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15 pages, 505 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards a Green Economy in China? Examining the Impact of the Internet of Things and Environmental Regulation on Green Growth

by Zhang Dong and Sana Ullah

Sustainability 2023, 15(16), 12528; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612528 - 18 Aug 2023

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 1747

Abstract

The idea of green growth stresses the necessity for economic expansion while resolving environmental issues, notably climate change. The Internet of Things (IoT) and environmental regulations have the potential to support green growth. Therefore, this study intends to examine the empirical link between [...] Read more.

The idea of green growth stresses the necessity for economic expansion while resolving environmental issues, notably climate change. The Internet of Things (IoT) and environmental regulations have the potential to support green growth. Therefore, this study intends to examine the empirical link between the IoT, environmental regulations, and green growth in China by utilizing the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) and quantile autoregressive distributed lag (QARDL) methods to analyze data from 1997 to 2021. Data are obtained from reputable local and international sources like the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), World Development Indicators (WDI), the Energy Information Administration (EIA), and the National Bureau of Statistics of China. Findings derived from the baseline ARDL model prove that the IoT, environmental regulations, renewable energy consumption, and research and development (R&D) encourage long-run green growth. Likewise, the robust model also highlights that the internet, environmental policy stringency, renewable energy consumption, and R&D help encourage green growth. In the short run, environmental policy stringency and the internet are favorably linked to green growth in the robust model, and renewable energy consumption is favorably linked to green growth in the baselines model; however, environmental regulation is negatively linked to green growth. The findings from the QARDL analysis show that the impact of the IoT on promoting green growth is significant across all quantiles. On the other hand, the effects of environmental regulation are more pronounced at higher levels of green growth. These findings imply that policymakers should try to increase the role of digitalization in society by promoting the IoT and the internet to decouple economic growth and environmental pollution. Moreover, the digitalization policy should be supported by implementing strict environmental laws and regulations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environment and Sustainable Economic Growth)

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21 pages, 2627 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Unraveling the Interrelationship of Digitalization, Renewable Energy, and Ecological Footprints within the EKC Framework: Empirical Insights from the United States

by Najia Saqib, Ivan A. Duran and Ilhan Ozturk

Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 10663; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310663 - 06 Jul 2023

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 1525

Abstract

The study seeks to better comprehend the ecological footprint of the United States by analyzing the effects of digital financial inclusion (FinTech) as well as renewable and non-renewable energy usage. Data from 2005 Q1 to 2020 Q4 were analyzed using the quantile autoregressive [...] Read more.

The study seeks to better comprehend the ecological footprint of the United States by analyzing the effects of digital financial inclusion (FinTech) as well as renewable and non-renewable energy usage. Data from 2005 Q1 to 2020 Q4 were analyzed using the quantile autoregressive lag (QARDL) method. It also used Granger causality in quantiles to analyze the correlation between variables and draw conclusions about their relative importance. Quantile-wise, the error correction parameter is statistically significant with the predicted negative sign, as shown by the results obtained using the QARDL method. Indications are mounting that the relationship between these variables and the United States’ ecological footprint is returning to its long-term equilibrium. However, in the long/short-run period, across all quantiles, economic growth and consumption of non-renewable energy have a positive impact on the ecological footprint. The environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) theory was also examined, which holds that an inverted U-shaped link exists between economic growth and environmental degradation. The QARDL study’s findings corroborated the presence of an EKC in the US, lending credence to the theory that while economic growth at first promotes environmental deterioration, further progress ultimately promotes environmental improvement. The study additionally checked the results of the QARDL test for robustness using the ARDL approach. Recommendations for public policy are included in the paper for consideration by legislators and policymakers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environment and Sustainable Economic Growth)

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18 pages, 2367 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Urban Sustainability Based on Transportation and Green Spaces: The Case of Limassol, Cyprus

by Olivia Psara, Fernando Fonseca, Olympia Nisiforou and Rui Ramos

Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 10563; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310563 - 04 Jul 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1641

Abstract

Promoting urban sustainability has been on the agenda of researchers, planners, and policymakers. This paper uses quantitative and qualitative approaches to evaluate the sustainability of the Cypriot city of Limassol through transportation and green spaces indicators. The quantitative approach relies on a geostatistical [...] Read more.

