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Recent Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) reports have highlighted the inadequacy of environmental sustainability efforts. Thus, it is clear that current efforts towards environmental sustainability (SDG 13) and affordable and clean energy (SDG 7) policies are insufficient and a comprehensive policy agenda is needed. Existing literature limitedly addresses the determinants of environmental sustainability but relatively ignores the impact of nuclear energy research and development investments (NCI) and green environment on environmental quality. The motivation of this study is to fill this research gap and propose an overarching policy structure to achieve SDGs. In this context, this study investigates the effects of green environment, economic growth, human capital, and NCI on environmental sustainability comparatively for the United States and France through the Asymmetric Autoregressive Distributed Lag, which considers structural break. Based on the empirical analysis results, economic growth and trade openness harm environmental sustainability, while positive shocks in NCI improve environmental quality in both countries. Negative NCI shocks deteriorate environmental quality in the United States but not France. In conclusion, this study provides detailed environmental sustainability policies for the United States and France. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses the novel Fourier Augmented Autoregressive Distributed Lag within the load capacity curve framework to investigate the effects of economic growth, trade openness, renewable energy consumption, and competitive industrial performance on environmental sustainability. The results of the empirical analysis provide evidence that the load capacity curve is valid in Turkiye. Moreover, while trade openness jeopardizes environmental sustainability, renewable energy consumption and industrial competitiveness increase environmental quality. Policymakers should focus intensively on policies that can achieve SDG 9 and industrialization activities. It is essential to give privileges, especially to companies operating in the industrial sector, regarding the transition to renewable energy. Energy efficiency policies that will accelerate the transition to clean energy sources are also an alternative to escape from fossil energy immediately. Environmental factors should be considered when importing intermediate goods used in industry, and these policies should be guaranteed by law as soon as possible. [Display omitted] • This study analyzes the environmental impacts of renewable energy and competitive industrial performance. • Novel findings are obtained in terms of competitive industrial performance. • Renewable energy contributes to ecological sustainability. • The LCC hypothesis is valid for Turkiye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The motivation of this paper is to investigate the resistance of countries' energy research and development (RD&D) expenditures to random shocks. The analysis includes the five countries (France, Germany, Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom) that are the biggest investors in RD&D in fossil fuels, renewables, energy efficiency, and nuclear energy. Thus, economies will be able to take precautions against global shocks in producing sustainable energy policies. To achieve this aim, this paper uses the artificial neural network approach, which uses a distributed computing model that can store and generalize data after a learning period. Empirical results widely depend on countries and distinct energy technology policy fields. The key findings provide evidence that RD&D expenditures, except for renewables, do not tend to mean revert. The economies of Japan, Germany, and the United States should make more renewable investments to reduce the resistance of renewable energy sources to shocks and thus produce policies for both environmental sustainability and energy security. The economies of France and the United Kingdom can ensure energy security by continuing their sustainable energy policies. • Applied SDG policies focused on energy technology RD&D are presented. • The stochastic characteristics of energy technology investments are examined. • Carbon-reducing policies are recommended for the top five economies. • Energy technologies are perused through artificial intelligence approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although it takes time to achieve a sustainable environment, this goal can be possible with the Sustainable Development Goals. The transition from gray energy sources to green in the 21st century is among the important policy goals of global economies. Since this process is long, countries focus on energy efficiency as part of their carbon reduction policies. In this context, this study investigates the impact of clean energy technologies on environmental quality in Turkiye. Using the load capacity curve (LCC) hypothesis, human capital, income, and natural resources are theoretically added to the balance model. The novel Augmented ARDL with Fourier terms approach is used in the empirical analysis. As a result of the analysis, the LCC hypothesis is valid, and income will support environmental quality after a certain level. While human capital increases environmental quality, natural resources bring environmental pollution. Finally, it is determined that clean energy technologies have not yet reached the level that enables carbon reduction. The finding that clean energy technologies are insufficient for Turkiye, as a result of empirical analysis, shows the uniqueness of this study. With our new findings, policymakers can take action for a sustainable environment. Since Turkiye has to ensure energy security due to its regional characteristics, it should increase investments in clean energy technologies. Based on empirical findings, clean energy technologies will gain momentum as policymakers support human capital. • Environmental implications of clean energy technologies are examined. • A Novel Augmented ARDL model with Fourier terms is applied. • Clean energy technologies have a significant effect on the load capacity factor. • The novel Load capacity curve hypothesis is investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's world, environmental concerns are at the forefront of countries' considerations, along with economic priorities. In this context, countries face the challenge of developing and directing their investments in clean energy