Assessing the environmental impacts of renewable energy sources: A case study on air pollution and carbon emissions in China

Factorial Design and Optimization of Trimetallic CoNiFe-LDH/Graphene Composites for Enhanced Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Layered double hydroxides (LDH) have exhibited promising applications as electrocatalysts in oxygen evolution reactions (OER). In this work, trimetallic LDHs (CoNiFe-LDH) were designed and grown on graphene (G) through a one-step hydrothermal approach to obtain a structure that promotes efficient charge transfer. A 2-level full-factorial design was utilized to evaluate the effects of varying the concentrations of Co (1.5, 3, and 4.5 mmol) and graphene (10, 30, and 50 mg) on the OER activity. The potential needed to deliver 10 mA cm-2 was chosen as the response parameter. The independent and dependent parameters were fitted to a linear model equation through ANOVA analysis. The computed p-values were below 0.05 signifying the statistical significance of the concentrations of cobalt and graphene and their interaction, suggesting a correlation with the OER activity. The OER experiments were conducted in triplicate using the Co[3]Ni[3]Fe[3]-LDH/G[30] (central point) to estimate variability (0.58%). Comparative analysis showed that Co[1.5]Ni[3]Fe[3]-LDH/G[10] achieved the lowest onset potential (1.54 V), potential at 10 mA cm-2 (1.58 V), and Tafel slope (58.4 mV dec-1), indicating that a low concentration of cobalt and graphene make an efficient electrocatalyst for OER. Furthermore, the optimized composite demonstrated favorable electronic properties, with a charge transfer resistance (RCT) of 188.1 Ω, and exhibited good stability, maintaining its catalytic activity with no significant loss over a 24-h period.

Can digital governance promote urban energy conservation and emission reduction? A quasi-natural experiment based on "National Pilot Policy of Information Benefiting the People" in China

The digital transformation of government is an important path to achieve the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. In recent years, the "National Pilot Policy of Information Benefiting the People" has become a key measure for big data to empower government governance, accelerate the improvement of public service levels and equalization of public services. This paper adopts the difference-in-difference method, takes the "National Pilot Policy of Information Benefiting the People" implemented in my country in 2014 as a quasi-natural experiment of digital governance, and explores the effectiveness of government digital governance measures on urban energy conservation and emission reduction and its potential transmission mechanism based on panel data of 283 cities in China from 2006 to 2021. The study found that the construction of digital government has a positive role in promoting urban energy conservation and emission reduction, and this positive impact is mainly achieved by promoting green technology innovation and strengthening environmental regulation; there are differences in the impact of digital governance on urban energy conservation and emission reduction among cities of different regions, different scales, and different resource endowments. This paper studies the energy conservation and emission reduction effect of government governance from the perspective of digital transformation, and provides important empirical inspiration for the sustainable development of cities under the dual carbon goals and the formulation of energy conservation and emission reduction action strategies.

Investigating the dynamics of climate finance disbursements: A panel data approach from 2003 to 2022

This study investigates the intricate dynamics of international multilateral climate finance disbursements from 2003 to 2022 via an extensive dataset from the Climate Funds Update (CFU). By employing panel data econometric models, including pooled ordinary least squares (OLS), fixed effects (FE), and random effects (RE) models, the study elucidates the impact of grants and approved funds on disbursement levels across different income groups. The analysis reveals that while grants do not significantly influence disbursements, the approval of funds plays a critical role in enhancing disbursement efficiency. The random effects model, validated through the Hausman test, emerges as the optimal model for this context. The findings underscore the importance of streamlined approval processes in ensuring effective climate finance disbursements and highlight the need for further investigation into the non-significance of grants. The forecasting results indicate a positive trend in disbursements from 2023 to 2027, with potential fluctuations driven by external factors. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders to optimize climate finance mechanisms and improve fund utilization for sustainable development.

Green infrastructure and its influence on urban heat island, heat risk, and air pollution: A case study of Porto (Portugal)

Green infrastructure plays a fundamental role in mitigating the effects of urban heat island. Vegetation may trap particulates and absorb pollutants like ozone, thus improving air quality. Understanding how green infrastructure reduces urban heat island and air pollution within specific urban zones can provide valuable insights for better urban design, improved environmental quality, and increased resident well-being. This study addresses the impact of green infrastructure deprivation on urban heat island effects, air pollution, and heat-related health risks in Porto, Portugal. The study employs a monitoring network to analyse the spatial distribution of air temperature and humidity throughout the city, although with specific gaps in coverage. With a focus on the role of urban green infrastructure in mitigating air urban heat island effects, this paper uses the data from Porto Digital's monitoring network between 2019 and 2022. Heat risk index assesses vulnerability to heat-related health risks by integrating land surface temperature, land cover, and demographic data through remote sensing. Green infrastructure mapping is conducted to quantify the spatial distribution of vegetation elements in the study area. The data analysis from 2019 to 2022 reveals that urban heat island intensity is more pronounced during the summer and at night. Approximately 32.6% of Porto is in areas with a high heat risk index, indicating increased vulnerability to heat-related health risks. The study finds that limited green infrastructure exacerbates this vulnerability, particularly in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. Additionally, persistent air pollution hotspots, including elevated levels of ozone and particulate matter, contribute to the intensity of urban heat island. These findings underscore the need for integrating green infrastructure into urban planning to mitigate urban heat island and air pollution, improve urban resilience, and promote environmental justice.

The key challenges and best alternatives to environmental sustainability: a comprehensive study

In the modern world, the globe has been trapped by severe challenges, and an abrupt increase in environmental deterioration (ED) is one of these. The practitioners have recently tried to suggest several green initiatives to combat rising environmental concerns, but the problem remains intact. Most economies have priorities to meet their socio-economic target, and practitioners are unaware of true challenges and best alternatives. This study makes an effort to introduce the true challenges (income, urbanization, and natural resources) and best alternative (renewable energy, information & communication technology (ICT), and circular economy) for carbon footprint in the top 28 waste re-cycled economies (WRE) throughout 2000-2021. In order to obtain robust outcomes, the present study uses the most reliable estimators, and the Q-GMM is the most prominent. The outcomes describe a positive role of income, urbanization, and natural resources in carbon footprint. On the other hand, ICT, renewable energy, and the circular economy decline ED. The renewable energy and circular economy mediating role on urbanization shows supportive behavior in sustainability but finds only a significant role of circular economy in sustainable urbanization. Using a quadratic income form, this study validates the EKC & LCC hypotheses for specified economies. On behalf of outcomes, this study suggests imperative implications to become clean & green shortly.

