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This study examines the impact of the growing elderly population and single-person households on residential electricity demand in China. Using a dynamic panel model, this study investigates a balanced panel dataset encompassing 30 provinces in China from 2006 to 2016. The results indicate that households in China show limited responsiveness to changes in electricity prices and household income in the short and long run. Regarding demographic transitions, the results reveal that the presence of working-age individuals, elderly individuals, and single-person households contributes to an increase in electricity demand. Furthermore, the results highlight the significance of higher education in reducing electricity demand, suggesting the need for educational programmes that promote energy-saving behaviour and environment-friendly attitudes. These findings offer valuable insights for policy makers and stakeholders aiming to develop effective strategies for managing residential electricity demand in light of changing demographics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy production plays a major role in the Saudi Arabian economy, but energy production can lead to an increase in environmental pollution.

This paper investigates the relationship between per capita CO2 emission and the population age distribution in 17 Indian states from 1980 to 2008. Using STIRPAT (Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence, and Technology) framework, this paper examines the impact of the age distribution of population, per capita gross domestic product, and the share of the manufacturing sector on per capita CO2 emissions by assembling a panel dataset from published data for this time period. Each state’s population is categorized into five age intervals to estimate the effect of the share of population falling in each age interval on per capita CO2 emission. Results show that states with a larger share of the population aged between 35 to 49 years emit more carbon than those with larger younger or older shares. This analysis is supplemented by an empirical exercise using National Sample Survey data which indicates that a greater share of the prime working-age population (35-49) is associated with a greater degree of fuel consumption expenditure which in turn reflects the higher energy demand leading to higher CO2 emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green rooftops, also known as vegetated roofs, will play a critical role in enhancing the resilience of urban areas in the face of climate change and other contemporary environmental and social challenges. To ensure the optimal design and implementation of these green technologies, it is vital to understand the public’s preferences, values, and attitudes toward the government support for green rooftops. This study employs contingent valuation methods, specifically utilizing a payment card and a choice experiment, to investigate these topics that have received inadequate exploration within the current body of literature. Our findings indicate that 45% of the public is aware of green rooftops, and the most desired features on an extensive green rooftop, ranked by importance, are: flowers, grass, trees, and walking paths. The majority (79%) of the public supports a federally proposed legislation currently under review (the Public School Green Rooftop Program) and has a mean willingness to pay of approximately $176 per household as a one-time payment. Additionally, the results show that individuals place a higher value on green rooftops that incorporate solar energy technology compared to those without. Furthermore, there is a perceived, loss of value when access to a green rooftop is limited, as opposed to having open access.

China has been implementing energy efficiency and CO2 emission reduction schemes at the provincial level that have been embedded in the National Five Year Plans of the country. We set out to investigate the relationship between R&D expenditures and CO2 emissions in China at the province level in the context of the planned emissions reduction targets. We explore the possibility of the existence of a non-linear relationship between R&D expenditures and CO2 emissions with a non-parametric methodology, a fixed effect panel data quantile (FEQR) regression estimator applied to a panel of 30 provinces. We stratify the sample according to the five emissions reduction target tiers of the 12th Five-Year National Plan of China and we investigate the role of R&D expenditures in emissions reduction within each of the tiers. We find an inverse U relationship with different turning points for the three middle tiers and a U-shaped relationship for the tier under the most stringent environmental regulation. We find no effect in the tier with the least stringent emissions reduction targets. A further investigation shows that the above results are attributed to sectors with relatively low energy intensity and not to the sectors of heavy industry. The results allow us to draw broad conclusions about the effectiveness of investment in new technologies as a means of meeting the CO2 targets in China.

Energy efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions standards apply to many consumer durables, such as refrigerators and passenger vehicles. Welfare analysis of these standards is complicated by the fact that product manufacturers choose a wide range of product attributes, many of which are unobserved by the researcher. Whereas the literature has considered the effects of standards on product prices, energy efficiency, and perhaps one or two other attributes, we show that in a differentiated product market, standards can affect virtually any product attribute, and those effects have ambiguous implications for consumer welfare. This paper implements a novel strategy to estimate the causal welfare effects of standards on product attributes. Considering European carbon dioxide emissions standards for passenger vehicles, we find that these standards have reduced fuel consumption and emissions. However, the standards have unintentionally reduced vehicle quality, which undermines 26% of the welfare gains of the standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy transition refers to the movement from fossil-based energy systems like coal, oil, and natural gas to renewable-based systems like solar, wind, biofuel, and hydrogen. The recent shockwaves from the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict have made nations rethink their energy transition strategies. For various governments to encourage carbon neutrality, there is a dire necessity for widespread research on the expansion of greener energy sources. This bibliometric review sheds light on the significant contributions in the field of energy transition research in the past four decades and suggests future research roadmaps. By compiling a map of scholarly publications on energy transition, this study uses the PRISMA technique and bibliometric software like VOS-viewer, cite-space, and R-Biblioshiny to map the research findings of scholarly publications listed in Scopus and Web of Science during 1981–2021. Our analysis shows that aspects like climate change, alternative energy, governance approach, and emission reduction are increasingly important. Further, areas that require future research include developing policy frameworks, energy infrastructure (storage and transfer), renewable energy ecosystem, clean energy economic analysis, and impact assessment for timely energy transition across the globe. Therefore, collaboration among nations and research institutions should be advanced with a particular focus on clean technology development and knowledge transfer for rapid energy transition across continents.

