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Energy transitions break geographic monopolies on fossil fuel resources and are expected to redistribute economic benefits to new actors, from local communities to developing countries. At the same time, basing energy systems around renewables increases the importance of intangible assets such as data and artificial intelligence (AI). As different IPE approaches have shown, such intangibles can be monopolized by lead firms and especially Big Tech, which increasingly provide crucial digital infrastructures. This paper therefore asks what role Big Tech firms may play in energy systems, and whether their access to intangibles enables them to expand to the energy sector. The case study of Amazon illustrates that data-driven intellectual monopolies are well-positioned to expand into energy, benefitting from their position as providers of data infrastructures, and capacities in data harvesting and analysis. Amazon is both developing and marketing its own innovations, and investing in energy systems businesses. As intangibles gain importance in energy systems, possible implications for the IPE of energy include power and economic value flowing towards Big Tech, rather than countries or communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The notion of job losses during energy transition phases and their influences on fossil fuel economies have been debated in various aspects. Meanwhile, unemployment and poverty have been critical economic challenges for many developing countries, even the resource-rich countries in the Middle East. Concurrently, no country so far is poverty-free and has not entirely fulfilled Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Nos. 1 and 8, as many resource-rich countries account for the significant global poverty and unemployment, such as Nigeria, Iraq, Yemen, and Venezuela. Purpose: The issue of green transition has created new fears for the job market in the fossil fuel economies, where the lives of many people could be mainly affected. This study investigates the macroeconomic challenges of green transition and the macroeconomic consequences that fossil fuel economies will deal with. Methodology: This study follows content analysis and a desk-search review of job loss during the green transition in the context of fossil fuel economies. In addition, the descriptive analysis is just a clear understanding of the fundamental review of the topic that will lead to another cross-country analysis study based on in-depth knowledge and analysing data. Findings: The European Green Deal (EGD) will have profound economic, social, and political implications for fossil fuel-dependent economies for various reasons. First, fossil fuel economies are less diversified; the economy depends on a single commodity; the systems must be developed and people must prepare for a quick economic transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Korea is considered one of the leading countries in innovation and research and development (R&D), in particular in renewable energy R&D efforts, but it is also one of the more polluting countries. So, understanding the interplay between these variables is of great interest. The main objective of this article is to examine the relationship between carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, economic growth (GDP), renewable energy consumption (RE), foreign direct investment (FDI), home patents (HP), and foreign patents (FP) in South Korea using data ranging from 1980 to 2018. For this purpose, the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach and Granger causality tests were employed. Estimates of long-run elasticity point to a positive relationship between GDP and CO2 emissions. FP and RE have a negative influence on CO2 emissions but they have a favorable effect on GDP. FDI and HP have positive impacts on CO2 emissions. Granger causality outcomes demonstrate that CO2 emissions, GDP, RE, and FP have long-term bidirectional causal relationships. In the short-run, there are unidirectional causalities running from FP and FDI to RE and from FDI and HP to GDP. Besides, there is a bidirectional causality between GDP and RE. South Korea should continue to promote renewable energies and facilitate the use of foreign patents, particularly those relating to renewable energies. This will lead to a reduction in its carbon emissions while benefiting its economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topology optimization of structures composed of truss-like members has been shown to produce results that are very close to the theoretical solution. However, solving complex optimization problems based on the traditional orthogonal truss-like material model remains a challenge. This article proposes a unified framework for solving topology optimization problems based on a non-orthogonal truss-like material model. The framework first establishes a new non-orthogonal truss-like material model that considers the stiffness singularity problem. Several strategies for dynamically changing shear stiffness are studied comparatively. Then, a globally convergent moving asymptote method is employed in three numerical examples, including minimum compliance problems under single and multiple load cases, as well as a stress-constrained problem for an L-shaped design domain. Finally, optimal truss-like structures are obtained with the help of a simple post-processing method. Numerical examples demonstrate that the optimization results for the multiple load cases are better than those obtained using traditional methods for minimum compliance problems. The framework can efficiently solve different types of optimization problems in a unified form, which confirms