Using the clustering method to find the final environmental parameters coefficients in road construction projects

Nowadays, more and more attention is being paid to environmental issues due to the development of road transportation, particularly the construction of arterial roads. Despite the existence of diverse methods to determine convenient criteria for their assessment, determining the projects with the least harmful effects on the environment and ranking them for purposes of budget allocation and prioritization are remarkably important. The case is more highlighted in regions where roads go through diverse areas with different climatic and geographical distributions. In the present study, a new method consisting of two phases was proposed to determine the optimal coefficient of environmental parameters in road construction parameters. In the first phase, the Genetic Optimization Algorithm was implemented to determine convenient coefficients for the relevant parameters. During this stage, similar coefficients were clustered together. In the second phase, an environmental index for various projects was determined based on the obtained results, and the proposed projects were ranked based on that. According to the results obtained concerning environmental parameters during the pre-implementation stage, polluting water resources was the most influential parameter, with a coefficient determined at 3.59. Moreover, the most significant parameter during the implementation was noise pollution, with a coefficient of 5.89, while damaging the ecosystem was the most significant one during the stage of land use change (5.25). Furthermore, soil pollution was the most remarkable parameter during the stage of maintenance (5.81), while damaging the local climate pollution was the most important one during the stage of road implementation (5.67). The above findings can be helpful for researchers in road construction projects.

Do market-based environmental regulations always promote enterprise green innovation commercialization?

Motivated by increasingly strengthened market-based environmental regulations, enterprises intend to pursue both pollution reduction and competitive edge through developing green innovation. Although the volume of green innovation has increased substantially, some of them are not successfully commercialized to pay rewards for enterprises. Hence, how market-based environmental regulations affect enterprise green innovation commercialization is urgently to be explored. Using Chinese manufacturing enterprise panel data, this paper finds that market-based environmental regulations impact enterprise green innovation commercialization in an inverted U shape relationship. Regarding influencing factors, on the technical dimensions, market-based environmental regulation can improve the green innovation commercialization through improving the green innovation quality. Concerning non-technical factors, market development level, openness level and regional green innovation capacity can positively moderate the inverted U shape relationship between market-based environmental regulation and enterprise green innovation commercialization. Finally, it is found the impact of market-based environmental regulation on enterprise green innovation commercialization varies both at the regional and enterprise level. Based on the results, policymakers should optimize the use of market-based environmental regulation by considering its nonlinear impact on green innovation commercialization. Policymakers can also improve non-technical factors, including market development level, openness level and regional green innovation capacity, to increase the positive impact of market-based environmental regulation on enterprise green innovation commercialization.

Impact of low-carbon economic policies on the corporate environmental responsibility model in China

This study investigates the impact of low-carbon economic policies on Corporate Environmental Responsibility (CER) in Chinese A-share listed companies, with a particular focus on the role of financing constraints as a mediating factor. Despite a decrease in environmental pollution incidents in 2022, the economic and social impacts of such incidents remain significant, highlighting the need for stronger environmental governance. Building upon previous research, this study utilizes data from the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges (2010-2020) and employs a Difference-in-Differences (DID) model to assess the effects of low-carbon economic policies introduced in 2016 on CER. The findings reveal that these policies positively influence CER and that financial constraints act as a mediator. The study finds how low-carbon policies indirectly promote environmental commitments by alleviating financial barriers. The research provides valuable insights for policy formulation, advocating for intensified reforms on the financial supply side to foster a sustainable economic framework. Additionally, it underscores the importance of implementing robust low-carbon policies to elevate corporate environmental responsibility. However, the study also notes limitations related to data scope and potential external factors influencing the results. These findings contribute to the broader discourse on sustainable development, offering a blueprint for harmonizing economic growth with environmental preservation and informing future research in this area.

The criticality of exports sophistication and CO2 emissions: A new path towards sustainable environmental management

This study investigates the relation between exports sophistication and CO2 emissions, with particular attention paid to how foreign direct investment moderates them in Asian economies from 1995 to 2020. This study investigates the influence of exports sophistication, which measures productivity and income associated with an export basket, on environmental quality. Utilizing a two-step Generalized Method of Moments (GMM), we found that exports sophistication has an inverted U-shaped relationship with CO2 emissions. At first, an increase in exports sophistication increase CO2 emissions due to scale effect; but beyond a certain threshold point, further increases in exports sophistication result in lower emissions as economies shift away from dirty production technologies towards cleaner ones. This research underlines foreign direct investment as an influential force that affects environmental outcomes. While foreign direct investment contributes to economic growth, research suggests it may delay the point at which export sophistication begins to reduce emissions, supporting the pollution haven hypothesis in which developing nations receive investments with potentially detrimental environmental consequences. Further, foreign direct investment and exports sophistication interactions intensify CO2 emissions, suggesting that without stringent environmental regulations foreign direct investment contributes to pollution. This evidence emphasizes the necessity of policies which support clean technologies and invest responsibly for economic growth with sustainability in mind.

Do the effects of aggregate and disaggregate energy consumption on different environmental quality indicators change in the transition to sustainable development? Evidence from wavelet coherence analysis

In the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by the United Nations (UN) member states in 2015, half of the target period has been exceeded. However, China, whose energy consumption relies heavily on fossil resources, remains at the top of the list of global polluters. Therefore, investigating the environmental impacts of energy types is essential to China's path towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)-7 and SDG-13. Based on this motivation, the paper offers new insights into the energy-environment literature for China with wavelet coherence analysis (WCA). This approach can investigate the relationship between variables in a periodic manner based on the frequency behavior of the models. The paper separately analyzes the effects of primary energy consumption (PEC), fossil energy consumption (FEC), renewable energy consumption (REC), nuclear energy consumption (NEC), GDP, and population (POP) on three different environmental indicators in China. Using two environmental pollution indicators (carbon emission (CO2) and ecological footprint (EF)) and one environmental quality indicator (load capacity factor (LCF)), the paper allows for comparison and robustness checks on the environmental impacts of energy indicators. Empirical findings reveal the following: (i) Except for REC and POP in the CO2 model, the variables in all three models largely move together during the period under observation; (ii) variables other than POP have consistent coefficient signs; (iii) PEC, FEC, NEC, and GDP increase CO2 and EF while decreasing LCF; (iv) the effect of NEC on LCF is more obvious until 2000; (v) unlike the others, REC affects CO2 and EF negatively and LCF positively; (vi) there is bidirectional causality between PEC and environmental indicators but not for REC; (vii) the causality relations of other variables with environmental indicators differ in terms of model, time, and direction of causality. In light of the findings, the paper highlights that only the REC improves environmental quality in China. Other energy indicators contribute to environmental degradation. China, whose ecological deficit has increased dramatically in recent years, urgently needs to reduce its dependence on fossil energy sources by accelerating investments in REC. Governments should also review nuclear energy policies, which are expected to help achieve carbon neutrality.

