Pollutant emission effect of tourism, real income, energy utilization, and urbanization in OECD countries: a panel quantile approach

Dynamic nonlinear CO2 emission effects of urbanization routes in the eight most populous countries

A dynamic STIRPAT model used in the current study is based on panel data from the eight most populous countries from 1975 to 2020, revealing the nonlinear effects of urbanization routes (percentage of total urbanization, percentage of small cities and percentage of large cities) on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Using "Dynamic Display Unrelated Regression (DSUR)" and "Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS)" regressions, the outcomes reflect that percentage of total urbanization and percentage of small cities have an incremental influence on carbon dioxide emissions. However, square percentage of small cities and square percentage of total urbanization have significant adverse effects on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The positive relationship between the percentage of small cities, percentage of total urbanization and CO2 emissions and the negative relationship between the square percentage of small cities, square percentage of total urbanization and CO2 emissions legitimize the inverted U-shaped EKC hypothesis. The impact of the percentage of large cities on carbon dioxide emissions is significantly negative, while the impact of the square percentage of large cities on carbon dioxide emissions is significantly positive, validating a U-shaped EKC hypothesis. The incremental effect of percentage of small cities and percentage of total urbanization on long-term environmental degradation can provide support for ecological modernization theory. Energy intensity, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), industrial growth and transport infrastructure stimulate long-term CO2 emissions. Country-level findings from the AMG estimator support a U-shaped link between the percentage of small cities and CO2 emissions for each country in the entire panel except the United States. In addition, the Dumitrescu and Hulin causality tests yield a two-way causality between emission of carbon dioxide and squared percentage of total urbanization, between the percentage of the large cities and emission of carbon dioxide, and between energy intensity and emission of carbon dioxide. This study proposes renewable energy options and green city-friendly technologies to improve the environmental quality of urban areas.

Demystifying the association between economic development, transportation, tourism, renewable energy, and ecological footprint in Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation region during globalization mode

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) economies have yet to meaningfully contribute to accomplishing Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 7) affordable and clean energy, (SDG 8) decent work and economic growth, and (SDG 13) climate action. Dealing with this issue might require a shift or alteration of policy framework that is the major theme of this study. Consequently, this present research inspects the influence of economic growth, transportation, tourism sector development, and renewable energy on ecological footprint using panel time series from 1990 and 2019 for the BIMSTEC region. To evaluate this dynamic nexus between the mentioned environmental pollution drivers of ecological footprint, this study employed the augumented mean group (AMG) and common correlated effect mean group (CCEMG) regression estimators after detection of cross-sectional dependency. The empirical outcomes denote that economic growth and transportation sector of BIMSTEC countries increase the levels of ecological footprint. Conversely, tourism sector development, globalization, and renewable energy protect the ecological excellence in the region. Moreover, it is observed that a unidirectional causality exists from economic growth to ecological footprint, ecological footprint to transportation, tourism to ecological footprint, and globalization to ecological footprint, while bidirectional causality exists between renewable energy and ecological footprint. By observing the positive function of tourism, green energy, and globalization on sustainable environment progress, central authorities are capable to redesign policies concerning supportable efficient technologies and regulate globalization towards green programs and agenda to reduce global warming.

Environmental quality outlook of the leading oil producers and urbanized African states

This study seeks to explore the links between energy consumption and environmental quality in the wake of rapid urbanization in Africa with empirical insights from the cases of Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Algeria, Angola, Egypt, and South Africa. These countries aside from being among the largest economies; are also among the leading energy producers and the most urbanized economies that emit the most carbon dioxide on the continent. Based on the Pooled Mean Group (PMG) panel ARDL estimator, the dynamics nexus between the variables was estimated vis-à-vis the short-run and long-run coefficients using relevant sample data between 1990 and 2015. The study further examines the channels of causality between the variables while also testing for the validity of the popular Environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis for the panel of countries. The results confirm that the rising level of energy use significantly exacerbates the level of carbon emission among the countries in the study while growing urbanization significantly creates a negative impact on carbon emission. In addition, an increase in per capita income improves the environmental quality but the doubling of income per capita triggers environmental degradation, thus invalidating the EKC hypothesis in the examined panel economies. In essence, these countries have not reached the supposed turning point at which income growth can yield desirable emission mitigation effects. Following the findings, essential recommendations are provided for policymakers in the main text.