the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates whether technological innovation and the consumption of renewable energy tend to reduce the emissions of CO2 in the USA by analyzing datasets from January 2010 to May 2022. The main contribution to this study is that we applied a cross-quantile approach, which possesses several strengths compared to other methods used for directional predictability. The empirical results of this research can be concluded as three points: (1) both the consumption of renewable energy and technological innovation significantly and negatively impacted the emissions of CO2 in the short run (i.e., 1 month) across high quantiles, which gradually diminished over time (i.e., 3 months, 12 months, and 24 months), implying that technological innovation and the consumption of renewable energy possess a short-lived effect on CO2 emissions, respectively; (2) this relationship remains significant for causal links spanning 1 and 3 months and 1 and 2 years when the consumption of renewable energy and technological innovation are treated as control variables respectively; (3) a recursive cross-quantilogram was constructed to support further our findings, which showed that the consumption of renewable energy and technological innovation tend to negatively impact the emissions of CO2 across all quantiles. These results imply that an increase in the consumption of renewable energy and technological innovation can curb CO2 emissions in the USA; these effects tend to be more lasting when technological innovation and the consumption of renewable energy are combined. Therefore, future policies focused on curbing the emissions of CO2 should pay attention to the combined effect, which is the promotion of technological innovation and the exploitation of renewable energy sources in the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The globe is now in ecological turmoil as a result of the unrelenting increase in global warming. As a result, governments worldwide are committing to decarbonizing the environment, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) playing an important role in this effort. Hence, this paper evaluates the nonlinear (asymmetric) impact of natural gas consumption on renewable energy consumption and economic growth in the KSA and the UAE utilizing data stretching from 1990 to 2020. The study also considers other drivers of renewable energy consumption and economic growth, such as trade openness and CO2 emissions. The study utilizes nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) to evaluate these associations. The outcomes of bounds nonlinear ARDL (NARDL), affirm the long-run association between the variables in both countries. The nonlinear results show that positive and negative shocks in natural gas consumption have a negative impact on renewable energy in both UAE and KSA. In contrast, positive and negative shocks in natural gas consumption impact economic growth positively. The study proposed vital policy recommendations based on these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the global imperative for sustainable energy, understanding the determinants of investments in sustainable utilities becomes crucial. This study focuses on exploring these factors in the context of Mongolia, covering the years 1980 to 2021 and utilizing the autoregressive distributed lag technique. Findings reveal that an increase in the consumer price index has a detrimental impact on investment. Interestingly, the development of information and communication technology shows limited influence on sustainable utilities investments in Mongolia. Conversely, larger economies exhibit a positive correlation, suggesting that they foster more substantial investments in sustainable utilities. Notably, economic risk emerges as a significant factor, negatively affecting investment. This underscores the importance of providing a stable and predictable investment environment. In light of these findings, practical policy recommendations for Mongolia include strategies such as digitalization, the establishment of green financing mechanisms, and the encouragement of public–private partnerships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores sustainable development and achieving net-zero emissions by assessing the impact of solar energy adoption on carbon emissions in 40 high and upper middle-income nations and 22 low and lower middle-income countries from 2000 to 2021. Dynamic GMM analysis reveals substantial potential in mitigating emissions, with a 1% increase in solar energy consumption corresponding to a 0.25% reduction in wealthier nations and a 0.10% reduction in lower-income countries. Green power generation positively influences emission reduction in both income groups. However, challenges arise in the green trade mechanism, where increased solar energy trade paradoxically links to higher CO2 emissions. Promising opportunities for environmental sustainability in high-income economies include prioritizing the development of a digital green finance market. In low-income economies, establishing a regulatory framework for the green finance market is crucial, emphasizing standards, guidelines, responsible lending, and incentives for environmentally friendly projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The notion of energy digital transformation, considered a groundbreaking and sustainable paradigm, has ignited scholarly debates. This study, covering the period from 2000 to 2021, delves into the intricate interplay among legal efficiency, financial development, and energy digital transformation. Employing the dynamic GMM (Generalized Method of Moments) approach, the research reveals compelling insights. A 1% increase