feasible energy and economic development. Image 1 • Economic impact of R&D and energy consumption in EU is examined. • Physical-capital investment outperforms R&D expenditure. • Energy consumption affect economic growth than the effect of R&D in the long run. • Increased renewable energy development in the EU is encouraged. • More investment in research and development by the EU states should be sustained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Distributed generation expansion planning (DGEP) has been frequently reported in the literature around the world. In this scope, renewable technologies which are considered as a kind of distributed generations are developing due to their environmental benefits. However, only a few renewable energies have proven to be competitive so far, while their economic viability is also limited to certain regions of the world. In this paper, an encouraging mechanism is proposed in favor of clean technologies in the planning process. This mechanism is defined based on a grant function of emission not polluted which is paid to DG owners to promote renewable and clean technologies. In the planning process, a multi-objective optimization algorithm is applied to produce a Pareto set of optimal planning schemes by taking into account different objective functions (cost and grant functions). The best planning scheme among the Pareto set is chosen based on a composite utility which are obtained through a Monte Carlo simulation of uncertain situations. Distributed generation technologies which are considered in this paper are conventional and renewable technologies, namely photovoltaic (PV), wind turbine (WT), fuel cell (FC), micro turbine (MT), gas turbine (GT), and reciprocal engine (RE). To assess the ability of the proposed method, a typical distribution system is used for expansion planning under two environmental scenarios. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]