Research in tourism sustainability: A comprehensive bibliometric analysis from 1990 to 2022

Although multiple bibliometric studies have been conducted to analyze publications on various topics within tourism, little attention has been dedicated to systematically analyzing scholarly production on the topic of tourism sustainability. Consequently, this paper aims to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric and systematic review of tourism sustainability. The collected data include 6326 publications retrieved from the Scopus database. The bibliometric technique consists of two major analyses: one on the domain (levels of analysis) and one on knowledge structures. The results indicated a remarkable evolution of tourism sustainability research involving authors, sources, and publications on this subject. Several associations and nations made significant contributions to this theme. Moreover, science mapping approaches were used to thoroughly grasp tourism sustainability-related research's social, intellectual, and conceptual structure. By giving in-depth overviews and insights connected to tourism sustainability and its knowledge structures, this review article has various implications for scientific study and practice.

Assessing the human development aspects of CO, PM2.5, PM10, NOX, and SO2 in the United States

Exploring the effect of environmental pollution on human development does not only afford the opportunity to show how human health is impacted, it further exposes the role of environmental pollution in humans' knowledge development and living standard. To shed lighter on this perspective, we consider environmental aspects of human development by employing the national air quality standards of United States Environmental Protection Agency which outlines the main environmental pollutants (carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, particulate matters less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5), particulate matters less than 10 μm (PM10)). By using series of empirical techniques for the United States' dataset that covers the period 1990-2019, the investigation revealed that economic performance improves human development (with elasticity relationship) while the square of economic performance causes a declining effect (inelasticity not more than 0.7). Thus, the relationship suggests a vicious and virtuous cycle scenarios that is characterized by economic performance threshold. Moreover, except for PM10, the examined environmental pollutants hamper human development aspects. To provide a robust perspective, a frequency domain Granger causality approach further revealed causative only from economic performance, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, PM2.5, and PM10 to human development largely in the long-run at varying frequencies. Meanwhile, human development Granger causes nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide in the short-run and long-run respectively at different frequency magnitudes. By implication, the result of the study further highlights the criticality of sustainable development and the complexity associated with economic expansion amidst environmental factors.

Longitudinal Analysis of Sustainable Tourism Potential of the Black Sea Riparian States Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey

The three states that border the Black Sea benefit from an important potential for tourism and consider the development of this sector to be a major objective. Nonetheless, they face environmental risks. Tourism does not have a neutral impact on the ecosystem. We evaluated tourism sustainability for three states bordering the Black Sea, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey. We used a longitudinal data analysis applied to five variables for the period between 2005 and 2020. The data were taken from the World Bank website. The results show that tourism receipts significantly influence the environment. For all three countries, the total receipts from international tourism are unsustainable, while the receipts for travel items are sustainable. Sustainability factors are different for each country. The international tourism expenditures for Bulgaria, the total receipts for Romania and the receipts for travel items for Turkey are sustainable. In Bulgaria, the receipts from international tourism contribute to higher greenhouse gas emissions, i.e., negative environmental impact. In Romania and Turkey, the number of arrivals has the same impact. No sustainable tourism model could be identified for the three countries. Tourism activity was found to be sustainable only due to the receipts for travel items, that is, indirectly, from tourism-related activities.

Revival of sun-and-beach tourism through the lens of regulatory and risk dimensions of environmental sustainability

Environmental sustainability is essential in tourism literature, and sun-and-beach tourism (SBT) is one of the most popular subsections of the tourism field. The appropriate policies and strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic to revive SBT growth through the lens of the regulatory dimension (RED) and risk dimension (RID) of environmental sustainability are gaining timely ground to conduct this research. The current study examined the nexus between SBT, RED, and RID utilizing three novel indexes (i.e., weighted sun-and-beach tourism index, weighted regulatory dimension index, and weighted risk dimension index) by employing the principal component analysis within the framework of six stages of empirical estimation strategy. These three novel indexes combine the most commonly used SBT, RED, and RID indicators. This research tested the CSD and homogeneous, then employed the second generation CIPS-CADF panel unit root test, used an AMG estimator, and employed the panel Toda-Yamamoto (PTY) causality test. The findings revealed that the RED positively influences SBT while the RID mitigates SBT. Results also indicate bidirectional causality between SBT, RID, and RED. In other words, changes in RID and RED have predictive power for the SBT, which further highlights the role of SBT on the RID and RED. Therefore, concerned authorities can focus on environmental sustainability design initiatives and appropriate policy/strategy implications to boost SBT.