New quality productivity and environmental innovation: The hostile moderating roles of managerial empowerment and board centralization

As new quality productivity (NQP) emerges as a rising star of productivity that can effectively leverage technological innovation and sustainability, this study aims to explore the relationship between NQP and environmental innovation, with a particular focus on the roles of managerial empowerment and board centralization within the context of China A-share listed companies. Utilizing the entire sample of China A-share market from 2013 to 2022, the study analyses the effectiveness of various dimensions reflecting innovation engagement among Chinese listed companies. For measuring NQP, the entropy method is employed to calculate the weights. By controlling for industry and year effects, the study examines both the main and moderating effects of managerial empowerment and board centralization. Additionally, heterogeneity tests, robustness checks, and two-stage least squares (2SLS) estimation were conducted to address endogeneity concerns. The results demonstrate that NQP significantly enhances environmental innovation, with managerial empowerment supporting this positive effect and board centralization obstructing it. The positive effect of NQP is particularly evident in state-owned enterprises, while in heavily polluting industries, the anticipated positive moderating effect of top managers disappears due to strict regulatory environments. Furthermore, board centralization negatively moderates environmental innovation, especially in lightly polluting sectors where internal governance is more sensitive. The study underscores the importance for policymakers to tailor regulations that balance managerial empowerment and board centralization to enhance the transformation of NQP into environmental innovation. Future research is needed to further investigate different background settings and the mechanisms through which NQP influences sustainability.

Transitioning from gridlock to sustainability: advancing transport strategies for eco-friendly solutions in high-income countries

The study aims to comprehend sustainable behaviors in high-income nations, where human-environment interactions are crucial. Increased transportation needs in industrialized countries highlight the importance of environmental challenges affecting human well-being. Railway passenger carrier, automobile energy efficiency, technology breakthroughs, financial incentives, and public-private partnerships (PPPs) affect congestion and sustainability, which the study analyses for sound policy inferences in a panel of 28 high-income nations from 2000 to 2022. The panel ARDL estimates reveal that railway passenger carrier increases carbon emissions in the short run while it improves them over time, highlighting the importance of urban planning. Environmental pollution, energy use, transportation behavior (including PPPs), and technical innovation have an inverse connection, demonstrating the efficacy of energy-efficient transport methods, research and development, and renewable energy sources. However, economic incentives highly correspond with carbon-intensive habits, emphasizing the need for high-income countries to phase them out.

Techno-enviro-economic analysis of grid-connected solar powered floating PV water pumping system for farmland applications: A numerical design model

To meet the required load of a farm in the rural area in Mafraq, Jordan, the complete floating photovoltaic (FPV) water pumping sizing, modelling, and optimization of an on-grid PV system with comprehensive capacity, energy output cost, and emission estimations are outlined in this work. The novelty of this study lies in its comprehensive approach that integrates technical, environmental, and economic factors into a unified framework for designing a PV water pumping system, particularly in scenarios where grid supply is feasible or economically viable. A proposal has been made to install PV panels over the water lake to improve the overall system efficiency and to give an aesthetic appearance. The proposed system is composed of a 165 kW PV array and three 55 kW inverters, which cost 54696.92 JD as the initial cost, CO2 emission reduction of more than 5000 tons and produce electricity at 0.028 JD/kWh. The results indicated that the FPV option demonstrates an about 5 % increase in efficiency compared to the other two scenarios. Also, the FPV option has higher costs due to a 25 % increase in system cost but results in lower CO2 emissions compared to the other two options. Top of Form As shown from the results, the two sizing methods for solar water pumping systems, the equations-based method, and the PVsyst simulation tool give the same results. By following this methodology, one can assess the load, size the system, simulate its operation, and analyse the expected performance. Furthermore, the findings of this study could be valuable in designing a grid-connected FPV water pumping system.

The Impact of Renewable Energy Development on Regional Carbon Emission Reduction: Based on the Spatio-Temporal Analysis of 30 Provinces in China

The development of renewable energy has become an important means for the world to cope with climate change, ensure energy security, and protect the ecological environment. Using the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2013 to 2021, this study used the mediating effect model and the spatial Durbin model (SDM) to explore the mechanism and spatial effects of renewable energy development on China's regional carbon emission reduction. The results show that: (1) Renewable energy development can help to reduce carbon emission intensity. (2) The results of mechanism analysis show that renewable energy development reduces carbon intensity by improving energy structure, promoting industrial structure optimization, and industrial structure upgrading. (3) The development of renewable energy can not only reduce the local carbon intensity but also have a positive spillover effect on the carbon intensity of neighboring regions. (4) Further analysis shows that the long-term effect of renewable energy development on carbon emissions is greater than the short-term effect. At the same time, the heterogeneity analysis shows that compared with the Yellow River basin, the development of renewable energy has a significant carbon emission reduction effect in the Yangtze River Economic Belt region. Energy-rich areas fall into the "resource curse", which makes the carbon emission reduction effect of renewable energy development not significant. This paper has certain reference significance for promoting reasonable decomposition between regions and formulating renewable energy development policies.

