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This study investigated how international tourism is impacting on environmental quality and renewable energy use in Africa, and how governance institutions on the continent are moderating these relationships. We employed the system GMM technique with a panel of 31 African economies from 2011 to 2020. We find that while international tourism is not a significant driver of environmental quality in Africa, it is significantly hampering renewable energy use on the continent. We also find that even though the unconditional effects of governance institutions on environmental quality are predominantly muted, their moderation role in the tourism-environmental quality relationship indicates that they offer potent channels for enhancing the contribution of the tourism sector toward improved environmental quality in Africa. Our results further indicate that governance institutions in Africa are significantly hampering the use of renewable energy, while their moderation role on the tourism-renewable energy use relationship is mainly muted. These findings generally highlight the fact that Africa is yet to harness its tourism potentials, while simultaneously dealing with the challenge of weak governance institutions. Among others, we recommended that policymakers and leaders in Africa should work together to harness the tourism potentials of the region and improve the quality of governance institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The primary motivation of this paper is the lack of consensus on the impact of renewable energy (RE) and research and development (R&D) expenditure on CO2 emissions in the literature. Current literature has mostly ignored the spillover effect of R&D on CO2 emissions by increasing the intensity effect of technology, leading to biased results. Further, little is known about the impact of previous epidemics on CO2 emissions. This study fills these gaps by evaluating the spillover effects of RE and R&D on CO2 emissions in a global panel of 54 countries from 2003 to 2017. Using a two-way time- and spatial-fixed-effects panel analysis, we find both income-induced and scale effects of economic growth are present in our panel, though the scale effect is the dominant one. Our findings indicate that economic growth increases CO2 emissions at a decreasing rate, validating the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis, and that urbanization and foreign trade worsen the environment. We also find that epidemic episodes before COVID-19 had a nonsignificant impact on CO2 emissions internationally. More importantly, our results confirm the presence of both the intensity and scale effects of R&D, with the intensity effect being the dominant one. We find overwhelming evidence that global R&D investment led to an overall (direct plus spillover) reduction of CO2 emissions, driven by its spillover effect, through two channels: RE and economic growth. Finally, we find that RE installations assist with reducing CO2 emissions internationally, though RE composition and state of R&D can lead to different findings. Our findings have significant policy implications for sustainable development. Our RE and R&D-spillover results support the policy recommendation of shifting to high-tech clean energy sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the dynamic impact of various factors including economic growth, the expansion of renewable energy sources, urbanization, industrialization, tourism, agriculture, and forestry on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh from 1980-2022. The research centers on the three most populous nations of the three countries. To quantify the correlation between emissions and the myriad of distinct categories of drivers, national time series data annually are utilized. To ascertain the immediate and enduring consequences of emissions fluctuations, DOLS methods are used for data analysis. The results indicate that increasing levels of energy consumption, GDP per capita, tourism arrivals, agricultural activities, and industrialization are all significant long-term contributors to rising CO2 emissions in each of the three countries. However, there is some evidence that implementing sustainable agricultural practices, expanding forest cover, and increasing the output of renewable energy sources could potentially serve as mitigating factors. Based on the study's results, to reconcile the pursuit of development objectives with emission reduction, it is recommended that economic growth strategies prioritize low-carbon sectors, accelerate the adoption of renewable energy sources, promote sustainable agricultural and tourism practices, and foster regional collaboration. Integrated planning for inclusive, environmentally friendly, and sustainable growth trajectories can be enhanced by incorporating comprehensive understandings of the interplay among interconnected factors that impact emission patterns. Customized development trajectories ought to be established for Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh.

Improving building energy efficiency and widespread application of renewable energy are key measures for achieving zero-emission development in the building sector in response to climate change. However, previous studies on buildings and renewable energy use have predominantly treated buildings as independent entities, overlooking the influence of urban morphology on both aspects. Conducting research on the impact of urban form on building energy consumption and renewable energy application at the block scale can contribute to more accurate predictions of renewable energy potential and building energy efficiency, thereby enhancing their synergistic relationship. In this context, this study proposes a methodology for building energy simulation and analysis of renewable energy potential in building clusters using the Grasshopper platform. Six typical residential building clusters in Beijing, selected based on the local climate zone system, are used as representative samples of urban forms at the block scale. Based on these samples, 30 building cluster prototypes have been constructed. By simulating the renewable energy potential and building energy consumption of these prototypes, the study analyzes the influence of urban form on both aspects. The results indicate that the heat island effect and obstruction effect between buildings are the main manifestations of urban form influence; in this case, the urban heat island effect can reduce the building heating energy consumption by 15.8% on average and increase the cooling energy consumption by up to 30%; the shading effect between buildings increases heating energy consumption by an average of 11.88% and reduces cooling energy consumption by 5.87%. These two factors have opposite effects on building energy efficiency and are correlated with urban form parameters, such as the sky view factor, street canyon height to street canyon width ratio, and floor area ratio. This study provides valuable insights for the application of renewable energy in buildings and the balance of energy supply and demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the implications for international trade of a country’s dependence on renewable energy consumption in total energy use. We use data for 152 countries over the period 1990–2014. We estimate a gravity equation of bilateral trade to assess the role of renewable energy consumption on international trade. We find, inter alia, that a 1% increase in the use of renewable energy as a proportion of total energy leads to, on an average, a 1.026% decrease in exports, and a 0.39% increase in imports, suggesting that renewable energy use makes trade less competitive. This outcome is due in part to cost implications of using renewable energy sources. However, we also find some heterogeneity in this respect. Whereas Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries export more with increased use of renewable energy, for non-OECD countries renewable energy use reduces exports.

