Toward next-generation green solar cells and environmental sustainability: impact of innovation in photovoltaic energy generation, distribution, or transmission-related technologies on environmental sustainability in the United States

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.

Is environmental sustainability transmissible? Transportation-based environmental taxation spillovers for sustainable development

Environmental sustainability investigation has been a hotly debated topic of the modern literature; however, past studies have primarily overlooked its transmissibility or spillover outreach across economies. Herein, we investigate the novel aspect of whether transportation-based environmental taxation spatially induces spillover impacts across Italy, Germany, and France over the 1994-2020 period by employing a simultaneous spatial equation with multi-country dynamic stochastic general equilibrium modeling (DSGEM) framework. Transportation-based environmental taxation of the domestic economy negatively impacts its own investment and consumption, while it impacts the economy of neighboring economies positively. Change in output and investment in the domestic economy can be well explained by the environmental volatility of the domestic economy, whereas the environmental volatility of neighboring economies does not contribute much to explain the change in investment and output of the domestic economy. Volatility in pollution discharge occurs more by environmental volatility in the neighboring economy than in the domestic economy, and validating that environmental sustainability is transmissible across regions and economies. It urgently calls for environmental protection policies integrated and coordinated across the countries and regions to spread and capitalize on environmentally and economically favorable and sustainable effects globally. Achieving the spatially transmitted positive environmental and economic outcomes would help strengthen the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), with a particular focus on Climate Action (SDG13), Sustainable Production and Consumption (SDG12), and Affordable and Sustainable Energy for All (SDG7).

The role of global collaboration in environmental technology development, natural resources, and marine energy generation technologies toward carbon neutrality in knowledge-based economies

This study aims to explore the influence of renewable energy consumption (REC), global collaboration in environmental technology development (GCETD), gross domestic product per capita (GDPPC), marine energy generation technologies (MGT), trade openness (TDOT), natural resources (NRs), and carbon dioxide emissions (CO₂e) in 34 selected knowledge-based economies from 1990 to 2020. The results show that MGT and REC, an environmentally friendly source of energy, are positively connected with zero carbon emissions, reflecting the ability to serve as an alternative energy option for a sustainable environment. In addition, the study reveals that NRS, such as the accessibility of hydrocarbon resources, can have a positive effect on CO₂e, implying that the unsustainable use of NRs may lead to the expansion of CO₂e. Additionally, the study pinpoints that GDPPC and TDOT, as a gauge of economic expansion, play an essential part in a carbon-neutral future, suggesting that greater amounts of commercial success could result in greater ecological sustainability. The results also show that GCETD is linked to lower CO₂e. This means that working together on an international level helps to improve environmental technologies and slow down the effects of global warming. It is suggested that governments should focus on and encourages GCETD, the use of REC, and TDOT to speed up the path toward zero emissions. Also, decision-makers should think about backing research and development investments in MGT as a potential way to reach zero CO₂e in a knowledge-based economies.

Revisiting the nexus between fiscal decentralization and CO2 emissions in South Africa: fresh policy insights

The argument over fiscal decentralization and carbon dioxide emission (CO₂) reduction has received much attention. However, evidence to back this claim is limited. Economic theory predicts that fiscal decentralization affects environmental quality, but the specifics of this relationship are still up for debate. Some scholars noted that fiscal decentralization might lead to a race to the top, whereas others contended that it would result in a race to the bottom. In light of the current debates in environmental and development economics, this study aims to provide insight into how this relationship may function in South Africa from 1960 to 2020. In contrast to the existing research, the present study uses a novel dynamic autoregressive distributed lag simulation approach to assess the positive and negative changes in fiscal decentralization, scale effect, technique effect, technological innovation, foreign direct investment, energy consumption, industrial growth, and trade openness on CO₂ emissions. The following are the main findings: (i) Fiscal decentralization had a CO₂ emission reduction impact in the short and long run, highlighting the presence of the race to the top approach. (ii) Economic growth (as represented by the scale effect) eroded ecological integrity. However, its square (as expressed by technique effect) aided in strengthening ecological protection, validating the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis. (iii) CO₂ emissions were driven by energy utilization, trade openness, industrial value-added, and foreign direct investment, whereas technological innovation boosted ecological integrity. Findings suggest that further fiscal decentralization should be undertaken through further devolution of power to local entities, particularly regarding environmental policy issues, to maintain South Africa's ecological sustainability. South Africa should also establish policies to improve environmental sustainability by strengthening a lower layer of government and clarifying responsibilities at the national and local levels to fulfill the energy-saving functions of fiscal expenditures.