Resistive Gas Sensors Based on 2D TMDs and MXenes

ConspectusGas sensors are used in various applications to sense toxic gases, mainly for enhanced safety. Resistive sensors are particularly popular owing to their ability to detect trace amounts of gases, high stability, fast response times, and affordability. Semiconducting metal oxides are commonly employed in the fabrication of resistive gas sensors. However, these sensors often require high working temperatures, bringing about increased energy consumption and reduced selectivity. Furthermore, they do not have enough flexibility, and their performance is significantly decreased under bending, stretching, or twisting. To address these challenges, alternative materials capable of operating at lower temperatures with high flexibility are needed. Two-dimensional (2D) materials such as MXenes and transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) offer high surface area and conductivity owing to their unique 2D structure, making them promising candidates for realization of resistive gas sensors. Nevertheless, their sensing performance in pristine form is typically weak and unacceptable, particularly in terms of response, selectivity, and recovery time (trec). To overcome these drawbacks, several strategies can be employed to enhance their sensing properties. Noble-metal decoration such as (Au, Pt, Pd, Rh, Ag) is a highly promising method, in which the catalytic effects of noble metals as well as formation of potential barriers with MXenes or TMDs eventually contribute to boosted response. Additionally, bimetallic noble metals such as Pt-Pd and Au/Pd with their synergistic properties can further improve sensor performance. Ion implantation is another feasible approach, involving doping of sensing materials with the desired concentration of dopants through control over the energy and dosage of the irradiation ions as well as creation of structural defects such as oxygen vacancies through high-energy ion-beam irradiation, contributing to enhanced sensing capabilities. The formation of core-shell structures is also effective, creating numerous interfaces between core and shell materials that optimize the sensing characteristics. However, the shell thickness needs to be carefully optimized to achieve the best sensing output. To reduce energy consumption, sensors can operate in a self-heating condition where an external voltage is applied to the electrodes, significantly lowering the power requirements. This enables sensors to function in energy-constrained environments, such as remote or low-energy areas. An important advantage of 2D MXenes and TMDs is their high mechanical flexibility. Unlike semiconducting metal oxides that lack mechanical flexibility, MXenes and TMDs can maintain their sensing performance even when integrated onto flexible substrates and subjected to bending, tilting, or stretching. This flexibility makes them ideal for fabricating flexible and portable gas sensors that rigid sensors cannot achieve.

Effect of Different N/C Coordination Electronic Structures on the Activity of Bifunctional Rare-Earth Ytterbium Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Electrodes

The research and development of bifunctional electrocatalysts for the oxygen electrode is of great significance to solve the problem of electrochemical energy. Herein, the effect of different structure-activity relationships on the performance of YbNxCy-gra catalysts was explored. The bifunctional activity of graphene with a vacancy defect supported by single-atom rare-earth ytterbium was studied by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. We systematically analyzed the stability, electronic properties, and catalytic performance of potential bifunctional catalysts. The results showed that all catalysts were thermodynamically and kinetically stable. Under acidic conditions, YbN2C2-oppo-gra and YbN2C2-pen-gra showed good ORR activity, and their overpotentials were 0.53 and 0.65 V, respectively. In an alkaline environment, most of the Yb(OH)NxCy-gra catalysts showed excellent ORR and OER bifunctional catalytic activity. Their overpotentials were all below 0.6 V. In particular, the ηORR and ηOER of the Yb(OH)N4C0-gra electrocatalyst were as low as 0.33 and 0.42 V. This verified the practicability and feasibility of hydroxyl-modified catalysts to enhance activity. This research provides theoretical insights into the further design and development of high-efficiency rare-earth-supported bifunctional catalysts.

Exploring residents' willingness to pay for the research and development of renewable energy: A survey from first-tier cities in China

The research and development (R&D) of renewable energy (RE) is crucial for cost reduction in electricity generation and enhancing power system stability. Compared to traditional fossil fuels, it demands more financial support. To investigate Chinese residents' willingness to pay (WTP) for the R&D of RE and its influencing factors, we conducted a large-scale online survey in four first-tier cities in China in 2023. The research findings indicate that (1) Chinese residents are willing to pay approximately 31.20 yuan (4.34 USD) per month for the R&D of RE. (2) WTP is higher under a mandatory payment model than a voluntary one. (3) Electricity consumption, environmental concern, environmental behavior, willingness to participate, satisfaction with government RE policies, and trust in the government's environmental governance capability significantly influence WTP. (4) Younger, male, and larger household residents exhibit higher WTP. Based on these findings, targeted policy recommendations were proposed.

Climate change effects and their implications for the financial markets: Evidence from the United Kingdom

This study aims to examine how the climate affects the behaviour of the stock market. To achieve this, we have drawn on daily data from Jan 2005 to Jan 31, 2023 and several environmental factors (e.g., temperature, humidity, cloud cover and visibility) to account for extreme weather conditions using the 21-day moving average and its standard deviation. The empirical analysis has revealed three key findings regarding the impact of weather on the stock market's behaviour. First, various forms of extreme weather conditions consistently lead to influence stock behaviour. Second, results provide valuable insights into market behaviour and help investors to make more informed investment decisions. Third, the weather conditions have new information about the climate risk and investors should react to it swiftly in light of our findings. The saliency theory can help reconcile the theoretical conflicts between the real options and risk-shifting theories when it comes to investing in uncertain and extreme climate conditions.

Analyzing the dynamic effect of energy endowment-demand distortion on sustainable development: Insights from China's regional disparity

The distribution of China's energy resources is concentrated in the central and western regions, whereas the energy demand is predominantly centered in the eastern regions. Under the ambitious "carbon neutrality" goal, how to effectively quantify and respond to the impact of this energy "endowment-demand" distortion (EEDD) on economy and environment has become a key issue. We introduce an EEDD index that quantifies the distortion characteristics of China's energy endowment and demand. Based on the EEDD index, a panel vector auto regression-generalized method of moments (PVAR-GMM) model is adopted to assess the interactive effects between regional EEDD and sustainable development variables. The obtained results indicate that the energy endowment-demand distortions are progressively worsening across most provinces. Interestingly, we discover that the EEDD has significant beneficial effects on regional sustainable development. Moreover, the EEDD is found to be significantly influenced by the sustainability-related variables. These impacts between EEDD and sustainable development variables demonstrate significant regional heterogeneity. This study provides crucial empirical evidence for advancing the comprehensive and sustainable development of regional energy, environment, and economy.