Recent decades have witnessed an unprecedented transformation in the global energy landscape, driven by environmental concerns and the quest for sustainable economic growth. As the world grapples with the urgent need for decarbonization, the utilization of renewable energy technologies with the instrumental role of rare earth elements (REEs) has come to the forefront. However, empirical investigations into their synergistic pathways for product and economic complexities concerning achieving a low-carbon future remain scarce. Therefore, we forecast synergistic pathways between the REE supply, renewable energy, economic and product complexities, and GDP growth using a panel dataset of 11 REE-producing countries from 1990 to 2023. We used Common Correlated Effects and Temporal Causal Models as primary methods to estimate panel long-run elasticities and subsequently forecast mutual causal synergies between the variables. The results indicated that REE supply led to renewable energy and economic growth that further elevated the countries' product and economic complexities rankings. GDP growth increased REE production, economic complexity, and renewable energy directly, and consequently, product complexity and REE production through them. This underscores the positive role of REE production coupled with renewable energy technologies in achieving a low-carbon future based on economic diversification, enhanced industrial capabilities, and technological sophistication. [Display omitted] • We forecast causal synergistic pathways to achieve green economic growth. • Rare earth elements supply promotes renewable energy use and economic complexity. • Renewable energy use contributes to elevating the product complexity index. • Economic growth contributes to raising the supply of rare earth elements. • Economic complexity extends rare earth elements supply and economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the world struggles with pressing issues like climate change and sustainable development, affecting health outcomes and environmental quality, the Nordic regionsare at the forefront of major global challenges. This paper investigates the role of human capital, renewable energy use, tourism, natural resources, and economic growth in shaping life in the Nordic region i.e., Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland).Utilizing panel data spanning from 1990 to 2020, the Driscoll and Kraay standard error (DSK) technique is employed to analyze this intricate interplay. The study reveals that in the Nordic context, sustainable economic growth, bolstered by investments in human capital and the widespread acceptance of renewable energy sources, has been positively associated with increased life expectancies. Furthermore, prudent management of natural resources has helped mitigate adverse health effects related to depletion, maintaining environmental and public health standards. The thriving tourism industry has also been shown to influence lifespan in this region positively. On the contrary, the empirical finding contended that an adverse correlation exists between carbon emissions and LEX. This research underscores the importance of a comprehensive and balanced approach that considers economic development, sustainable development, and public health in pursuing longer and healthier lives, providing valuable insights for policymakers and regions seeking to replicate these positive outcomes.The findings of this study are both conceptually reliable and empirically robust, providing important insights for the formulation of environmental and health policy. • Sustainable economic growth, bolstered by investments in human capital positively increases life expectancies. • Environmental problems account for 23 percent of global mortality. • The study examined the long-run connection between ECG, CEM, NRR, TOU, HUC, REU, and LEX among the Nordic Regions. • Grossman's healthcare model influences health economics, explaining people's choices for a better demand of healthcare services • Cross-sectional Dependency Test, slope homogeneity test (SHT), adopting the Driscoll-Kraay Standardized (DSK) panel estimation approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The air pollution-induced health effects of energy consumption remain a grey area in the extant literature. As of yet, there are very limited studies on the subject matter for countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). To this end, we employ panel data from 1990 to 2019 for 37 OECD countries and panel estimation techniques that control for distributional asymmetry. We also utilize a composite variable of mortality and morbidity to capture the full spectrum of air pollution-induced health burdens. Our findings reveal that renewable energy ameliorates the health burden of air pollution in indoor spaces, evidence for the ameliorating effects of renewable energy in outdoor and occupational spaces was however weak. We also show that income has an ameliorating effect on air pollution-induced health burdens across all spaces and that the effect of non-renewable energy is asymmetric and disparate across all spaces. Furthermore, while technological innovation ameliorates the health burden of air pollution in indoor spaces, it exacerbates the health burden of air pollution in both occupational and outdoor spaces. These findings thus show that the positive health implications of renewable energy policy interventions have more traction in indoor spaces. Capacity needs to be built in the renewable energy sector to reduce the pollution-inducing health burdens emanating from ambient and occupational spaces. [Display omitted] • Heterogeneous effects across indoor, outdoor and occupational spaces uncovered. • Innovation has positive and negative effects for indoor and outdoor spaces respectively. • Strong evidence exists for the positive effect of renewable energy only in indoor spaces. • Effect of non-renewable energy is asymmetric and disparate