in the good governance index corresponds to an approximate 0.57% rise in the volume of smart grid imports. Similarly, a 1% increase in the financial development index is associated with an approximate 0.26% increase in smart grid imports. Furthermore, a 1% increase in gross domestic product correlates with an approximate 0.17% growth in smart grid imports. Conversely, a 1% increase in energy intensity leads to a nearly 0.14% decrease in smart grid imports. The policy implications derived from this study emphasize the importance of directing funds toward smart grid and renewable energy projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of the Next Eleven nations are yet to undergo the renewable energy transition in full swing. Rather, over time, these nations have become even more reliant on fossil fuels. As a result, establishing environmental sustainability is a matter of deep concern for these emerging nations. Against this backdrop, this study assesses the macroeconomic determinants of their annual carbon dioxide emission growth rates considering the period from 1991 to 2020. In a nutshell, the results from the econometric exercises affirm that undergoing renewable energy transition does not inhibit the emission growth rates of the Next Eleven nations unless sound policies are executed for promoting better democratic governance, in tandem. In this regard, improving the state of democratic governance is witnessed to act as a mediating factor between renewable energy transition and lower carbon dioxide emission growth rates. Besides, verifying the pollution haven hypothesis, incoming receipts of foreign direct investment are observed to boost the emission growth figures while liberalizing international trade barriers is found to be ineffective in influencing carbon emission growth rates. Lastly, a complementary relationship between population growth and carbon emission growth rates is affirmed by the results. Hence, considering these above mentioned findings, a set of policies is recommended for enabling the Next Eleven nations to achieve environmental sustainability in due course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employs the CS-ARDL estimator to model the adoption of renewable energy within BRICS nations spanning the period from 1995 to 2021. The key findings reveal that a 1% increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) has a negative impact on green consumption, with approximately a 0.21% decline in the short-term and a 0.48% decrease in the long-term. Furthermore, a 1% increase in GDP leads to a reduction of 0.04% in short-term and 0.12% in long-term green consumption. On a positive note, an augmentation in environmental tax revenues exerts a favorable influence on green consumption, with an increase of about 0.17% in the short-term and 0.20% in the long-term. The presence of a larger green financial market significantly accelerates green consumption. Policy implications encompass strategies such as attracting green FDI, financing environmentally friendly projects, developing digital green financial markets, and expanding trade networks for green utilities with other nations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy is a key source of economic growth because many production and consumption activities involve energy as a basic input hence central to the operation of any modern economy. The study constructs an energy humanization index and forecasts the various dimensions of energy humanization in Ghana by 2030 using the minimum-maximum normalization approach and assigning equal weight to each of the different indicators and dimensions. The forecast ascertains the achievability of SDG 7. Exponential smoothing was also adopted for forecasting future values. The study employed a dataset spanning from 1980 to 2021. The analysis revealed a positive trend in energy humanization, particularly within the dimension of energy usage. However, the energy security dimension presents a mixed picture. While some aspects, such as energy availability, have consistently improved, others like energy acceptability, affordability, and technology application have declined over time. This decline is concerning because of the importance of these dimensions in a comprehensive energy humanization framework. Without significant interventions, these crucial aspects are expected to worsen, potentially undermining the overall progress in energy humanization. The study recommends the implementation of carbon capture by IPPs, the promotion of electric vehicles, and investment in smart technologies in Ghana. Also, the Ministry of Finance must be circumspect in imposing more levies on petroleum products and electricity tariff although it is an inelastic good.

The study aims to analyze and decompose the qualitative parameters of wood chips in Poland. The European Green Deal brings the new framework to support sustainability and elimination of emissions. The Wavelet coherence and Wavelet Discrete Decomposition are used for determination of relations among significant qualitative parameters. Thus, the possible uses are discussed. For the obvious relationship between moisture and calorific value there is evidence of strong correlation. The behaviour of these interrelations are different at frequencies in the long and short time. The wood chip price is inter-transmitter from moisture parameter to calorific value in a positive (in-phase) relationship. At both low and high frequencies there is evidence that the variables of moisture and calorific value are highly correlated. The transient effect of linkage is presented at values between 0.1 and 0.3 in coherence map. The empirical findings provide implication for local producers and policymakers.