Promoting urban sustainability has been on the agenda of researchers, planners, and policymakers. This paper uses quantitative and qualitative approaches to evaluate the sustainability of the Cypriot city of Limassol through transportation and green spaces indicators. The quantitative approach relies on a geostatistical evaluation of six indicators to describe the transportation sector and the proximity and provision of urban green spaces. The qualitative approach is based on a questionnaire (N = 387) conducted in the city. Results showed that car trips represent more than 90% of the modal share, and around 90% of the city’s transportation infrastructure is designed for cars. In terms of urban green spaces, only 5% of the areas with the highest population density are within 300 m of a green space > 2 ha. The questionnaire confirmed that 71% of the residents are not satisfied with the conditions provided by the city to walk and cycle, while 76% are not satisfied with the green spaces available in the city. This study contributes to informing planners and decision-makers about the need to promote walking, cycling, and greening policies to make Limassol and other similar cities more sustainable. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environment and Sustainable Economic Growth)

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18 pages, 334 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Financial Agglomeration and the Impact of Environmental Regulation on the Efficiency of the Green Economy: Fresh Evidence from 30 Regions in China

by Ran Wang and Rong Wang

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7226; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097226 - 26 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 790

Abstract

This research measures the green economic efficiency (GEE) of 30 regions in China from 2009 to 2021 and verifies the financial agglomeration and environmental regulation impacts on GEE with the Tobit model. The conclusions are as follows: (1) The average GEE value in [...] Read more.

This research measures the green economic efficiency (GEE) of 30 regions in China from 2009 to 2021 and verifies the financial agglomeration and environmental regulation impacts on GEE with the Tobit model. The conclusions are as follows: (1) The average GEE value in China is 0.596—which is still at a low level—and is highest in the eastern region and lowest in the western region. (2) Financial agglomeration can promote GEE in the whole country, in both the eastern and western regions; however, the western region effect is very low. In the central region, due to the “siphon effect” produced by the eastern region, the financial resources concentrated in the east thus suppress GEE. Environmental regulation inhibits GEE nationally and in the western region while showing a promotion effect in the eastern and central regions, but it is not significant in the central region. (3) Industrial structures inhibit GEE nationally and in the central and western regions, while industrial structures promote GEE in the eastern region; the GDP (gross domestic product) per capita also inhibits GEE nationally and in the central and western regions and promotes GEE in the eastern region. Government intervention inhibits green economic development in all regions, and urbanization inhibits GEE nationally and in the central and western regions while promoting GEE in the eastern region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environment and Sustainable Economic Growth)

22 pages, 2830 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Climate Change on Economic Growth: A Perspective of the Heterogeneous Climate Regions in Africa

by Yubin Zhao and Shuguang Liu

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7136; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097136 - 24 Apr 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2313

Abstract

Climate change is a negative global externality that threatens economic growth. In our study, we firstly reviewed the transmission mechanisms of climate change affecting economic growth based on existing literature. Secondly, we respectively used the fixed effect method and the panel vector autoregression [...] Read more.

Climate change is a negative global externality that threatens economic growth. In our study, we firstly reviewed the transmission mechanisms of climate change affecting economic growth based on existing literature. Secondly, we respectively used the fixed effect method and the panel vector autoregression method to test the short-run and long-run effects of climate change on the economic growth of 44 countries in six climatic zones in Africa, from 2000 to 2019. The results showed that temperature has inverted U-shaped effects on the economic growth of countries in tropical rainforest and tropical dry climate zones, but a U-shaped effect in warm temperate humid regions. The heterogeneity test was based on industrial and geographical perspectives. Climate change has a significant inverted U-shaped effect on agricultural and services output in tropical rainforest and tropical dry climate zones. Moreover, climate change positively impacts economic growth in coastal regions, but has no significant impact on inland countries. Lastly, the long-run results indicate that tropical rainforest and subtropical humid regions show a greater ability to adapt to climate change, while tropical desert regions show greater volatility resilience in response to climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environment and Sustainable Economic Growth)