across all spaces. • Quantile regression uncovers results not detected by mean based estimators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by the environmental challenges and the increase in energy demand, this review assesses the suitability of nuclear power production as an alternative option to using fossil fuels. First, we assess the competitiveness of nuclear power compared to other power sources considering its economic efficiency, environmental impact and implications for health, and conclude that this is a viable option to serve in addition to and as a backup to renewable sources. Second, we review previous findings in various fields on advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power technology and conclude that there is a gap between reality and perception. Third, we discuss challenges related to nuclear weapons proliferation and misperceived public opinion on nuclear power. We conclude that the gap between perception and reality stems from a lack of consolidated interdisciplinary view, media communications focusing mainly on unilateral assessments.

The grand challenges of our time—climate change, biodiversity losses, and global non-communicable disease rates—underscore that humanity and the planet are in crisis. Planetary health provides a unifying concept wherein efforts toward remediation and survival can be concentrated. Evidence derived from the animal kingdom and from human demography suggest that there is cause for optimism in planetary health. With proper navigation, a transition toward a new epoch—one of symbiotic flourishing—is possible. Responses to the current challenges can usher in a new reality, one in which the core value is the well-being of all. This paper presents the philosophies and perspectives of renown biophilosopher, Jonas Salk, who—after developing the first effective vaccine to prevent polio, one of the great achievements in public health—expanded his vision beyond the prevention of individual diseases to that of addressing the basic problems of humankind. This vision is very much in line with our current understanding of and approach to planetary health. In response to changing conditions, planetary limits, and evolutionary pressure, new values, new communities, and new modes of interacting will likely emerge and be integrated with developments in science, technology, economics, the arts, and international relations, resulting in our survival and enhanced health and well-being.

[Display omitted] • Regions where feed-in tariff higher than valley price should follow dual objective optimization. • The economy of the household PV-BES-EV system mainly depends on the purchase cost of EVs. • Decreasing electricity price will not undermine the effectiveness of the household PV-BES-EV system. • The energy bills and carbon emissions decrease significantly with the optimal scheduling schemes. The household PV-BES-EV system (photovoltaic - battery energy storage - electric vehicle system) connected to the grid can guarantee the electricity demand of the household and facilitate the flexible trade with the grid to achieve the goals of cutting energy bills and reducing carbon emissions. In related issues, past studies often assume that renewable energy is both economical and environmentally friendly, and thus regarded it as the primary power source. While in fact, in some regions where the feed-in tariff is higher than the sales price at a certain time, households may be driven by arbitrage opportunities to frequently purchase electricity from the grid at the certain time to gain benefits, resulting in far greater carbon emissions than expected within the household measurement boundary. To avoid the environmental burden caused by pure economic incentives and to provide practical and sustainable solutions consistent with various energy price policies, the optimal scheduling schemes of the household PV-BES-EV system that considers both economic and environmental incentives for different scenarios solved by the genetic algorithm is proposed in this paper. Household data in Shanghai, China and Hamburg, Germany were selected for modelling, representing the dual-objective optimization scenario with arbitrage opportunities and the single-objective optimization scenario with sales price higher than feed-in tariff, respectively. Results show that for urban and rural residents in Shanghai, the energy bill and carbon emission would decline about 105%, 48% and 88%, 62%, respectively. As for Hamburg, the accordingly results would be 69% and 64%. In addition, based on the cost-effectiveness of the system in long-term, this paper puts forward policy recommendations that align with local conditions to further improve the economy of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Korea has invested extensively in developing revolutionary marine and ocean technologies to accomplish renewable energy goals. Despite that, the available literature offers no insight into the environmental benefits of innovation in marine energy generation, distribution, or transmission-related technologies (IMET). This study examines the nexus between carbon dioxide emissions (CO 2 e) and IMET in South Korea (1990Q1-2018Q4). Control variables include international collaboration in green technology development (ICGD), gross domestic product (per capita) (GDPPC), expansionary commercial policy (ECP), and renewable energy use (REC). First, the findings validated the long-run relationship among ICGD, GDPPC, ECP, REC, IMET, and CO 2 e. Second, the findings asserted that increasing IMET assisted in the generation of low-carbon renewable energy, thereby contributing to the improvement of environmental quality. Third, the estimates revealed that an increase in GDPPC and ECP was positively associated with an upsurge in CO 2 e. Fourth, the data depicted that ICGD facilitated co-green technologies development, which de-escalated CO 2 e. Fifth, REC was negatively associated with a decrease in CO 2 e. Based on