The demand for air quality depends on health impacts and defensive investments, but little research assesses the empirical importance of defenses. A rich quasi-experiment suggests that the Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Budget Program (NBP), a cap-and-trade market, decreased NOx emissions, ambient ozone concentrations, pharmaceutical expenditures, and mortality rates. The annual reductions in pharmaceutical purchases, a key defensive investment, and mortality are valued at about $800 million and $1.3 billion, respectively, suggesting that defenses are over one-third of willingness-to-pay for reductions in NOx emissions. Further, estimates indicate that the NBP's benefits easily exceed its costs and that NOx reductions have substantial benefits.

The demand for air quality depends on health impacts and defensive investments, but little research assesses the empirical importance of defenses. A rich quasi-experiment suggests that the Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Budget Program (NBP), a cap-and-trade market, decreased NOx emissions, ambient ozone concentrations, pharmaceutical expenditures, and mortality rates. The annual reductions in pharmaceutical purchases, a key defensive investment, and mortality are valued at about $800 million and $1.3 billion, respectively, suggesting that defenses are over one-third of willingness-to-pay for reductions in NOx emissions. Further, estimates indicate that the NBP's benefits easily exceed its costs and that NOx reductions have substantial benefits.

The effects of transgenic corn use and federal biofuel policies on state-level cropping patterns in the US Corn Belt region are investigated using state-level data from 2000 to 2019. During this time, producers moved away from diverse cropping patterns and toward simpler rotational practices. Empirical evidence indicates that the intensification of corn acres planted was positively impacted by the spread of genetically modified (GM) soybeans—used as a proxy for GM corn for biofuel usage—but the effects of biotech advancements on producer planting decisions vary across states. This suggests that future policy changes affecting corn production decisions at the farm level will also be heterogeneous across states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is an ambitious development project initiated by the Chinese government to foster economic progress worldwide. In this regard, this study aims to investigate the dynamics of energy, economy, and environment among 42 BRI developing countries using an annual frequency panel dataset from 1995 to 2019. The major findings from the econometric analyses revealed that higher levels of energy consumption, economic growth, population growth rate, and FDI inflows exhibit adverse environmental consequences by boosting the CO2 emission figures of the selected developing BRI member nations. However, it is interesting to observe that exploiting renewable energy sources, which are relatively cleaner compared to the traditionally-consumed fossil fuels, and fostering agricultural sector development can significantly improve environmental well-being by curbing the emission levels further. On the other hand, financial development is found to be ineffective in explaining the variations in the CO2 emission figures of the selected countries. Besides, the causality analysis shows that higher energy consumption, FDI inflows, and agricultural development cause environmental pollution by boosting CO2 emissions. However, economic growth, technology development, financial progress, and renewable energy consumption are evidenced to exhibit bidirectional causal associations with CO2 emissions. In line with these findings, several relevant policies can be recommended for the BRI to be environmentally sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We measure energy intensity efficiency of 104 countries by classifying them into both five income groups and four groups. Along measurement of energy intensity efficiency, we investigate the impact of GDP and CO2 emissions on intensity efficiency. In this study, since fossil fuels have a close relationship with not only GDP but also CO2 emission, the energy efficiency and energy intensity efficiency model of fossil fuels including CO2 emissions are presented together. We put CO2 emissions as a constraint variable as well as a combined product with the desired output. Unlike energy efficiency, energy intensity efficiency was higher in the group with higher income. This was the same in both results, with CO2 emissions as a constraint and a combined product. In particular, when countries’ heterogeneity was controlled by converting five groups to four groups by the mean–variance approach, the energy intensity efficiency of each group was more clearly different. The energy intensity efficiency improved most when income improvement and environmental regulations were simultaneously imposed in all five income groups. Therefore, to improve energy intensity efficiency, reduction of CO2 emissions is necessary not only in high-income countries but also in low-income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyses the long-run effects of economic growth, energy consumption and financial development on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Turkey using annual time series data for the period 1965–2018. This research investigates the relationship between the variables using a RALS-EG (residual augmented least squares–Engle and Granger) cointegration test procedure developed by Lee et al. Stud Nonlinear Dyn Econ 19:397–413, (2015). In addition, this study uses a bootstrap causality analysis developed by Hacker and Hatemi-J J Econ Stud 39:144–160, (2012) to specify the causal relationship between the series. RALS cointegration test results show a long-run relationship between CO2 emissions and economic growth, energy consumption and financial development. According to a dynamic ordinary least squares estimation, economic growth has a negative and statistically