The identification of factors influencing the renewable energy stock market has recently received much attention from scholars. While the implications of economic policy uncertainty on renewable energy stock markets have been extensively studied in recent literature, less attention has been paid to climate policy uncertainty. This study adds to the existing body of knowledge by investigating whether the U.S. climate policy uncertainty predicts the return and volatility of five NASDAQ OMX Green Economy indices (fuel cell, wind, solar, developer/operator, and geothermal). The analysis is based on the nonparametric causality-in-quantile test and employs data from November 2010 to August 2022. The findings provide strong evidence of heterogeneous distributional predictability of climate policy uncertainty on the return and volatility of renewable energy stocks, which depends on the renewable energy sector and the market condition. More specifically, climate policy uncertainty does not cause stock returns during extreme downward and/or upward renewable energy market conditions. Additionally, uncertainty cannot predict volatility during the turmoil episodes that occurred in the renewable energy stock market. Further in-depth analysis considering the asymmetry reveals that a decrease (increase) in climate policy uncertainty improves the prediction of renewable energy stock returns (volatility) instead of a decrease (increase). These findings still hold when using a parametric causality-in-quantile test. The findings underscore the critical role of climate policy transparency and sector-specific strategies in reducing uncertainty and encouraging long-term investments in the renewable energy sector.

In today's world, the realm and use of renewable energy in the global economy have increasing importance. In this paper, the nexus between hydropower energy consumption (HEC), financial development (FD), foreign direct investment (FDI), and economic growth (EG) for "newly industrialized countries" in the time period between 1979 and 2020 was investigated using Durbin–Hausman (2008) panel cointegration and Emirmahmutoğlu and Köse (2011) panel causality tests. According to the obtained findings, there was no cointegration or causality found between HEC and the three macroeconomic indicators (FD, FDI, and EG). Accordingly, the neutrality hypothesis has been found to be valid for the studied panels. On the other hand, when the individual test statistics obtained from the causality test were examined, it has been discovered that different hypotheses such as growth, conservation, feedback, and neutrality are valid for countries. The findings offer important findings for the policymakers of countries that will invest in hydropower energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most sub-Saharan African electricity generation is through renewable energy sources. However, the pace of renewable expansion is slow, mirrored by the region's low per capita electric power consumption and electricity access. The study examines the determinants of renewable electricity generation adoption in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries using content description and a panel ARDL analysis. Findings from this study show that hydroelectric power is the long-standing renewable electricity source in the region. The deployment of non-hydro renewable electricity sources is slow despite its vast potential. In most evaluated countries, renewable electricity targets are below actual realization. Also, policies are ineffective in driving renewable electricity adoption, as indicated by the negative relationship between renewable electricity generation and policy enactments in SSA. Foreign direct investment and financial development significantly negatively impact renewable electricity adoption, suggesting that both factors do not expand renewable electricity generation. Feasible strategies for increasing non-hydro renewable electricity use include activating renewable energy support mechanisms and their uptake. In addition, governments in SSA should strengthen their legal and institutional frameworks and encourage lessening bottlenecks and bureaucracies associated with renewable electricity investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses the spatial Bayesian model from 5 regions from 2000 to 2018 to evaluate the spatial panel and hierarchical clustering of regional energy efficiency (EE) in Iran. These findings demonstrate the role of spatial patterns between regional energy efficiency and industrial agglomeration. This has influenced the spatial distribution and energy efficiency performance of Iran’s industries. The empirical findings demonstrate that, based on regional specifications, the administration needs to strategically guide industrial organization to establish within the designated clustering zones. Spatial analyses suggest that industrial agglomeration can enhance regional energy efficiency (EE), although there are noticeable disparities at the regional level. In the eastern region, transportation infrastructure and urbanization positively influence energy efficiency. Findings show that in the central and southern regions, industrial agglomeration has a beneficial effect on boosting EE. In contrast, its effects are less noticeable in the eastern and western regions. Consequently, the industrial agglomeration across the 30 provinces demonstrates a significant spatial correlation with EE. This offers valuable insights for governments when formulating regional industrial policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy is widely acknowledged as an essential response to climate change, which poses a severe threat to humanity and natural ecosystems. Drawing from the greenhouse theory of climate change and the pollution haven hypothesis, this study contributes to the literature by addressing three critical issues. First, we examine the effect of renewable energy on climate risk. Second, we explore the intervening role of foreign direct investment (FDI) on the renewable energy-climate risk nexus. Third, we determine the minimum threshold required for renewable energy to minimise climate risk. The analysis was based on 47 African countries and estimated using the generalised method of moments (GMM) and dynamic panel threshold regression techniques. The GMM technique is essential due to its ability to address endogeneity issues in the model. Also, the dynamic panel threshold technique is employed because it is built on the principles of GMM and provides an estimate of the threshold level and nonlinearities in the model. The empirical evidence presents a significant negative relationship, suggesting that renewable energy minimises the surge in climate risk in Africa. Second, the findings reveal that the weakening effect of renewable energy on climate risk is contingent on FDI. Third, the dynamic panel threshold results demonstrate that the minimum threshold required for renewable energy to reduce climate risk is 56%. Beyond this level, renewable energy presents a significant negative impact, implying that high renewable energy consumption lessens climate risk. Policy recommendations for boosting renewable energy consumption to alleviate climate risk have been provided.