An in-depth study of the oxidative liquefaction process for polymeric waste reduction and chemical production from wind turbine blades and personal protective equipment used in the medical field

An in-depth study of the oxidative liquefaction process has been provided to degrade the polymeric waste from personal protective equipment (PPEs) and wind turbine blades (WTBs). Thermogravimetric investigations demonstrate that WTBs have three prominent peaks throughout the degradation, whereas PPEs display solitary peak features. Experiments are carried out employing specific experimental design approaches, namely the Central Composite Face-Centered Plan (CCF) for WTBs and the Central Composition Design with Fractional Factorial Design for PPEs in a batch-type reactor at temperature ranges of 250-350 °C, pressures of 20-40 bar, residence times of 30-90 min, H2O2 concentrations of 15-45 %, and waste/liquid ratios of 5-25 % for WTBs. These values were 200-300 °C, 30 bar, 45 min, 30-60 % and 5-7 % for PPE. A detailed comparison has been provided in the context of total polymer degradation (TPD) for PPE and WTBs. Liquid products from both types of wastes after the oxidative liquefaction process are subjected to gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) to identify the existence of oxygenated chemical compounds (OCCs). For WTBs, TPD was 20-49 % and this value was 55-96 % for PPE while the OCC yield for WTBs (36.31 g/kg - 210.59 g/kg) and PPEs (39.93 g/kg - 212.66 g/kg) was also calculated. Detailed optimization of experimental plans was carried out by performing the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and optimization goals were maximum TPD and OCCs yields against the minimum energy consumption, though a considerable amount of complex polymer waste can be reduced and high concentrations of OCC can be achieved, which could be applied for commercial and environmental benefits.

Sustainable development through green transition in EU countries: New evidence from panel quantile regression

Sustainable development addresses global challenges by promoting practices that balance economic, social, and environmental considerations. Key factors include the shifting to green energy and the integrating of green technology in the sustainable development process. This study investigates the heterogenous effects of green technology development, green energy, R&D expenditures, FDI, economic growth, and urbanization on CO2 emissions in 25 European Union (EU) countries using panel quantile regression over the period 2000-2021. The results, based on panel quantile regression, indicate that green energy decreases CO2 emissions from the 10th to the 90th quantiles, while green technology development increases CO2 emissions at the lower quantiles (10th to 60th) and then turns negative. The robustness of the fixed effect model also confirms the findings of the study. Additionally, panel causality tests indicate no causal link between green technology development and CO2 emissions, but there is bidirectional causality between green energy and CO2 emissions. Therefore, the findings highlight that policymakers should thoroughly evaluate measures and strategies to encourage the development of green technologies and green energy sources to reduce high levels of CO2 emissions. One strategy is to provide financial aid and support technological advances to produce green energy at reduced costs.

Breathing in danger: Understanding the multifaceted impact of air pollution on health impacts

Air pollution, a pervasive environmental threat that spans urban and rural landscapes alike, poses significant risks to human health, exacerbating respiratory conditions, triggering cardiovascular problems, and contributing to a myriad of other health complications across diverse populations worldwide. This article delves into the multifarious impacts of air pollution, utilizing cutting-edge research methodologies and big data analytics to offer a comprehensive overview. It highlights the emergence of new pollutants, their sources, and characteristics, thereby broadening our understanding of contemporary air quality challenges. The detrimental health effects of air pollution are examined thoroughly, emphasizing both short-term and long-term impacts. Particularly vulnerable populations are identified, underscoring the need for targeted health risk assessments and interventions. The article presents an in-depth analysis of the global disease burden attributable to air pollution, offering a comparative perspective that illuminates the varying impacts across different regions. Furthermore, it addresses the economic ramifications of air pollution, quantifying health and economic losses, and discusses the implications for public policy and health care systems. Innovative air pollution intervention measures are explored, including case studies demonstrating their effectiveness. The paper also brings to light recent discoveries and insights in the field, setting the stage for future research directions. It calls for international cooperation in tackling air pollution and underscores the crucial role of public awareness and education in mitigating its impacts. This comprehensive exploration serves not only as a scientific discourse but also as a clarion call for action against the invisible but insidious threat of air pollution, making it a vital read for researchers, policymakers, and the general public.

Reducing air pollution does not necessarily reduce related adults' mortality burden: Variations in 177 countries with different economic levels

Prolonged exposure to PM2.5 is associated with increased mortality. However, reducing air pollution concentrations does not necessarily reduce the related burden of deaths. Here, we aim to estimate the variations in PM2.5-related mortality due to contributions from key factors - PM2.5 concentration, population exposure, and healthcare levels - for 177 countries from 2000 to 2018 at the 1-km grid scale according to the Global Mortality Exposure Model (GEMM) model. We find that global reductions in PM2.5-related deaths mainly come from high and upper-middle income countries, where lowered air pollutant concentration and better healthcare can offset mortality burdens caused by increasing exposed populations. Changes in population exposure to PM2.5 contribute the most (54 %) to change in global related deaths over the examined period, followed by changes in healthcare (-42 %) and pollution concentrations (4 %). The impacts vary across countries and regions within them due to other drivers, which are significantly influenced by development status. Policies aiming at reducing PM2.5 associated health risks need to account for country-specific balances of these key socioeconomic drivers.

Geopolitical risk and firm-level environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance

This study investigates the impact of geopolitical risk on firm-level environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. Using a news-based indicator of geopolitical risk across 41 countries and a comprehensive dataset spanning from 2002 to 2021 with 65,354 firm-year observations, we uncover that geopolitical risk is negatively associated with ESG performance. Our findings remain robust even when considering alternative measures of geopolitical risk, ESG components, and sub-samples. Moreover, we address potential endogeneity concerns through two-stage least squares, propensity score matching and entropy balancing approaches. Interestingly, we find that the effect of geopolitical risk is positive for countries with lower geopolitical risk and high peace, indicating that relatively stable environments can incentivize firms to enhance their sustainability practices. We also examine the potential channel effects of cash holding, corporate investment, and cost of capital, and found significant effects. Overall, this paper underscores the significance of geopolitical risk as a macro-level shock that significantly influences ESG performance.