current estimates, this article recommended that governments implement policies that encourage companies and academia to participate in IMET to promote the green economy. • A rise in innovation in marine energy generation-related technologies was negatively associated with CO 2 emissions. • An increase in GDP per capita and expansionary commercial policy contributed to CO 2 emissions. • International collaboration in environmental-related technology development reduced CO 2 emissions. • Renewable energy consumption deescalated carbon dioxide emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary motivation of this paper is the lack of consensus on the impact of renewable energy (RE) and research and development (R&D) expenditure on CO 2  emissions in the literature. Current literature has mostly ignored the spillover effect of R&D on CO 2  emissions by increasing the intensity effect of technology, leading to biased results. Further, little is known about the impact of previous epidemics on CO 2  emissions. This study fills these gaps by evaluating the spillover effects of RE and R&D on CO 2  emissions in a global panel of 54 countries from 2003 to 2017. Using a two-way time- and spatial-fixed-effects panel analysis, we find both income-induced and scale effects of economic growth are present in our panel, though the scale effect is the dominant one. Our findings indicate that economic growth increases CO 2  emissions at a decreasing rate, validating the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis, and that urbanization and foreign trade worsen the environment. We also find that epidemic episodes before COVID-19 had a nonsignificant impact on CO 2  emissions internationally. More importantly, our results confirm the presence of both the intensity and scale effects of R&D, with the intensity effect being the dominant one. We find overwhelming evidence that global R&D investment led to an overall (direct plus spillover) reduction of CO 2  emissions, driven by its spillover effect, through two channels: RE and economic growth. Finally, we find that RE installations assist with reducing CO 2  emissions internationally, though RE composition and state of R&D can lead to different findings. Our findings have significant policy implications for sustainable development. Our RE and R&D-spillover results support the policy recommendation of shifting to high-tech clean energy sources., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare no competing interests., (© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2023, Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

The utilization of renewable energy sources (RES) has become inevitable, not only due to the increasing scarcity of fossil fuels, but also to sustain life on Earth. Consequently, countries have started developing renewable energy policies individually and as part of global organizations and networks, such as the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the European Union (EU) and the International Energy Agency (IEA). Turkey is a developing OECD member country and in the accession process to the EU. Thus, the renewable energy policies should be aligned with those of the EU. Moreover, despite the substantial amount and wide range of RES, it is still in a position to import more than half of its energy demand. In the light of these facts, this study aims to analyze and compare the renewable energy policies in Turkey with those adopted worldwide to lay out possible solutions regarding its energy problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by the environmental challenges and the increase in energy demand, this review assesses the suitability of nuclear power production as an alternative option to using fossil fuels. First, we assess the competitiveness of nuclear power compared to other power sources considering its economic efficiency, environmental impact and implications for health, and conclude that this is a viable option to serve in addition to and as a backup to renewable sources. Second, we review previous findings in various fields on advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power technology and conclude that there is a gap between reality and perception. Third, we discuss challenges related to nuclear weapons proliferation and misperceived public opinion on nuclear power. We conclude that the gap between perception and reality stems from a lack of consolidated interdisciplinary view, media communications focusing mainly on unilateral assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The grand challenges of our time—climate change, biodiversity losses, and global non-communicable disease rates—underscore that humanity and the planet are in crisis. Planetary health provides a unifying concept wherein efforts toward remediation and survival can be concentrated. Evidence derived from the animal kingdom and from human demography suggest that there is cause for optimism in planetary health. With proper navigation, a transition toward a new epoch—one of symbiotic flourishing—is possible. Responses to the current challenges can usher in a new reality, one in which the core value is the well-being of all. This paper presents the philosophies and perspectives of renown biophilosopher, Jonas Salk, who—after developing the first effective vaccine to prevent polio, one of the great achievements in public health—expanded his vision beyond the prevention of individual diseases to that of addressing the basic problems of humankind. This vision is very much in line with our current understanding of and approach to planetary health. In response to changing conditions, planetary limits, and evolutionary pressure, new values, new communities, and new modes of interacting will likely emerge and be integrated with developments in science, technology, economics, the arts, and international relations, resulting in our survival and enhanced health and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]