This paper aims to investigate whether China can reduce urban-rural energy inequality during its transition to low-carbon energy. Using data from 30 Chinese provinces between 2006 and 2019, we employ the system generalized method of moments (SYS-GMM) to investigate the correlation between low-carbon energy transition (LET) and urban-rural energy inequality. Furthermore, to investigate the mechanism, this study also considers energy service accessibility and industrial structure upgrading. The results of the study show that the degree of LET in China is increasing but with uneven spatial distribution. Moreover, LET is effective in reducing urban-rural energy inequality in China. Specifically, 1 % increase in LET corresponds to 0.045 % reduction in the urban-rural energy inequality index. Additionally, energy service accessibility and industrial structure upgrading are identified as effective channels for LET to mitigate urban-rural energy inequality. Furthermore, our study demonstrates that the alleviating impact of LET on energy inequality is more significant in regions where LET and urban-rural energy inequality levels are high. Drawing on our research results, we suggest policy recommendations to encourage the adoption of low-carbon energy sources and diminish urban-rural energy inequality.

This study empirically examines the impact of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and clean energy adoption on carbon footprints. With growing concerns over climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the transition to electric vehicles and clean energy sources has gained significant attention as potential solutions. This research investigates the relationship between the adoption of EVs and clean energy technologies and their subsequent effect on carbon footprints. The study applied the Generalised Method Moments (GMM) on the data sourced from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the World Development Indicators (WDI) for the period 2011–2021 covering 27 countries. The findings reveal a strong correlation between the adoption of EVs and reductions in carbon footprints. It shows that a 1 % increase in renewable electricity output would result in a 0.5 % decline in carbon footprints. This implies that, as EV sales increase, the overall carbon emissions from the transportation sector decrease, primarily due to the lower emissions associated with electric vehicles compared to conventional internal combustion engine vehicles. Additionally, the study finds that the integration of clean energy sources into the electricity grid further contributes to carbon footprint reductions. The use of renewable energy in charging EVs minimizes the indirect emissions associated with electricity generation. The research concludes that the widespread adoption of EVs and clean energy sources has the potential to significantly reduce carbon footprints and mitigate the impact of climate change. However, it emphasizes the importance of continued technological advancements, increased availability of charging infrastructure, and supportive government policies to accelerate the transition towards a low-carbon transportation and energy system. Therefore, the study highlights the need for collaborative efforts among governments, industry stakeholders, and individuals to foster sustainable practices and achieve a more environmentally friendly future.

In the recent decade, the topic of environmental sustainability and its determinants has gained the attention of environmental policy analysts and academicians. However, some crucial factors that can affect environmental sustainability have not yet been explored in the literature. In this essence, the current study aims to investigate the mediating impact of energy alternatives on the liaison between inflation rate and environmental quality. The empirical analysis was conducted on 24-years data of BRICS countries ranging from 1997 to 2020. The study employed the DOLS and FMOLS estimation models to run the regression among variables and check the robustness by employing ARDL model. The empirical results first reveal the negative significant effect of the inflation rate on CO2 emissions. In the second channel, the inflation rate has an inverse impact on fossil fuel energy while a direct impact on consumption of renewable energy. Third, fossil fuel energy consumption positively determines the CO2 emissions while renewable energy consumption shows a declining trend with CO2 emissions. Lastly, the empirical analysis confirms the mediating impact of energy alternatives in the nexus between inflation rate and environmental quality. In view of results, the policymakers are directed to utilize the inflation rate and energy alternatives as policy tools for managing the environmental quality. This study implies the innovative intuitions regarding the role of energy alternatives and inflation rate in pollution mitigation.