Does innovation in ocean energy generations-related technologies in G7 countries reduce carbon dioxide emissions? Role of international collaboration in green technology development and commercial and monetary policies

Recognizing that innovation in renewable energy generation is an effective way to improve sustainable energy generation, the government and industries in the G7 states have invested heavily in the development of novel green technologies related to ocean energy generation. Irrespective of this, the existing literature has failed to explore the nexus between innovation in innovation in ocean generation-related technologies (IOEGT) and carbon dioxide emissions (CO₂e). This paper contributes to the environmental economics by looking at the linkage between IOEGT and CO₂e, with the international collaboration in green technology development (ICGTD), gross domestic product per capita (GDPPC), expansionary monetary policy (EMP), expansionary commercial policy (ECM), contractionary monetary policy (CMP), renewable energy consumption (REC), and contractionary commercial policy (ECM) in the G7 states from 1990 to 2020. The Westerlund and Edgerton (2008) test validated the long-run association among IOEGT, EMP, ECM, ICGTD, CMP, REC, ECM, GDPPC, and CO₂e. The cross-sectional-autoregressive-distributed lag estimators found the following main findings. First, IOEGT is a helpful tool for reducing CO₂e. Second, ICGTD and REC were associated with a lower level of CO₂e. Third, EMP and ECP contribute to an increase in carbon emissions. However, CCP and CMP are essential to the long-term reduction of CO₂e. Fourthly, GDPPC exacerbates the negative effects of CO₂e.

Towards sustainable environment: why green energy technology diffusion is sluggish in South Africa?

Energy security, job development, and minimal environmental damage are just a few of the reasons why green energy technologies have gained popularity. Still, developing these technologies in underdeveloped countries is sluggish due to several bottlenecks. To find and prioritize the bottlenecks to development of green energy technologies (GETs), this study has used the case of South Africa. In this study, technical, financial, social, regulatory, geographical, and institutional bottlenecks are six headings under which 22 bottlenecks are further subdivided. For prioritizing these bottlenecks, a Multi-Objective Optimization based on Ratio Analysis (MOORA) strategy combined with an Evaluation based on Distance from Average Solution (EDAS) method was used. The top three bottlenecks impacting the GETs' development involved social, institutional, and regulatory, whereas in sub-headings, corrupt political systems, knowledge of the public, and fixed investments were revealed to be the most significant hurdles. In addition to that, a framework is also developed for assessing how each bottleneck hinders the development of green energy technologies. The results of this study recommend that formulation of policy using the bottom-up approach is important. Notably, politicians at the highest levels should work together to bolster government agencies so that they can monitor and carry out the policies designed to advance GETs. Building the institutional capacity of government offices is crucial for eliminating corruption in political offices and progressing GETs in South Africa.

Modeling the impact of innovation in marine energy generation-related technologies on carbon dioxide emissions in South Korea

South Korea has invested extensively in developing revolutionary marine and ocean technologies to accomplish renewable energy goals. Despite that, the available literature offers no insight into the environmental benefits of innovation in marine energy generation, distribution, or transmission-related technologies (IMET). This study examines the nexus between carbon dioxide emissions (CO₂e) and IMET in South Korea (1990Q1-2018Q4). Control variables include international collaboration in green technology development (ICGD), gross domestic product (per capita) (GDPPC), expansionary commercial policy (ECP), and renewable energy use (REC). First, the findings validated the long-run relationship among ICGD, GDPPC, ECP, REC, IMET, and CO₂e. Second, the findings asserted that increasing IMET assisted in the generation of low-carbon renewable energy, thereby contributing to the improvement of environmental quality. Third, the estimates revealed that an increase in GDPPC and ECP was positively associated with an upsurge in CO₂e. Fourth, the data depicted that ICGD facilitated co-green technologies development, which de-escalated CO₂e. Fifth, REC was negatively associated with a decrease in CO₂e. Based on current estimates, this article recommended that governments implement policies that encourage companies and academia to participate in IMET to promote the green economy.