Sanitation, water, energy use, and traffic volume affect environmental quality: Go-for-green developmental policies

Carbon emissions are primarily the result of human activity in urban areas. Inadequate sanitary facilities, contaminated drinking water, nonrenewable energy, and high traffic congestion have all impacted the natural ecosystem. Using data from 1975 to 2019, the study assessed the impact of the aforementioned variables on Pakistan’s carbon emissions in light of this crucial fact. The ARDL cointegration method was used to estimate the short- and long-run parameter estimates. Urban sanitation challenges and energy consumption increase carbon emissions, which affects the natural environment by raising a country’s carbon intensity. Economic expansion confirmed the inverted U-shaped relationship between carbon emissions and economic growth to verify the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis in the long run. In contrast, the monotonically rising function of carbon emissions provides evidence of the nation’s economic development in the short run. Access to clean drinking water improves population health and encourages the purchase of eco-friendly products. The government must improve sanitation services and use renewable energy sources to enhance air quality.

Policy insight from renewable energy, foreign direct investment (FDI), and urbanization towards climate goal: insight from Indonesia

This study is premised on Indonesia's climate goal amidst good economic performance. To test the environmental implication of this macroeconomic performance of Indonesia, we adopt Indonesian quarterly data of 1990Q1-2018Q4 for empirical analysis. Relevant instruments in the economic performance of Indonesia such as urbanization, foreign direct investment (FDI), and renewable energy source are all adopted for accurate estimations and analysis of this topic. Different approaches (structural break test, autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL)-bounds testing and Granger causality) are all adopted in this study. Our analysis and policy recommendations are based on the short-run and long-run ARDL dynamics and Granger causality. Findings from ARDL confirmed negative relationship between carbon emission and renewable energy source, FDI, and urbanization. Also, a U-shape instead of inverted U-shaped EKC is found confirming the impeding implication of Indonesian economic growth to its environmental performance if not checkmate. From Granger causality analysis, all the variables are seen transmitting to urbanization in a one-way causal relationship. Also, FDI and renewable energy prove to be essential determinants of the country's environment development; hence, FDI is seen transmitting to both energy sources (fossil fuels and renewables) in a one-way causal relationship. Renewable energy is as well seen having two ways causal relationship with both carbon emission and fossil fuels. This result has equally exposed the significant position of the three instruments (urbanization, FDI, and renewable energy source) in Indonesian environment development.

The asymmetric effect of renewable energy and trade on consumption-based CO2 emissions: The case of Italy

Although numerous studies in the literature have been conducted to model CO₂ emissions, there is a lack of empirical knowledge of consumption-based CO₂ emissions, which are adjusted for international trade, specifically. Therefore, the present study aims to close this gap in the literature in the case of Italy, while capturing the asymmetric effect of trade, renewable energy, and economic growth on consumption-based CO₂ emissions. The present study uses the Gregory-Hansen test for cointegration with regime shifts, Markov switching regression, nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL), and frequency domain causality test. The study's outcomes reveal that (1) the asymmetric effect of import on consumption-based CO₂ emissions is positive, implying that rising import is associated with declining consumption-based environmental quality; (2) export, renewable consumption, and economic growth reduce consumption-based CO₂ emissions in Italy. Moreover, these outcomes are supported by the outcomes of the frequency domain causality test. These innovative insights may prompt policy-makers to implement eco-friendly methods, such as renewable energy distribution and environmental innovation, to achieve a greener future. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:784-795. © 2021 SETAC.

Do economic policy uncertainty and geopolitical risk surge CO2 emissions? New insights from panel quantile regression approach

In recent times, economic policy uncertainty (EPU) and geopolitical risk (GPR) are increasing significantly where the economy and environment are affected by these factors. Therefore, the goal of this paper is to investigate whether EPU and GPR impede CO₂ emissions in BRICST countries. We employ second-generation panel data methods, AMG and CCEMG estimator, and panel quantile regression model. The conclusions document that most of the variables are integrated at I (1), and there exists co-integration among considered variables of the study. Moreover, we note that EPU and GPR have a heterogeneous effect on CO₂ emissions across different quantiles. EPU adversely affects CO₂ emissions at lower and middle quantiles, while it surges the CO₂ emissions at higher quantiles. On the contrary, geopolitical risk surges CO₂ emissions at lower quartiles, and it plunges CO₂ emissions at middle and higher quantiles. Furthermore, GDP per capita, renewable energy, non-renewable energy, and urbanization also have a heterogeneous impact on CO₂ emissions in the conditional distribution of CO₂ emissions. Based on the results, we discuss the policy direction.

