Estimation of economic, environmental, and social efficiency for sustainable development in G-8 and SAARC countries: a data envelopment analysis

In the recent era, economic growth is not enough to represent sustainable development. Sustainable development has three dimensions (i.e., economic, social, and environment). This study estimated the economic, social, and environmental efficiency using data from 2000 to 2021. Input-oriented data envelopment analysis shows strong heterogeneity across developed (G-8) and developing countries (SAARC). There is a potential to increase economic and environmental efficiency in the G-8 and SAARC countries. The average economic efficiencies are 0.682 and 0.414, which implies the possibility of the same output (GDP/capita) by using 31.8% and 58.6% fewer inputs in G-8 and SAARC countries, respectively. The social efficiency score is more than 0.980 in both panels. The average environmental efficiencies are 0.712 and 0.724, which implies that selected countries can obtain the same output (CO₂ emission reduction) by using 28.8% and 27.6% fewer inputs in G-8 and SAARC countries, respectively. The top three economically efficient countries are (a) the USA, the UK, and Japan in the G-8 panel and (b) Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan in the SAARC panel. The top three environmentally efficient countries are (a) France, the UK, and Italy in the G-8 panel and (b) Afghanistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh in the SAARC panel. It is recommended to adopt suitable policies to reduce emission, minimize waste, efficient utilization of resources, increase forest cover, and incentive for clean technologies. It is suggested to promote renewable energy through the provision of micro-credit to the poor, subsidizing renewable energy technologies, implementation of stringent environmental policies, and increasing awareness. It is essential to invest in eco-friendly and innovative technologies; thus, the government should encourage green practices in production. Human development is recommended to increase the living standard and healthy life. The government should invest in the health system and conduct seminars on general health awareness. Investment in basic infrastructure (drinking water, sanitation, and clean fuel) is essential to increase the living standard. The G-8 countries should provide financial and technological help to the SAARC countries.

Determinants of CO2 emissions and economic progress: A case from a developing economy

This study attempts to explore the bond between Pakistani exports, gross capital formation, energy use and carbon dioxide emission. It uses the data from Pakistan spanning over a longer time horizon of 40 years ranging from 1981 to 2020. The results of ARDL analysis show that Pakistani exports have inverse relationship with CO₂ emission in both short as well as long run and the carbon emission reverts to equilibrium at the speed of 54.9%. Increase in carbon emission also lowers export but the causal relationship is only from exports to carbon emission. Energy utilization results in higher carbon emission both in short as well as long run. Based on above findings this study suggests that Pakistan should increase its exports to improve the position of its balance of payment because higher exports do not harm environment in case of Pakistan.

Does multilateral environmental diplomacy improve environmental quality? The case of the United States

International environmental agreements have multiplied over the last five decades. We examine the impact of multilateral environmental diplomacy on carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in the presence of capital formation, renewable energy consumption, and economic growth using the framework of the Environment Kuznets Curve (EKC) and data from the United States from 1980 to 2015. We developed a comprehensive empirical analysis using Zivot-Andrews structural break unit root tests. Co-integration analysis indicates long-run relationships of the variables. The results of the generalized linear models (GLMs) and robust least secure (ROBUSTLS) approach reveal that environmental diplomacy, capital formation, and economic growth deteriorate environmental quality in the long run, while renewable energy consumption improves it. These results support the EKC hypothesis for the United States and suggest that, in the early stages, increased environmental diplomacy stimulates CO₂ emissions to a point, after which CO₂ emissions start declining with further increases in international commitments and strong diplomatic relationships among countries. Policy implications for the United States are presented.

How does technological progress promote carbon productivity? Evidence from Chinese manufacturing industries

Technological progress greatly contributes to the promotion of carbon productivity (CP). This study aims to identify an appropriate mode of technological progress that increases CP. A data envelopment analysis-based method was used to investigate the impacts of four forms of technological progress under two classifications of CP: the progress of neutral technology (NT) and capital-embodied technology (CET) under a technological source and the progress of energy technology (ET) and carbon technology (CT) under an abatement process. We applied dynamic panel data models to deeply analyze the different impacts of the four forms of technological progress on the CPs of Chinese manufacturing industries from 1995 to 2015. Results show that (1) a change in ET contributes more to the promotion of CP than a change in CT; (2) a change in CET promotes CP more than a change in NT; and (3) the indirect effect of a change in CET on CP through a change in ET and the indirect effect of a change in NT on CP through a change in CT are advantageous. These findings provide important policy implications in promoting technological progress and improving Chinese MIs' CPs. Significant policy measures based on theoretical and empirical conclusions are proposed.

Estimation and decomposition analysis of carbon emissions from the entire production cycle for Chinese household consumption

To guide households on implementing low-carbon consumption patterns, it is necessary to comprehensively measure carbon emissions of household consumption. This study expands the input-output relationship into the production-consumption relationship. It uses optimized data of the relationship between household consumption and production industry to calculate the entire production-side carbon emissions, including from capital formation, of Chinese household consumption, and uses LMDI model to analyze the factors affecting the growth of carbon emissions from Chinese household consumption. The results show that the carbon emissions of Chinese household consumption grew steadily from 2005 to 2015 almost 50% of carbon emissions were accounted for by high growth rates in residence consumption. Carbon emissions and growth rate of urban households' consumption are significantly higher than the same figures for rural households. The carbon emissions intensity of all types of household consumption except residence and education has shown a downward trend. Household consumption structure and income level are the two main factors that promote the growth of household carbon emissions. Urbanization level and population size are secondary factors while household consumption carbon intensity is an important factor for curbing the growth of household consumption emissions. The study also proposes policy recommendations on how to improve the consumption structure of households, reduce the carbon intensity of household consumption, and curb the growth of carbon emissions from urban households.