Switch to pollution control bonds, else carbon risk will switch us: Evidence from the U.S. electric utility firms

This study explores the implications and effectiveness of pollution control bonds (PCBs) in reducing carbon risk, focusing on a sample of 242 U S. electric utility firms from 2012 to 2022. The research investigates the association of PCB issuances with (i) absolute (unscaled) carbon emissions levels and their three scopes; and (ii) carbon emissions intensity and its three scopes. Using quantile regressions covering the 5th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th quantiles, along with the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) methodology (where the treatment group includes firms using PCBs and the control group comprises firms that do not opt for PCBs), the findings show a significant reduction in carbon emissions due to PCB issuance. Substantial differences were observed between the treatment group and the control group across various quantiles of carbon emissions, particularly for companies with medium to high carbon footprints, both in terms of overall CO2 emissions and scope 2 CO2 emissions. Moreover, disparities between the two groups were notable across all quantiles of scope 1 CO2 emissions. Additionally, among the companies using PCBs, those with lower risk profiles exhibited a smaller carbon footprint, measured by scope 3 CO2 emissions, in comparison to their counterparts. Furthermore, the study highlights a more pronounced impact of PCBs issuance during the second phase of the Kyoto Protocol and the commitment period of the Paris Agreement. The results remain robust when alternative measures of carbon risk are applied. These findings carry significant implications for municipal and financing authorities, as well as investors within the U.S. electric utility industry. This research contributes novel insights to the field of electric utility management.

Unveiling the health consequences of air pollution in the world's most polluted nations

Air pollution poses a persuasive threat to global health, demonstrating widespread detrimental effects on populations worldwide. Exposure to pollutants, notably particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 µm (PM2.5), has been unequivocally linked to a spectrum of adverse health outcomes. A nuanced understanding of the relationship between them is crucial for implementing effective policies. This study employs a comprehensive investigation, utilizing the extended health production function framework alongside the system generalized method of moments (SGMM) technique, to scrutinize the interplay between air pollution and health outcomes. Focusing on a panel of the top twenty polluted nations from 2000 to 2021, the findings yield substantial insights. Notably, PM2.5 concentration emerges as a significant factor, correlating with a reduction in life expectancy by 3.69 years and an increase in infant mortality rates by 0.294%. Urbanization is found to increase life expectancy by 0.083 years while concurrently decreasing infant mortality rates by 0.00022%. An increase in real per capita gross domestic product corresponds with an improvement in life expectancy by 0.21 years and a decrease in infant mortality rates by 0.00065%. Similarly, an elevated school enrollment rate is associated with a rise in life expectancy by 0.17 years and a decline in infant mortality rates by 0.00032%. However, a higher population growth rate is found to modestly decrease life expectancy by 0.019 years and slightly elevate infant mortality rates by 0.000016%. The analysis reveals that per capita greenhouse gas emissions exert a negative impact, diminishing life expectancy by 0.486 years and elevating infant mortality rates by 0.00061%, while per capita energy consumption marginally reduces life expectancy by 0.026 years and increases infant mortality rates by 0.00004%. Additionally, economic volatility shock presents a notable decrement in life expectancy by 0.041 years and an increase in infant mortality rates by 0.000045%, with inflationary shock further exacerbating adverse health outcomes by lowering life expectancy by 0.70 years and elevating infant mortality rates by 0.00025%. Moreover, the study scrutinizes the role of institutional quality, revealing a constructive impact on health outcomes. Specifically, the institutional quality index is associated with an increase in life expectancy by 0.66% and a decrease in infant mortality rates by 0.0006%. Extending the analysis to examine the nuanced dimensions of institutional quality, the findings discern that economic institutions wield a notably stronger positive influence on health outcomes compared to political and institutional governance indices. Finally, the results underscore the pivotal moderating role of institutional quality in mitigating the deleterious impact of PM2.5 concentration on health outcomes, counterbalancing the influence of external shocks, and improving the relationships between explanatory variables and health outcome indicators. These findings offer critical insights for guiding evidence-based policy implications, with a focus on fostering resilient, sustainable, and health-conscious societies.

Spatial effect of biomass energy consumption on carbon emissions reduction: the role of globalization

As globalization proceeds, increasing biomass energy consumption is an important pathway to replace fossil fuels for tackling climate change by reducing emissions. This study explores the spatial spillover effect in biomass energy carbon reduction, which is frequently ignored when investigating environmental factors. It uncovers whether globalization and its dimensions can strengthen the spatial effect of biomass energy carbon reduction. Besides, we reveal whether biomass energy consumption can promote CO2 emissions reduction while ensuring economic progress. Results show that (1) owing to the spillover effect, biomass energy consumption plays a significant role in direct and indirect enhancing carbon emissions reduction, with their feedback effects of - 0.003 or 3.3% of the direct effect. (2) Increasing overall, social and political globalization enhances biomass energy consumption's carbon reduction effect. (3) In countries with higher economic development, overall, economic and political globalization has a better promotion in the spatial effect of biomass energy carbon reduction. (4) Developing biomass energy can support the environment quality while enhancing economic growth.

Empirical evidence of emissions discourse related to food, beverage, and tobacco production in leading manufacturing nations

The proliferation of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions has resulted in significant environmental challenges worldwide, particularly within industrialized nations. The present paper tries to investigate the role of food, beverages, and tobacco in mitigating CO2 emissions in the top industrial countries. Economic growth and renewable and non-renewable energy consumption are integrated as control variable in the empirical model. The study applied the pooled mean group-autoregressive distributed lag (PMG-ARDL) model proposed by (J Appl Econ, 16:289-326, 2001) and Granger causality test for causalities directions. The empirical outcomes suggest the presence of cross-sectional dependence, and variables are integrated of order one and cointegrated. Long-run estimates revealed the presence of inversed U curve proving the validity of the environmental Kuznets curve. Also, the results show that renewable energy (RE) consumption contribute in reducing emissions, while non-renewable energy (NRE) and food, beverages, and tobacco (FBT) led to increase emissions level in the long run. Granger shows bidirectional long-run relationship between CO2 emissions, non-renewable energy, and economic growth. Moreover, Granger recorded no causality between food, beverages, and tobacco and any other variable. We recommend that firms engaged in the production of food, beverages, and tobacco products are increasingly urged to make investments in clean technologies powered by renewable energy sources for their manufacturing processes. This is considered a necessary step to achieve a significant reduction in CO2 emissions over an extended period.