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14 pages, 725 KiB

Open AccessArticle

China’s Pathway to a Low Carbon Economy: Exploring the Influence of Urbanization on Environmental Sustainability in the Digital Era

by Yan Lv, Weisong Li, Yawen Xu and Muhammad Tayyab Sohail

Sustainability 2023, 15(8), 7000; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15087000 - 21 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1326

Abstract

To protect the environment from any further damage, the implementation of the “smart cities” strategy supported by information and communication technologies (ICTs) is the need of the hour. Hence, this study estimates the impact of ICT and urbanization on environmental sustainability in China [...] Read more.

To protect the environment from any further damage, the implementation of the “smart cities” strategy supported by information and communication technologies (ICTs) is the need of the hour. Hence, this study estimates the impact of ICT and urbanization on environmental sustainability in China using the novel quantile autoregressive distributed lag (QARDL) method. The results of the QARDL model state the negative and significant impact of ICT on CO₂ emissions in China for all quantiles, implying that an increase in ICT proved to be an important factor in improving environmental quality. In contrast, the estimated coefficients of urbanization are positively significant for all quantiles. This finding sustains the idea that large-scale urbanization is detrimental to the environment because the process of urbanization is among the leading sources of carbon emissions. In the short run, the negative impact of ICT on CO₂ emissions can only be seen in higher quantiles, while the positive impact of urbanization on CO₂ emissions is confirmed for all quantiles. Lastly, the asymmetric impact of ICT and urbanization is confirmed in the short and long run with the help of Wald tests. The ICT diffusion and smart urbanization approach can help in attaining environmental sustainability targets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environment and Sustainable Economic Growth)

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20 pages, 3196 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Spatiotemporal Measurement of Coordinated Development of Resource-Environment-Economy Based on Empirical Analysis from China’s 30 Provinces

by Hongqiang Wang, Xiaochang Lu, Qiujing Guo and Yingjie Zhang

Sustainability 2023, 15(8), 6995; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086995 - 21 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1173

Abstract

The coordinated development of resource–environment–economy is the strategic choice to realize sustainable development. To explore the historical pattern of the coordinated development of resource–environment–economy, showing the logic of the spatiotemporal evolution of the system in China, this paper conducts a measurement study. Based [...] Read more.

The coordinated development of resource–environment–economy is the strategic choice to realize sustainable development. To explore the historical pattern of the coordinated development of resource–environment–economy, showing the logic of the spatiotemporal evolution of the system in China, this paper conducts a measurement study. Based on the actual data of 30 provinces in China from 2005 to 2019, the paper constructs an evaluation index system for the coordinated development of resource–environment–economy and establishes a coupling coordination degree (CCD) model and a spatial autocorrelation analysis model. The results show that the mean value of the coupled coordination of the three systems (resource–environment–economy) gradually increased from the stage of near dissonance (0.479) in 2005 to the stage of good coordination (0.853) in 2019. The global Moran’s I was 0.349, indicating that there is a certain spatial aggregation of resource–environment–economy at the province level. Coastal areas have a higher degree, while inland areas have a lower degree. In the spatial correlation analysis, the resource–environment–economy coupling coordination degree of 30 provinces in China is significantly positively correlated. Low–low clusters are found mainly in the Northwest (e.g., Xinjiang, Qinghai). Furthermore, the findings provide some targeted international recommendations. Relevant policies should encourage sustainable development and promote green transformation of industrial structure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environment and Sustainable Economic Growth)

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14 pages, 495 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Socioeconomic Productive Capacity and Renewable Energy Development: Empirical Insights from BRICS

by Biqing Li, Qiuting Liu, Yuming Li and Shiyong Zheng

Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 5986; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075986 - 30 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1142

Abstract

Due to the depletion of fossil fuels, empirics began looking at the factors that might encourage investment in renewable energy. Socioeconomic productivity can encourage renewable energy development by encouraging authorities, businesses, and families to rely more on renewable energy sources. Therefore, this analysis [...] Read more.