This article aims to examine the potential relationship between Brent crude oil futures prices and the index of the European renewable energy companies. After the overview of the European legislation and the most recent literature review on the topic, the article deploys a method of the Vector Autoregressive Model (VAR). The analysis includes weekly data over eight years (2015-2022). Our results indicate a positive correlation between Brent crude oil futures prices and the value of the European Renewable Energy Total Return (ERIX) index. The estimated bivariate VAR model indicates a statistically significant relationship, meaning that past values of the ERIX Index may be used to predict future Brent crude oil prices in the long run. Considering the most recent systemic disturbance in the world’s commodity market, future research should consider longer time series and possible relationships of other macroeconomic factors.

The article considers the use of sustainable energy as a potentially effective alternative energy source capable of replacing traditional natural fuels. The aim of the research is to develop a complex model of sustainable economic development able to promote introducing and expanding sustainable power engineering as potential alternative energy source, providing sustainable economic development, energy efficiency and reducing damages to the environment. The hypothesis lies in introduction of a model for sustainable economic development due to expansion of renewable energy which will result in economic growth, rise in energy efficacy and reducing hazards to the environment. A comparative analysis of costs and revenues of various types for using energy sources was carried out to estimate the economic efficiency and feasibility of renewable energy. The data analysis toolkit uses MS Power BI software, in which the data model was created. The conducted regression analysis provided valuable nu-merical and practical results on formation of the model of sustainable economic development of renewable power engineering. The research is based on the analysis of the impact “share of energy” on the level of electric energy import and CO2 emissions. It is recommended to intensify efforts to develop renewable energy as a key direction for sustainable economic development to ensure energy security, reduce negative environmental impact and achieve global sustainable development goals.

Stakeholders and communities' involvement is vital for shaping novel intergenerational resource governance frameworks. This is crucial for modelling upcoming energy transitions towards cleaner and more sustainable production systems. New models envisage energy mixes in which renewable resources are prominent and offer sustainable development advantages. Examining electricity production figures is, hence, necessary to understand trends and formulate policies and actions. This paper aims at drafting the state-of-the-art of electricity production in the Nordic-Baltic Sea area, moving an exploratory regional appraisal. Aggregated and disaggregated data on electricity production sources are explored and compared for all the eleven selected countries—at domestic, sub-regional, and regional levels. The region shows great national diversity, which implies diversified energy policies. Thus, the role of local initiatives—such as power grid implementation—in local communities empowerment is revealed. From this outcome, possible strategies are prescribed locally to assist the regional sustainable energy appraisal and furnish indications for the European energy and ecological transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the effect of a state-level mandate on renewable heating technologies on the housing market. The mandate requires a minimum share of 10% renewable energy sources when changing the heating system in the existing building stock. The mandate could lower the relative price of homes in the existing building stock. We implement a two-stage difference-in-differences nearest neighbor matching approach to identify the effect on prices taking advantage of differences in regulation by location and vintage of the building stock. We find no evidence of a negative effect of the mandate on housing prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the impact of geopolitical risks on renewable energy generation in MENAT oil-importing countries, namely, Egypt, Tunisia, and Turkey over the period 1990–2020 using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model. The main findings emphasize that geopolitical risks play a crucial role in inducing renewable energy development in MENAT oil-importing countries in the short and long run. Financial development appears to positively and significantly affect renewable energy generation in the three countries. Furthermore, the speeds of adjustment towards the long-run equilibrium are 36.78%, 66.03%, and 17.81% annually in Egypt, Tunisia, and Turkey, respectively. In today's volatile and turbulent world, dramatically rising geopolitical risks make the transition to renewable energy an inevitable reality. Consequently, it is incumbent upon policymakers and relevant authorities in MENAT oil-importing countries to preemptively redirect their efforts and strategies to conform to the demands of the inevitable transition to renewable energy sources and boost energy self-reliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing pace of urbanization poses a substantial obstacle to the concurrent progress of both financial and ecological development. Recognizing this challenge, governments globally are formulating cutting-edge strategies for urban renewal to ensure the long-term sustainability of cities. In this context, we employ a difference-in-differences model to scrutinize the intricate relationship between smart cities and the growth of renewable energy, utilizing the Chinese smart city pilot program as a pertinent experiment. This analytical approach provides novel insights into the underlying reasons behind this correlation. The research yields three noteworthy findings. Firstly, it underscores the indispensable role of pilot initiatives in smart cities for advancing the cause of renewable energy. Secondly, the study reveals a positive and beneficial interplay between creativity, economic inclusion, and the utilization of technological innovation in experimental urban programs, suggesting a potential multiplier effect. Thirdly, the local context significantly influences the impact of smart city pilots, with the dissemination of renewable energy being particularly effective in resource-rich, metropolitan, and coastal cities. Observable impacts of current smart city experiment on energy security and sustainable development are already apparent. The research findings contribute fresh perspectives to the complex challenges of sustainable energy production and urban planning, especially in developing countries like China.