A review of interconnected challenges in the water-energy-food nexus: Urban pollution perspective towards sustainable development

The swift growth of cities worldwide poses significant challenges in ensuring a sufficient water, energy, and food supply. The Nexus has innovated valuable systems to address these challenges. However, a crucial issue is the potential for pollution resulting from these systems, which directly and indirectly impacts public health and the overall quality of urban living. This study comprehensively reviews the interconnected challenges of the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus and various forms of pollution in cities. The primary focus of this review article is to showcase the findings of WEF nexus studies regarding various pollutions across different geographical regions and spatial scales. It aims to examine the problems resulting from these pollutions, specifically their effects on human health and urban life. It also delves into the sources of pollution as identified in these studies. Furthermore, the article will highlight the proposed solutions from the research aimed at effectively mitigating pollution in each sector studied. This article is a systematic review which analyses research sources from the Scopus database. It extensively reviewed 2463 peer-reviewed published articles and focused explicitly on articles related to the WEF nexus that discussed pollution. Our study emphasizes, firstly, raising awareness about the crucial link between the WEF nexus, pollution, urban environments, and human health among policymakers and key stakeholders, including urban planners, industry partners and municipalities. This is to promote the development of policies that encourage sustainable practices and key stakeholders. Secondly, it evaluates WEF nexus and pollution research methods and findings, aiding in identifying research gaps technological innovation and potential, as well as enhancing decision-making. Lastly, it outlines future research challenges, providing a roadmap for researchers and policymakers to advance understanding in this domain and identify opportunities for resource efficiency and collaboration between different sectors.

Research landscape of energy transition and green finance: A bibliometric analysis

This study utilizes bibliometric analysis to examine historical and present research patterns in the area of energy transition and green finance and to forecast potential future domains. Using the bibliometric method, 328 scholarly articles from the Web of Science database were evaluated. This paper identifies influential publications, maps the research landscape, and forecasts emerging tendencies through co-citation and co-word analyses. Co-citation analysis found three main clusters, while co-word analysis revealed four main clusters. Despite the growing significance of research on energy transition and green finance research, further in-depth investigation is necessary to offer a thorough depiction of the research domain. This research represents a pioneering endeavour in the utilization of bibliometric analysis to investigate the interrelationship between two items. It offers valuable insights into the rapidly expanding field of energy transition and green finance, effectively highlighting its contours and indicating potential future developments.

The key to sustainability: In-depth investigation of environmental quality in G20 countries through the lens of renewable energy, economic complexity and geopolitical risk resilience

The world is currently facing urgent climate and environmental issues, such as global warming, ecosystem collapse, and energy shortages. In this context, this study selected data from 2000 to 2021 and employed the Method of Moment Quantile Regression (MMQR) to thoroughly investigate the impact of renewable energy consumption, economic complexity, and geopolitical risks on the ecological footprint of the Group of Twenty (G20) countries. The results indicate that in countries with lower quantiles, renewable energy consumption significantly reduces the ecological footprint, whereas its effect is not prominent in countries with higher quantiles. Economic complexity has a negative impact on the ecological footprint, and this impact becomes stronger as the quantile of the ecological footprint rises. Additionally, economic complexity moderates the effect of renewable energy on the ecological footprint. Geopolitical risks facilitate the growth of the ecological footprint. Likewise, robustness tests such as DOLS, FMOLS, and quantile regression confirm these estimates in the same framework. This study has conducted a profound analysis of global environmental issues, offering innovative perspectives and recommendations for achieving goals related to sustainable energy utilization, mitigating climate change, and improving the ecological environment. The findings of this research will guide policymakers in G20 countries to adopt more effective environmental protection measures, thereby contributing to the construction of a sustainable future.

The impact of green finance policy on green innovation performance: Evidence from Chinese heavily polluting enterprises

Green innovation (GI) is increasingly recognised as an effective strategy for tackling climate change, mitigating environmental issues, and promoting sustainable development. Using panel data of the Chinese listed firms from 2007 to 2019, this study adopts the difference-in-differences approach to assess the impact of the green finance policy (GFP) initiated by the Chinese government in 2012 on the green innovation performance of firms. The findings reveal that the GFP significantly boosts the green innovation performance of heavily polluting enterprises (HPEs). Notably, this effect is more pronounced in state-owned enterprises and firms with high dependence on external finance. Compared with penalty-based regulations, incentive-based and voluntary environmental regulations demonstrate more significant moderating effects on the relationship between the GFP and green innovation performance for HPEs. We also identify improved efficiency in the usage of green investments as a potential mechanism through which the GFP enhances the green innovation performance of HPEs. Further comparative analysis shows that green enterprises can achieve simultaneous improvement in both the quality and quantity of green innovation, whereas HPEs predominantly exhibit enhancements in innovation quantity. To maximise the GFP's positive effects, it is recommended to facilitate more targeted bank lending towards HPEs to support their structural transformation. Additionally, the coordinated deployment of diverse environmental policy instruments is advised to exploit their synergistic effects.

Unraveling the environmental Kuznets curve: interplay between [Formula: see text] emissions, economic development, and energy consumption

The study investigates the complex interplay among [Formula: see text] emissions, energy consumption, and economic growth in China, employing the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) framework to analyze the dynamics from 1990 to 2022. The research contributes to the urgent need for sustainable development by filling important gaps in comprehending China's specific challenges and potential and considering the relationship between economic advancement and environmental quality. This study utilizes advanced econometric tools, including the AutoRegressive Distributed Lag model, Vector Error Correction Model, and AutoRegressive Integrated Moving Average, to comprehensively examine the complicated relationship between variables, considering both short-run and long-run dynamics. The study supports the EKC concept, suggesting that targeted measures can reduce environmental degradation as China's economy advances. Strategic policy recommendations include emission reduction targets, investments in green technologies, and promoting sustainable consumption patterns. Furthermore, transitioning from fossil fuels to cleaner energy aligns with global climate objectives. This research provides valuable insights for policymakers, emphasizing the interconnected nature of energy consumption, [Formula: see text] emissions, and economic growth in shaping China's sustainable future.

Comparing the EU and Chinese carbon trading market operations and their spillover effects

A carbon trading market (CTM) policy for trading carbon dioxide emission rights as a commodity was created to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. CTMs operate differently in different countries and regions, and their interactions deserve an in-depth study. This study focused on the world's largest CTM, the European Union (EU), and the CTM of China, largest carbon-emitting country. First, we evaluate the liquidity and volatility of the two CTMs. Subsequently, the VAR model is used to explore the mean spillover effect between the two markets and the BEKK-GARCH model is used to explore the volatility spillover effect between the two markets. The study concludes that: (1) The liquidity of China's CTM is better than that of the EU's CTM. (2) Both the EU and Chinese CTMs are unstable, but the volatility of the Chinese CTM is lower than that of the EU CTM. (3) Price changes in the EU and Hubei CTMs have a mutual influence. (4) There are interactions between the market fluctuations of the EU CTM and the Shanghai CTM and those of the EU CTM and the Hubei CTM. The results of this study have implications for the construction and development of CTMs in the EU and China.