Due to the depletion of fossil fuels, empirics began looking at the factors that might encourage investment in renewable energy. Socioeconomic productivity can encourage renewable energy development by encouraging authorities, businesses, and families to rely more on renewable energy sources. Therefore, this analysis is the first-ever effort to detect the impact of socioeconomic productivity on renewable energy development. We have used the panel ARDL and QARDL to examine the estimates. The results of the panel ARDL model predict that national income, financial development, productive capacity index, human capital, ICT, institutional quality, and structural changes are beneficial for renewable energy development in the long run. In the short run, only financial development, productive capacity index, human capital, and ICT promote renewable energy development. Likewise, the panel QARDL model estimates that the national income, financial development, and productive capacity index promote renewable energy development in the long run. However, in the short run, only the productive capacity index and financial development promote renewable energy development. Therefore, by integrating productive assets, entrepreneurial skills, and industrial connections, policymakers must work to boost the productive socioeconomic potential. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environment and Sustainable Economic Growth)

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13 pages, 524 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Examining the Effect of Privatization on Renewable Energy Consumption in the Digital Economy under Economic Patriotism: A Nonlinear Perspective

by Jianjun Kang and Delin Huang

Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 5864; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075864 - 28 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1630

Abstract

This study is an effort to investigate the asymmetric effects of privatization and the digital economy on renewable energy consumption. The nonlinear quantile autoregressive distributed lag (QARDL) technique is used to estimate short and long-run analysis. Findings of the nonlinear QARDL model posit [...] Read more.

This study is an effort to investigate the asymmetric effects of privatization and the digital economy on renewable energy consumption. The nonlinear quantile autoregressive distributed lag (QARDL) technique is used to estimate short and long-run analysis. Findings of the nonlinear QARDL model posit that the long-run positive shock in privatization promotes renewable energy consumption by increasing renewable energy consumption, while the long-run negative shock in privatization demotes renewable energy consumption by reducing renewable energy consumption. In the short run, the positive shock of privatization does not significantly impact renewable energy consumption, while the negative shock of privatization reduces renewable energy consumption. Moreover, information and communications technology (ICT), economic development, and financial development increase renewable energy consumption in the long run; however, in the short-run only financial development helps increase renewable energy consumption. The Wald test confirms the asymmetric impact of privatization on renewable energy consumption only in the long run. Based on these results, policymakers should thus take into account both positive and negative shocks in privatization when developing policies to encourage pro-environmental behavior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environment and Sustainable Economic Growth)

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12 pages, 272 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Investment, Technological Progress, and Green Industrial Development: Implications for Sustainable Development

by Mingwen Chen, RongJia Chen, Shiyong Zheng and Biqing Li

Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3808; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043808 - 20 Feb 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2487

Abstract

Environmental reformation of old-fashioned sectors and the establishment of new pro-ecological businesses via green investment are the main driving forces behind the revolution in the Chinese industrial sector. Green investment aids in the growth of environmentally friendly industries. Hence, the primary objective of [...] Read more.

Environmental reformation of old-fashioned sectors and the establishment of new pro-ecological businesses via green investment are the main driving forces behind the revolution in the Chinese industrial sector. Green investment aids in the growth of environmentally friendly industries. Hence, the primary objective of the analysis is to investigate the impact of green investment and technological progress on green industrial development. The results of the unit root tests encourage us to apply the ARDL model. The short and long-run estimates attached to R&D expenditures are positively significant, confirming that increasing R&D expenditures help improve the industrial structure. Similarly, the short and long-run estimates attached to green finance investment are positively significant, signifying that green investment benefits the industrial structure. Empirical findings show that technology significantly aggravates industrial structure development in only the long run. Thus, for green industrial development in China, there is a need to increase green investment and technological development up to top-level design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environment and Sustainable Economic Growth)

21 pages, 1782 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Factors of Green Finance to Achieve Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality Targets in China: A Delphi and Fuzzy AHP Approach

by Chaofeng Li, Yasir Ahmed Solangi and Sharafat Ali

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2721; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032721 - 02 Feb 2023

Cited by 40 | Viewed by 3474

Abstract

Green finance (GF) is a vital strategy implemented by China to minimize carbon emissions to achieve targets of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. Thus, the objective of this study is to reduce carbon emissions by developing green finance practices in China. This study [...] Read more.