significant effect on CO2 emissions, whereas energy consumption and financial development have positive and statistically significant effects on CO2 emissions in the long run. In particular, energy consumption is the most effective parameter of environmental pollution in Turkey. However, the causality test results indicate a unidirectional causal relationship from financial development to CO2 emissions, economic growth and energy consumption. Increasing the investment in renewable energy sources will be an effective policy tool to improve the environmental quality in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of financial development measured by banks, bonds, and stocks on carbon dioxide emissions (CO2E) has been widely studied while not much is known about the effect of the insurance sector development on CO2E. Thus, this study fills this void by estimating the effect of insurance consumption on CO2E for BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) from 2000 to 2016 using the instrumental variable generalized method of moments model. The findings indicate that, generally, insurance sector development spurs CO2E in BRICS. Specifically, a 10% rise in life insurance development increases BRICS CO2E by 1%. Also, a 10% rise in non-life insurance development increases BRICS CO2E by 4%. Finally, a 10% rise in the composite insurance development index increases BRICS CO2E by 2%. The study further finds that population size, trade openness, and energy consumption drive CO2E in BRICS, while economic growth mitigates CO2E. These results were robust to alternative econometric estimators, and alternative CO2E proxy. Policies that promote green insurance consumption are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1992, Congress passed The Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act with the goal of "full restoration of The Elwha River Ecosystem and native anadromous fisheries." As part of that act, the federal government was required to produce a benefit-cost analysis on dam removal of the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams, which was published in 1994. This article revisits that initial 1994 benefit-cost analysis; background on its methods and assumptions is given, comparisons are made to current state-of-the-art techniques in benefit-cost analysis, and an ex post benefit-cost analysis of the project is conducted for comparison purposes. We find that the cost and scope of the project exceeded original expectations, the cost of the foregone electricity generation was less than expected, and that anticipated recreational and fisheries benefits were both delayed, and lower, than expected. Furthermore, issues such as the value of hatchery-spawned versus wild anadromous fish seem not to have been anticipated in the original analysis, highlighting the fact that in doing an ex ante analysis, researchers must expect that unexpected factors may influence the ex post results of any project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to find out relationships among the energy, environment, and the industrial production for a developing country which is in earlier stages of development. It also tests a few contradicting hypotheses to find the possible shape of an environmental Kuznets curve. Using the time series data, the study finds robust long-run relationships between energy, environment, and industrial production for Pakistan. The scale economy is also assumed. It is also found that the capital and labor elasticities of income show increasing returns in the presence of energy and emission variables. It finds evidence of EKC in a quadratic restricted model but not in a cubic function. This analysis implies that the focus of policy authorities should be to persuade environment-friendly energy resources. After an initial stage of economic development, society has to take serious measure to tackle the issues of environmental degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address energy security and environmental problems, the Chinese government has issued various subsidy programs for fuel-efficient vehicles and new energy vehicles (NEVs). This paper investigates the effectiveness and welfare consequences of (1) the vehicle and vessel usage tax incentive (VVUT-incentive), (2) the fuel-efficient vehicle subsidy program (FEV-subsidy program), and (3) the NEV private purchase subsidy pilot program (NEV-subsidy program). From car registration data for Shanghai, Changchun, Hangzhou, Hefei, and Shenzhen from 2011 to 2012, we estimate a random coefficient discrete choice model and conduct a counterfactual analysis based on the estimated parameters. The empirical findings suggest that these policies promote the diffusion of fuel-efficient vehicles and NEVs and improve fleet fuel efficiency. However, the VVUT-incentive and FEV-subsidy program increase oil consumption and CO2 emissions. Although the NEV-subsidy program decreases gas consumption, it increases CO2 emissions. We also show that the VVUT-incentive and FEV-subsidy program improve welfare conditions. However, the NEV-subsidy program compromises social welfare, as losses of government revenue exceed consumer surplus gains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study empirically investigates the agriculture-induced environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis in an agrarian framework. Annual time series data from 1981–2014 was employed using augmented Dickey–Fuller and the Phillips–Perron (PP) unit root test complemented by the Zivot and Andrews unit root that accounts for a single structural break to ascertain stationarity properties of variables under consideration. For the cointegration analysis, an autoregressive distributive lag methodology and the recent novel Bayer and Hanck combined cointegration technique are employed. For the direction of causality, the Granger causality test is used as estimation technique. Empirical findings lend support for the long-run equilibrium relationship among the variables under consideration. This study also validates the inverted U-shaped pattern of EKC for the case of Nigeria, affirming that Nigeria remains at the scale-effect stage of its growth trajectory. Further empirical results show that foreign direct investment attraction helps mitigate carbon emissions in Nigeria. Based on these results, several policy prescriptions on the Nigeria energy mix and agricultural operations in response to quality of the environment were suggested for policymakers, stakeholders, and environmental economists that formulate and design environmental regulations and strategies to realise the goal 7 of sustainable development (SDG). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The German Energy Performance of Buildings Directive requires sellers on the housing market to provide detailed information on expected yearly energy consumption per square meter (energy performance, EPS). This paper uses variation in local fuel prices and climate, fuel types, and building ages to analyse the relationship between expected energy cost savings from energy efficient building structure and house prices in a data set of listing prices from all regions of Germany. Results suggest that heating cost considerations are less relevant than previously thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the long-run equilibrium relationship among carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, income growth, energy consumption, and agriculture, thus testing the existence of what we call the agriculture-induced environmental Kuznets’ curve (EKC) hypothesis in the case of Pakistan for the period of 1971-2014. The long-run equilibrium relationship among the variables in the conducted model is confirmed by Maki’s (EM 29(5), 2011-2015, 2012) co-integration test under multiple structural breaks. Toda-Yamamoto’s (JE 66(1):225-250, 1995) causality test results reveal bidirectional causal relationships among gross domestic product (GDP), energy use, agriculture, and CO2 emissions. Fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) results suggest that GDP has elastic positive impacts on CO2 emissions, and energy use and agricultural value added have inelastic positive impacts on CO2 emissions, whereas squared GDP has an inelastic and negative effect on CO2 emissions. This finding confirms the existence of the agriculture-induced EKC hypothesis in Pakistan and can be a guideline for other agrarian developing countries for the creation of effective policies around environmental degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most studies on the relationship between technological innovations and renewable energy consumption have focused on the role of technological innovations in the link between energy consumption and economic growth, with no deep analysis of direct causality between renewable energy and technological innovation. This study examines the direct causal relationship between technological innovation and renewables in the four Nordic countries by using the bootstrap panel Granger causality approach that accounts for both cross-sectional dependence and slope heterogeneity across countries. The results show a unidirectional causality running from technological innovations to renewable energy in Denmark and Norway, and a unidirectional causality running from renewables to innovations in Sweden and Finland. The main reasons of the divergent results could be energy mix, role of nuclear energy, the different economic structures, and role of policies. The policy implications are that technological innovations play an effective role in renewable energy consumption and renewable energy itself spurs innovations. Thus, speeding up the transition to renewable energy requires investment in technological innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article identifies the sources and determines the convergence and causes of energy efficiency in Africa. In terms of contribution, it provides the first cross-country evidence. This study applies the stochastic fixed effect, true fixed effect and the Kumbhakar-Heshmati (K-H) models using a panel data of 22 countries for the period 1988–2014. The result reveals that: (1) the problem of energy efficiency in Africa is more structural in nature. Removing transient inefficiency and minimizing persistent inefficiency will save 5.7% and 84% of total energy consumption, respectively. Thus, energy security and carbon emissions will benefit more from policies aimed at the long-term than the short-term; (2) overall energy efficiency is low and hyoid in nature. While it declined from 1988 to 2006, the trend has reversed after 2006; (3) economic growth, urbanization and population density promote efficiency but price, foreign direct inflows and service and industry output reduce it; (4) energy efficiency convergence is conditional in nature, driven by country-specific factors such as the level of technology; (5) energy intensity is not a good measure of energy efficiency and should not be used as a policy indicator for energy efficiency enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analytical framework is developed for integrating the social science into a socio-technical approach for assessing the optimal solar energy subsidy. Estimating the optimal solar subsidy based on the analytical framework takes into account technical environment, health, employment, and electricity accessibility benefits as well as household's prosocial behavior. Results indicate that an optimal subsidy is positively affected by the marginal external benefit; however, this effect is mitigated by the rebound effect based on motivational-crowding theory. Calibrating the model using published elasticities yields estimates of the optimal solar energy subsidy equal to approximately $0.02 per kilowatt-hour when prosocial behavior is omitted. The estimated optimal subsidy is in line with many current state feed-in-tariff rates, which may be the upper bound when social science is not considered in policy analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]