How Do Chinese National Scenic Areas Affect Tourism Economic Development? The Moderating Effect of Time-Limited Rectification

Based on panel data on 124 prefecture-level and above cities from 2003 to 2018, this study investigated the impact of CNSAs on tourism economic development and the moderating effect of time-limited rectification by comprehensively using the quasi-DID model, the static spatial Durbin model, and the dynamic spatial Durbin model. The results showed that the impact of CNSAs on tourism economic development has a heterogeneous characteristic in terms of tourists and revenue. In addition, the spatial spillover effect and the path dependence have effectively promoted tourism economic development. Furthermore, the effectiveness of time-limited rectification has been proved in this study, while the “beggar-thy-neighbor” effect has, to some extent, weakened the promotional effect of CNSAs on tourism economic development, especially in terms of international tourists and international tourism revenue. Finally, relevant policy implications for the superior department in charge, local governments, and the management department of CNSAs are outlined to provide a practical reference for promoting the high-quality development of the tourism economy in China.

Modeling financial development, tourism, energy consumption, and environmental quality: Is there any discrepancy between developing and developed countries?

The main purpose of this study is to explore the dynamic association between financial development, tourism, primary and renewable energy utilization, urbanization, and carbon emission by employing the longitudinal data of 52 countries from 1995 to 2017. Empirical results of panel pooled mean group-autoregressive distributive lag (PMG-ARDL) model reveal that financial development significantly improves the environmental quality in developed countries. However, it has a detrimental but insignificant effect on the environment in developing countries. In the case of developed countries, the profound tourism sector is more harmful to the environment due to a large number of tourist arrivals in contrast to the developing countries. There is a wide difference between developed and developing countries concerning industrial, regional, and economic structure, in the effect of financial and tourism development on carbon emission, but both urbanization and primary energy utilization promote carbon emissions. The utilization of renewable energy sources improves the environmental quality in both regions. Generally, it is suggested that investment in renewable energy resources in both regions affects pollution differently and still has the potential to accelerate environmental quality. Moreover, the panel causality test explores that there exists bidirectional causality between financial development, primary energy, and carbon emission in both regions, while a unidirectional causality is observed from urbanization to carbon emission in developed countries. In developing countries, it exists from tourism to carbon emission and carbon emission to renewable energy. Finally, from policy perspectives, the results of this research recommend developing the financial system, and more funds should be allocated in modern and eco-friendly energy projects and utilized energy-efficient technologies.

The trilemma of innovation, logistics performance, and environmental quality in 25 topmost logistics countries: A quantile regression evidence

While the deployment of technological innovation was able to avert a devastating global supply chain fallout arising from the impact of ravaging COronaVIrus Disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, little is known about potential environmental cost of such achievement. The aim of this paper is to identify the determinants of logistics performance and investigate its empirical linkages with economic and environmental indicators. We built a macro-level dataset for the top 25 ranked logistics countries from 2007 to 2018, conducting a set of panel data tests on cross-sectional dependence, stationarity and cointegration, to provide preliminary insights. Empirical estimates from Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS), Generalized Method of Moments (GMM), and Quantile Regression (QR) model suggest that technological innovation, Human Development Index (HDI), urbanization, and trade openness significantly boost logistic performance, whereas employment and Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) fail to respond in such a desirable path. In turn, an increase in the Logistic Performance Index (LPI) is found to worsen economic growth. Finally, LPI exhibits a large positive effect on carbon emissions, which is congruent with a strand of the literature highlighting that the modern supply chain is far from being decarbonized. Thus, this evidence further suggest that more global efforts should be geared to attain a sustainable logistics.

Environmental pollution and energy research and development: an Environmental Kuznets Curve model through quantile simulation approach

Energy research and development (R&D) and environmental sustainability is often referred to as two interrelated trends, especially in the current context of the 4^th industrial revolution. As a primary input of energy innovations, R&D in the energy sector constitutes a vital tool in addressing global environmental and energy challenges. In this frame, we observe the effects of disaggregated energy R&D on environmental pollution within the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) framework in thirteen developed countries over the period 2003-2018. By employing the panel quantile regression technique, we find an inverted U-shaped nexus between economic growth and carbon emissions only in higher carbon-emitting countries, thus, confirming the EKC hypothesis. However, the U-shaped nexus is more predominant in lower carbon-emitting countries. As such, we demonstrate that there is not any single dynamic in the relationship between economic growth and pollution as reported in previous studies. Contrary to expectations, we find that energy efficiency research and development is more effective in curbing carbon emissions compared to fossil fuels and renewable energy research and development. The empirical results indicate also that only energy efficiency R&D mitigates significantly the CO₂ emissions from the 50^th quantile up to 90^th quantile, although the magnitude of the negative sign is more pronounced (in absolute term) at the highest quantile (90th). In this light, our findings would guide policymakers in the establishment of sustainable energy research and development schemes that will allow the preservation of equilibrium for the environment while also promoting energy innovations.