From brown to green: are Asian economies on the right path? Assessing the role of green innovations and geopolitical risk on environmental quality

Preserving the sustainability of the natural environment has emerged as a critical focus on policy agendas worldwide. Therefore, this study examines the relationship between environmental quality and key determinants, focusing on geopolitical risk (GPR), green innovations (GI), economic growth, FDI, renewable energy consumption, and urbanization. Dataset is used for the time period of 1990-2020 across selected Asian economies including China, India, Japan, Malaysia, and South Korea. Using load capacity factor (LCF) as a comprehensive proxy for environmental quality, the research utilizes panel quantile regression (QR) to provide empirical outcomes. Results of panel QR method reveal a negative impact of economic growth and GPR on LCF. On the other hand, green innovation, FDI, and renewable energy are found as supportive factors to boost environmental quality. In addition, urbanization also shows positive linkage with LCF. The application of Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) and Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) further validates the robustness of the findings. Adoption of green innovations, practicing sustainable growth patterns, transition toward cleaner energy practices, and integrated urban planning are advocated to enhance environmental quality among Asian nations. Based on empirical findings study suggests comprehensive policy measures that can help in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) including SDG-7 (energy efficiency), SDG-8 (sustainable economic growth), SDG-11 (sustainable cities), and SDG-13 (climate action) among Asian countries.

The responsiveness of renewable energy production to geopolitical risks, oil market instability and economic policy uncertainty: Evidence from United States

This paper aims to investigate the responsiveness of renewable energy production (REP) to fluctuations in geopolitical risks, oil prices and economic policy uncertainty (EPU). It applies a cross-quantilogram framework to examine monthly data of the US economy for the period of 1986-2022. The findings illustrate the asymmetric effect of historical geopolitical risk (GPRH) on REP under long memory. The findings also hold after different subcategories of GPRH, including geopolitical threats and geopolitical acts, are considered. A positive shock in GPRH has the most decisive positive impact on REP when the policies are driven by both energy security and environmental commitments. A positive shock in GPRH can negatively impact REP when policies are driven by energy security causes only. EPU exerts strong negative effects on REP in bearish and bullish states of the market under medium and long memory across different measures of EPU. Dynamic connectedness analysis applying TVP-VAR method between pairwise variables indicates that net REP is a volatility receiver to the changes in GPRH, its subcomponents, oil prices and different measures of EPU.

Challenges to environmental governance arising from the Russo-Ukrainian conflict: Evidence from carbon emissions

The destruction of ecosystems, increase in carbon emissions, and volatility of energy prices following the outbreak of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict constitute a complex situation that environmental managers must cope with. In response, this study aims to explore the impact of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict on carbon emissions in the European Union (EU) and associated heterogeneity factors. This study utilized stacked data from 2021 to 2022 on daily carbon emissions and used the differences-in-differences (DID) model as its methodological framework. This study also provides additional analyses for the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), and Russia. The full-blown Russo-Ukrainian conflict led to a significant increase in carbon emissions in the EU, averaging 0.092 MtCO2. Further investigations showed that the conflict led to a significant increase in energy prices and that changes in the prices of different energy sources had a heterogeneous effect on carbon emissions. Specifically, an increase in natural gas prices drove a rise in carbon emissions, whereas an increase in oil prices led to a decrease in carbon emissions in the EU. Third, the conflict also affected countries outside the EU, including the US and the UK, which experienced significant increases in carbon emissions in contrast to Russia, which underwent a decline. Finally, the study identified four sectors - international aviation, industry, power, and residential - as the primary contributors to elevated carbon emissions in the EU. This study provides a novel perspective for exploring the interplay between conflicts and carbon emissions and offers valuable insights into shaping effective environmental management policies and measures.

The relationship between entrepreneurial energy efficiency orientation and carbon footprint reduction: The mediating role of green networking and identification of barriers to green practices

Motivated by the growing attention to climate change and the crucial role businesses could play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, this study investigates entrepreneurial energy efficiency orientation in the context of carbon footprint reduction initiatives of small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We enhance understanding of the climate change action of SMEs by taking into account the mediating mechanisms (i.e., identification of green barriers and green networking) through which firm entrepreneurial energy efficiency orientation leads to superior carbon footprint reduction initiatives by overcoming barriers to green practices. A survey of 252 SME owners and top managers in the Tees Valley region, Northeast England, supported the direct impact of entrepreneurial energy efficiency orientation on overcoming barriers to green practices and the mediating role of identification of green barriers and green networking in this focal relationship. These findings reveal the importance of entrepreneurial energy efficiency orientation, identification of green barriers and green networking in helping SMEs overcome barriers to green practices and improving carbon footprint reduction initiatives.

Linking energy crises and solar energy in China: a roadmap towards environmental sustainability

Fossil fuels are the primary energy sources of China, which are not only expensive but have adverse environmental impacts. To cope with this situation, the Chinese government wants to fulfil 25% of its energy consumption by non-fossil fuels by 2030. In this perspective, we selected the solar sources of the country and collected solar irradiation data for one year in the six big cities of China in 2022. For the analysis of data and assessing the effectiveness of photovoltaic (PV), RETScreen and MATLAB were utilized. A further step was taken by performing the life cycle assessment (LCA) to scrutinize the different features of solar energy, including fuel consumption, price, average lifetime, maintenance and operation expenses, land requirements, and greenhouse gas emissions. Results reveal that all these cities have enormous solar power potential. However, the highest solar power (0.27 kW) is generated in Nanchang city, while the lowest power (0.21 kW) is generated in Sanya city. Solar energy is durable and has a good average lifespan but can be costly, as PV panels lose efficiency due to dust and pollution. The regular cleaning of PV panels, in turn, demands substantial cost. Based on research results, significant policy suggestions have been recommended to fulfil the country's energy demand on its way to a future of sustainable development.