technologies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly affordable and clean energy. Does the development and diffusion of clean energy technologies contribute to improving environmental quality? This study addresses this question by examining the effects of clean energy technologies on sustainable environmental quality as expressed by the load capacity factor (LCF). In this context, the study explores the United States (US), as the largest economy and one of the leading countries investing in clean energy, considering the role of human capital, urbanization, and economic growth. To this end, this paper applies the novel augmented autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model to annual data from 1974 to 2018. The long-term empirical results show that (i) Clean energy technologies have no effect on the LCF; (iii) human capital supports environmental quality; (iv) urbanization has an adverse effect on environmental quality; (v) increasing economic growth worsens environmental quality. Overall, the empirical results suggest that while clean energy technologies should support sustainable environmental quality, this is unfortunately not the case in the US. Therefore, the US policymakers need to take improvement actions to ensure that clean energy technologies contribute to sustainable environmental quality and that the community reaps the environmental benefits of human capital. [Display omitted] • Applies the Augmented ARDL approach with smooth structural shifts. • Tests the impact of clean energy technologies on environmental quality. • Clean energy technologies do not affect the environmental quality. • Income and urbanization reduce the load capacity factor. • Human capital improves environmental quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In line with the United Nations' sustainable development goals (SDGs), countries are taking action to achieve their carbon reduction goals. Because countries have limited financial resources, it is important for carbon reduction policies that public expenditure is used effectively. Researchers have neglected to probe the environmental quality in European Union countries by considering environmental protection expenditure and renewable energy consumption. This study expands the literature by investigating the impact of renewable energy consumption and environmental protection expenditure on the load capacity factor, which considers both the supply and demand directions of the environment. Hence, this work contributes to the SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), and SDG 15 (life on land) targets of European Union-22 countries. The study uses the CS-ARDL approach, which considers cross-sectional dependence, endogeneity, and heterogeneity. Empirical analysis showed that environmental protection expenditure is insufficient for European Union economies. In addition, renewable energy consumption contributed to environmental quality. Based on the outcomes, European Union countries should allocate larger budgets from their general budgets for environmental protection. Policies that can attract the attention of the private sector and not just the public sector should be implemented. • The effect of environmental protection expenditures and renewable energy on EU's environmental quality is perused. • Based on data from 1995 to 2018 EU countries are tested using the novel CS-ARDL approach. • The cross-sectional dependence and heterogeneity issues are addressed with our method. • Environmental protection spending in EU economies has proven to be insufficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Political institutions play a key role in countries' environmental footprints since they govern environmental policies. Democracy is an important institutional variable that can exacerbate or alleviate the ecological footprint (EF). The limited literature on democracy and EF association unfold conflicting results. Therefore, this empirical research studies the effect of democracy on EF in Pakistan, where various strict policies have weakened democracy and the country has also been severely affected by climate change. The study employs the novel Augmented ARDL (AARDL) approach to quantify the impact of democracy on EF by including population density, clean energy, and economic growth. The findings from the AARDL method unfold cointegration among variables. The long-run results reveal that democracy is negatively associated with EF. The results also suggest the Environment Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis between EF and economic growth while accounting for democracy in the model. Hence, the study concludes that democracy is a significant driver of environmental sustainability. Further, the estimates of the AARDL also support a mitigating impact of clean energy on EF, while population density upsurges EF. Finally, the AARDL based causality test is applied, which disclosed causality between most regressors and EF. Lastly, detailed policy implications are directed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In environmental economics, the load capacity factor has recently been empirically studied to demonstrate how human actions degrade the environment and how nature compensates for this damage. Therefore, the improvement of the load capacity factor by countries is a critical indicator for achieving Sustainable Development Goals. The study therefore examines the environmental effects of research and development investments in renewable and nuclear energy. In doing so, the study covers Japan; applies Fourier-based time series models (i.e., FMOLS as the base model and DOLS and CCR for the robustness); and uses data between 1974 and 2018. The estimation results present that (i) renewable energy research and development investments support the environment; (ii) economic growth and financial development degrade the environment; and (iii) nuclear energy research and development investments have no effect on the environment. Thus, the study recommends that Japan should contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by concentrating its research and development investments on renewable energy sources instead of nuclear energy. [Display omitted] • The study focuses on renewable and nuclear energy R&D expenditures on the LCF. • The study examines Japan for the period 1974–2018. • The study applies Fourier-based approaches. • Renewable energy R&D expenditures have an evolving effect on the environment. • Nuclear energy R&D expenditures have no significant effect on the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]