Rural Tourism: Does It Matter for Sustainable Farmers’ Income?

With the continuous promotion of China’s new rural construction, rural tourism is considered to be an important driving force to promote the sustainable development of rural economy. Sustainable farmers’ income is a major part of the sustainable development of rural economy. Therefore, this paper attempts to explore the effect of rural tourism on sustainable farmers’ income. Using China’s provincial panel data over the period of 2003 to 2020 and employing the mediation effect model to perform empirical analysis, four results are obtained: (1) rural tourism positively and significantly affects sustainable farmers’ income. However, among five kinds of farmers’ income, the coefficients in magnitude are different. (2) A mediation effect of rural ecological environment on the relationship between rural tourism and sustainable farmers’ income exists. (3) A mediation effect of urbanization on the relationship between rural tourism and sustainable farmers’ income also exists. (4) On the whole, the mediation effect of rural ecological environment on the relationship between rural tourism and sustainable farmers’ income is less than that of the mediation effect of urbanization. Based on the evidence this paper provides, corresponding suggestions are raised to promote sustainable farmers’ income.

Does geopolitical risk escalate CO2 emissions? Evidence from the BRICS countries

High levels of CO₂ emissions are extensively cited as one of the main global concerns nowadays. Therefore, researchers have been investigating the factors that affect CO₂ emissions. In the prior literature, several social, economic, and political drivers of CO₂ emissions have been investigated; however, there is a dearth of the literature on the impact of geopolitical risks (GPR) on CO₂ emissions. Hence, the objective of this study is to explore the impact of GPR on CO₂ emissions in the case of the BRICS countries while controlling the effects of population, GDP, non-renewable energy, and renewable energy consumption. The study uses the recently developed GPR index, proposed by Caldara and Iacoviello (2018), and the AMG (augmented mean group) estimator method. The findings document that GPR escalates CO₂ emissions. That is, a 1% increase in GPR escalates CO₂ emissions by 13%. Moreover, it also reports that renewable energy consumption impedes CO₂ emissions. In contrast, GDP, population, and non-renewable energy consumption surge CO₂ emissions. The study also proposes a few policy implications based on the findings: (1) policymakers and government officials should try to limit GPR through peace treaties, agreements, and negotiations; (2) share of renewable energy in total energy consumption should be increased in order to plunge CO₂ emissions.

Dominance of Fossil Fuels in Japan's National Energy Mix and Implications for Environmental Sustainability

Despite the drive for increased environmental protection and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), coal, oil, and natural gas use continues to dominate Japan’s energy mix. In light of this issue, this research assessed the position of natural gas, oil, and coal energy use in Japan’s environmental mitigation efforts from the perspective of sustainable development with respect to economic growth between 1965 and 2019. In this regard, the study employs Bayer and Hanck cointegration, fully modified Ordinary Least Square (FMOLS), and dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS) to investigate these interconnections. The empirical findings from this study revealed that the utilization of natural gas, oil, and coal energy reduces the sustainability of the environment with oil consumption having the most significant impact. Furthermore, the study validates the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis in Japan. The outcomes of the Gradual shift causality showed that CO₂ emissions can predict economic growth, while oil, coal, and energy consumption can predict CO₂ emissions in Japan. Given Japan’s ongoing energy crisis, this innovative analysis provides valuable policy insights to stakeholders and authorities in the nation’s energy sector.

Perspectives of globalization and tourism as drivers of ecological footprint in top 10 destination economies

Beyond the anticipated experience associated with tourism destinations, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has further tasked (especially the destination countries) on the importance of tourism to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From this dimension, this study employed the ecological footprint of the 10 most visited countries (France, Spain, United States, China, Italy, Mexico, United Kingdom, Turkey, Germany, and Thailand) over the period 1995-2016. Specifically, the study employed an econometric approach and found that increase in tourism arrivals and globalization is detrimental to the attainment of sustainable environmental quality in a long term. Precisely, a 1% increase in international arrivals and globalization is responsible for a 0.18 and 0.89% increase in ecological footprint in the long-run. These impacts of tourism activities and globalization are detrimental to the environmental quality of the destination countries. Meanwhile, the real income per capita and biocapacity in the destination countries improve the environmental quality of the panel of destination countries in the long-run. In addition, the study found significant evidence of Granger causality from tourism and real income to ecological footprint without feedback, the globalization-ecological footprint Granger causality nexus is with feedback. Moreover, potentially effective policies for government and other stakeholders especially toward attaining Global goals were proffered in the study.