Green finance (GF) is a vital strategy implemented by China to minimize carbon emissions to achieve targets of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. Thus, the objective of this study is to reduce carbon emissions by developing green finance practices in China. This study identifies, evaluates, and ranks the factors and sub-factors of green finance because it is the core issue for sustainable development. In this regard, this study utilizes the Delphi and fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) method to analyze the main factors and sub-factors of green finance. The Delphi method finalizes the 6 factors and 26 sub-factors after a thorough investigation. The FAHP method was used to assess and rank the identified factors and sub-factors of green finance. The findings show that the political (POF) is the most crucial factor of green finance in the Chinese economy. The economic (ECF) and environmental (ENF) factors are ranked second and third important factors. The further results of the FAHP reveal that ecological and political identification (POF1), political stability (POF3), and climate commitments (POF2) are the top-ranked sub-factors of green finance. The results specify that green finance development is a very crucial strategy to minimize carbon emissions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environment and Sustainable Economic Growth)

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23 pages, 978 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Implications of Food Security on Sustainability: Do Trade Facilitation, Population Growth, and Institutional Quality Make or Mar the Target for SSA?

by Ridwan Lanre Ibrahim, Usama Al-Mulali, Kazeem Bello Ajide, Abubakar Mohammed and Mamdouh Abdulaziz Saleh Al-Faryan

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2089; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032089 - 22 Jan 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2307

Abstract

This study examines the impactful role played by trade facilitation (TF) in promoting or hindering food security in a panel of 34 sub-Saharan countries for the period 2005–2019. The empirical evidence is based on the Two-Step Dynamic System Generalized Method of Moments estimator, [...] Read more.

This study examines the impactful role played by trade facilitation (TF) in promoting or hindering food security in a panel of 34 sub-Saharan countries for the period 2005–2019. The empirical evidence is based on the Two-Step Dynamic System Generalized Method of Moments estimator, employed to account for econometric concerns bothering on unobserved heterogeneity and potential endogeneity inherent in the variables used. The empirical findings show that the nature of TF procedures, which are inefficient, negatively impact food security in SSA. These effects are evident on the availability and accessibility dimensions of food security as well as their composite index. While it is noted that this result runs counter to the established a priori of positive signs on the one hand, it however portrays the reality of the economic phenomenon in SSA on the other/hand. In balance, the present TF regime can best be described as anti-food security as suggested by the prevailing burdensome procedures involved in exporting and importing staple food items. The functional roles of population growth and institutional quality are empirically enhanced divergently. Going forward, we recommend that for food sufficiency and Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved quickly, governments within the region would need to finetune the underlying modalities of the present TF regime Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environment and Sustainable Economic Growth)

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22 pages, 974 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Coupling Coordination and Spatial Correlation of Logistics Industry and Regional Economy in the Context of Sustainable Development: Evidence from the Yangtze River Delta Region

by Jinde Jiang, Xiaobo Wang, Guoyin Xu, Shuhua Jiang, Jing Gu and Jing Zhang

Sustainability 2023, 15(2), 992; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15020992 - 05 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1256

Abstract

As the economy develops, the level of logistics required means many activities become increasingly dependent on transportation, which leads to the deterioration of the ecological environment, aggravates air pollution, causes urban traffic jams, and has a negative influence on sustainable development. Therefore, in [...] Read more.