Cryptocurrency is rapidly emerging as a prominent player in the global financial system, characterized by its decentralized nature and the absence of centralized government oversight. However, this autonomy raises significant environmental concerns primarily stemming from the energy-intensive mining process. Crypto mining, central to the creation of new coins and transaction validation, results in substantial carbon emissions and energy consumption. This study employs bibliometric analysis using RStudio to scrutinize the data sourced from the Scopus database. Data selection adhered to specific inclusion criteria, focusing on research articles and documents in the English language. Exclusion criteria targeted the elimination of review papers, conference reviews, short surveys, notes, and articles in languages other than English. China emerges as the foremost contributor with a frequency of 348 and a total citation count of 1259, followed by the USA with 594 citations. Notably, the keywords ''blockchain'' and ''bitcoin'' surface most frequently, occurring 293 and 148 times, respectively. The study posits that China's decision to ban cryptocurrency due to economic concerns has likely contributed to heightened global awareness of cryptocurrencies. In contrast, the USA has actively embraced cryptocurrencies, fostering their widespread circulation. Consequently, these two countries have emerged as leading contributors to energy consumption in the cryptocurrency sector. Blockchain, originally a broad concept, has found applications in diverse domains such as marketing, finance, healthcare, supply chain, and the Internet of Things (IoT). This widespread adoption has expanded the scope of energy consumption considerations from cryptocurrencies to encompass blockchain technology as a whole. Future research should focus on mining regulation, alternative mechanisms, renewable energy sources, technological advancements, and carbon offsetting solutions. The article also addresses its limitations and the future scope of the study in detail.

On the way to complying with the 2015 Paris agreements regarding climate change, there are notable differences between the positions of the countries. Even considering the same geographical area such as Europe, the existence of a supranational environmental policy, assumed by the 27 European Union (EU) countries, generates evident differences with neighboring countries that do not belong to this organization. In this paper, 17 indicators related to electricity generation are proposed and, based on the information from the year 2020 of these indicators for 45 European countries, two multivariate techniques are applied with the aim of verifying whether or not such a policy generates similarities and differences between those countries affected by such supranational policy and those who are not obligated to apply it. The initial hypothesis seems to have been fulfilled in part: the non-EU countries have mainly been grouped together, while the members of the EU have separated from them. This result would be in line with the fact that the supranational policy of the EU seems to have the expected effect of homogenizing the countries in terms of the energy variables considered in this analysis.

This paper contributes to mitigating the debate on whether carbon taxes have positive or negative effects on climate change by presenting an investigation on the relationship between carbon taxes and renewable energy consumption. Taking advantage of the panel CS-ARDL model, we distinctly inspect the dynamics of the CO2 tax–renewable energy consumption nexus in both short and long runs, based on a dataset of 39 economies covering 1991–2019. Our findings suggest that in the short run, a CO2 tax initially impedes renewable energy consumption but promotes it in the long run, with more significant effects observed in advanced economies. Additionally, the marginal effect of a CO2 tax on renewable energy consumption is not influenced by its initial level or change direction. In accordance with our findings, we provide several implications for decision-makers.