As the economy develops, the level of logistics required means many activities become increasingly dependent on transportation, which leads to the deterioration of the ecological environment, aggravates air pollution, causes urban traffic jams, and has a negative influence on sustainable development. Therefore, in the context of sustainable development, how to coordinate the development of the logistics industry and regional economy has become a governmental and academic focus. The coupling coordination degree model and spatial autocorrelation analysis model were applied to empirically analyze the coupling and coordination of the logistics industry and economy in each city in YRDR and the relationship of mutual influence. The research results show that, for economically developed cities, economic development had more influence on the coupled and coordinated degree of the two, and for the less developed cities, the development of logistics drove the improvement of the coupled and coordinated degree of the two. The analysis of the Anhui Province showed that the coupling and coordination degree of its own logistics industry and economy was driven by strong radiation, and the impact on that degree of the logistics industry and economy of cities in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai was not significant. The development of the coupling and coordination degree of the two variables of cities in Jiangsu Province was more balanced. The divergence degree of that of the logistics industry and economy of cities in Zhejiang Province exhibited a tendency to increase, and the divergence mainly came from the endogenous development of each city. The variability was mainly due to the endogenous dynamics of each city’s development. Finally, suggestions for the coordinated and sustainable development of the logistics industry and regional economy are provided. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environment and Sustainable Economic Growth)

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18 pages, 308 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Role of Educational Human Capital and Green Finance in Total-Factor Energy Efficiency in the Context of Sustainable Development

by Wenxuan Ma

Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 429; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010429 - 27 Dec 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2351

Abstract

The problem of lower total-factor energy efficiency (TFEE) has become a bottleneck for economic growth, and how to break this bottleneck and achieve high-quality development is one of the urgent issues to be solved nowadays. The study selects 30 provincial units in mainland [...] Read more.

The problem of lower total-factor energy efficiency (TFEE) has become a bottleneck for economic growth, and how to break this bottleneck and achieve high-quality development is one of the urgent issues to be solved nowadays. The study selects 30 provincial units in mainland China during 13 years, from 2008 to 2020; then adopts slack-based measure (SBM) method to measure the TFEE values of each province; and on this basis, finally explores the impact of educational human capital and green finance on regional TFEE in China; It concludes as follows: (1) The average value of TFEE in China is 0.776, which is at a lower level, and TFEE shows a gradual increase during the study period; the mean value decreases from east to west in descending order. (2) Educational human capital’s impact on the TFEE of the whole country and all regions is negative, and it does not show a significant U-shaped relationship; the effect of eastern region is the smallest; green finance’s impact on TFEE shows a U-shaped relationship, except in eastern regions, where it is not significant; and the coefficient of the central region is stronger. (3) Environmental regulation’s impact on TFEE show a U-shaped relationship in all regions; science and technology investment can improve TFEE all regions; and in the eastern region, it is most significant. Industrial structure is positively correlated with TFEE in all regions, and it has the most obvious effect on the improvement of TFEE in the central region; economic development can promote TFEE in all regions. This research has important theoretical implications for achieving regional TFEE improvement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environment and Sustainable Economic Growth)

17 pages, 516 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does Green Finance and Water Resource Utilization Efficiency Drive High-Quality Economic Development?

by Rong Wang, Fayuan Wang and Fan Bie

Sustainability 2022, 14(23), 15733; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142315733 - 25 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1435

Abstract

Achieving the improvement of water resource efficiency is the common key foundation for the country to promote the adjustment of the energy structure, promote the development of low-carbon technology and environmental protection, cope with global climate change, and achieve the strategic goal of [...] Read more.

Achieving the improvement of water resource efficiency is the common key foundation for the country to promote the adjustment of the energy structure, promote the development of low-carbon technology and environmental protection, cope with global climate change, and achieve the strategic goal of “carbon peaking and carbon neutralization”. The study explores the role of green finance and water resource utilization efficiency in high-quality economic development (HQED). The development index of resource utilization efficiency constructs an indicator system of HQED from three dimensions of HQED capability, structure, and benefit, constructs a spatial lag model, introduces a nested matrix, and empirically studies their spatial effect. The mediating effect of water resource utilization efficiency was verified using the mediating effect model. According to the empirical analysis, the results are as follows: (1) green finance and water resource utilization efficiency are important influencing factors for promoting HQED, and green finance can promote HQED with direct short-term effects but no direct effects in the long term; (2) the short-term direct effect of water resource utilization efficiency can also improve HQED and has no effect in the long term; (3) the short-term effect of the interaction term of green finance and water resource utilization efficiency exists as a negative effect, but the long-term, indirect, and total effect cannot affect HQED; (4) green finance and water resource utilization efficiency show no spatial effect on HQED; green finance has an incomplete intermediary role in promoting HQED. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environment and Sustainable Economic Growth)

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27 pages, 903 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigating the Mediating Roles of Income Level and Technological Innovation in Africa’s Sustainability Pathways Amidst Energy Transition, Resource Abundance, and Financial Inclusion

by Ridwan Lanre Ibrahim, Usama Al-Mulali, Kazeem Bello Ajide, Abubakar Mohammed and Fatimah Ololade Bolarinwa

Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 12212; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912212 - 26 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1344

Abstract

The global environment faces the issue of sustainability arising from the persistent growth rates in general production levels. Hence, there is the need to resolve the growth environment conflicts in order to enhance the sustainability of the current and future generations. This study [...] Read more.

The global environment faces the issue of sustainability arising from the persistent growth rates in general production levels. Hence, there is the need to resolve the growth environment conflicts in order to enhance the sustainability of the current and future generations. This study presents the first empirical analysis on the dynamic impacts of non-renewable and renewable energy, total resource rents, population growth, human capital, and financial inclusion on environmental quality in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with the conditioning roles of technological progress and income level. The empirical evidence is based on a two-step system generalized method of moments (SYS-GMM) with forward orthogonal deviations for 42 countries in the SSA region from 2004 to 2018. The following results are established from the empirical analyses. First, renewable energy emerges as a promoter of environmental quality through its reducing impacts on carbon emissions per capita (co2pc). Second, other regressors turn out to impede environmental quality by contributing to the surge in co2pc. Third, the robustness checks analyses, which consider different variants of carbon emissions as outcome variables, revealing that the main results are robust and empirically supported to explain the variations in the level of pollutants in the region. Fourth, the impacts of technological progress from both direct (unconditional) and interactive (conditional) angles mitigate co2pc while income promotes it. On the policy front, promoting investment in renewable energy and structuring human capital development plans to promote green growth are seen as sacrosanct towards achieving a sustainable environment in the region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environment and Sustainable Economic Growth)

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Review

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19 pages, 297 KiB

Open AccessReview

Review of Models for and Socioeconomic Approaches to the Formation of Foresight Control Mechanisms: A Genesis

by Anatoliy Alabugin, Sergei Aliukov and Tatyana Khudyakova

Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 11932; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141911932 - 21 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1173

Abstract

The study of a genesis is determined by the needs when designing the processes of high-tech development. This is performed taking the knowledge-intensive factors of a large knowledge economy into account under conditions of environmental uncertainty. An increase in the number of publications [...] Read more.

The study of a genesis is determined by the needs when designing the processes of high-tech development. This is performed taking the knowledge-intensive factors of a large knowledge economy into account under conditions of environmental uncertainty. An increase in the number of publications on the regulation of imbalances in the goals of innovation and efficiency that objectively arise in the processes of such development has been revealed. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to analyze models and socioeconomic approaches for the integration of mechanisms for foreseeing and controlling the development goals of enterprises in the processes of their genesis. This led to the improvement of the theory and the development of new methodologies, models, and methods for improving the quality of the management of the innovative development of enterprises according to sustainability criteria. Therefore, an analysis of textual sources was carried out, as it is crucial to understand various text-processing approaches to optimize the forecasting of long-term goals. An attempt was made to apply methods for assessing the quality of proposals available in the literature by a number of authors to summarize and discuss the current text-based socioeconomic advances in the aspect of forming a unified mechanism for improving the quality of governance. The properties of the monitoring of the factors of the knowledge economy and the strategic planning of development goals were analyzed. The quality of proposals was assessed in a procedure, and a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of scientific approaches was conducted. This made it possible to determine the correspondence of approaches to the development of theories and new methodologies for the integration–balancing management of the integration and combination of resources by using a foresight-controlling mechanism. Moreover, this study also determines the prospects of the analyzed areas of socioeconomic research and project development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environment and Sustainable Economic Growth)

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