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Advances in Energy Economics, Energy Policy and Sustainability Transition

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 December 2025 | Viewed by 5546

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Huaxi Yuan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Economics, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan 430073, China
Interests: digital economics; industrial agglomeration; and environmental regulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite contributions to a Special Issue titled "Advances in Energy Economics, Energy Policy and Sustainability Transition". As the world grapples with the urgent challenges posed by climate change and the need for sustainable development, the transition toward greener energy systems is more critical than ever. This Special Issue seeks to explore the intersection of energy economics and policy with sustainable energy transitions, aiming to provide new insights into how these domains can support global sustainability goals.

We welcome submissions that address a range of topics related to this theme, including but not limited to renewable energy integration, energy market dynamics, the economic impacts of energy policies, energy efficiency improvements, and policy frameworks that support sustainable energy development. In addition, contributions that examine the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of energy transitions, as well as the role of emerging technologies in transforming energy systems, are highly encouraged.

This Special Issue invites interdisciplinary research from fields such as economics, environmental science, public policy, engineering, and urban planning. We aim to compile a diverse set of research articles, case studies, and reviews that provide novel approaches and practical solutions for advancing energy transitions in line with sustainable development.

By offering a platform for researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals, this Special Issue seeks to foster the exchange of knowledge, address pressing challenges, and chart actionable pathways toward more sustainable and resilient energy systems.

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions.

Dr. Huaxi Yuan
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • energy economics
  • sustainable energy transition
  • renewable energy
  • energy policy
  • environmental economics
  • energy efficiency
  • climate policy
  • decarbonization
  • socio-economic impacts of energy
  • sustainable development goals (SDGs)

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

31 pages, 1606 KiB  
Article
Investments, Economics, Renewables and Population Versus Carbon Emissions in ASEAN and Larger Asian Countries: China, India and Pakistan
by Simona-Vasilica Oprea, Adela Bâra and Irina Alexandra Georgescu
Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6628; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146628 - 20 Jul 2025
Viewed by 563
Abstract
Our research explores the dynamic relationship between CO2 emissions and four major influencing factors: foreign direct investment (FDI), economic growth (GDP), renewable energy consumption (REN) and population (POP) in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and three large Asian countries—China, India [...] Read more.
Our research explores the dynamic relationship between CO2 emissions and four major influencing factors: foreign direct investment (FDI), economic growth (GDP), renewable energy consumption (REN) and population (POP) in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and three large Asian countries—China, India and Pakistan, collectively referred to as LACs (larger Asian countries), from 1990 to 2022. The study has three main objectives: (1) to assess the short-run and long-run effects of GDP, FDI, REN and POP on CO2 emissions; (2) to compare the adjustment speeds and environmental policy responsiveness between ASEAN and LAC regions; and (3) to evaluate the role of renewable energy in mitigating environmental degradation. Against the backdrop of increasing environmental challenges and divergent development paths in Asia, this research contributes to the literature by applying a dynamic heterogeneous panel autoregressive distributed lag (panel ARDL) model. Unlike traditional static panel models, the panel ARDL model captures both long-run equilibrium relationships and short-run adjustments, allowing for country-specific dynamics. The results reveal a significant long-run cointegration among the variables. The error correction term (ECT) indicates a faster adjustment to equilibrium in LACs (−1.18) than ASEAN (−0.37), suggesting LACs respond more swiftly to long-run disequilibria in emissions-related dynamics. This may reflect more responsive policy mechanisms, stronger institutional capacities or more aggressive environmental interventions in LACs. In contrast, the slower adjustment in ASEAN highlights potential structural rigidities or delays in implementing effective policy responses, emphasizing the need for enhanced regulatory frameworks and targeted climate strategies to improve policy intervention efficiency. Results show that GDP and FDI increase emissions in both regions, while REN reduces them. POP is insignificant in ASEAN but increases emissions in LACs. These results provide insights into the relative effectiveness of policy instruments in accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy, highlighting the need for differentiated strategies that align with each country’s institutional capacity, development stage and energy structure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Energy Economics, Energy Policy and Sustainability Transition)
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20 pages, 1079 KiB  
Article
Green Finance and Energy Structure Transition: Evidence from China
by Wenhua Xu, Qixiang Yuan, Naixin Chen and Jian Ye
Sustainability 2025, 17(11), 4838; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17114838 - 24 May 2025
Viewed by 1216
Abstract
To achieve high-quality development, the Chinese government has proposed the establishment of Green Finance Reform and Innovation Pilot Zones (GFRIPZs). Green finance enhances environmental governance, guides capital flows, and supports sustainable economic growth. Against the backdrop of the “dual carbon” goals (carbon peaking [...] Read more.
To achieve high-quality development, the Chinese government has proposed the establishment of Green Finance Reform and Innovation Pilot Zones (GFRIPZs). Green finance enhances environmental governance, guides capital flows, and supports sustainable economic growth. Against the backdrop of the “dual carbon” goals (carbon peaking and carbon neutrality), this study examines whether green finance significantly drives urban energy structure transition and explores its underlying mechanisms. Leveraging the GFRIPZ policy as a quasi-natural experiment, we construct a multi-period Difference-in-Differences (DID) model to systematically analyze the impact of green finance on energy structure transition. The findings reveal that the GFRIPZ policy significantly accelerates urban energy structure transition, with stronger effects observed in resource-based cities, central and western regions, and cities with higher administrative levels. Green finance drives this transition through the mediating effects of green technological innovation and resource allocation efficiency, while the digital economy further amplifies its positive impact. This study concludes that green finance effectively promotes urban energy structure transition and supports high-quality economic development. These findings provide empirical evidence and policy insights for advancing China’s energy revolution and achieving its climate objectives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Energy Economics, Energy Policy and Sustainability Transition)
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29 pages, 2887 KiB  
Article
Evaluating the Role of Next-Generation Productive Forces in Mitigating Carbon Lock-In: Evidence from Regional Disparities in China
by Chenchen Song, Zhiling Guo, Xiaoyue Ma, Jijiang He and Zhengguang Liu
Sustainability 2025, 17(9), 4241; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17094241 - 7 May 2025
Viewed by 554
Abstract
Carbon lock-in (CLI), defined as the structural persistence of fossil-fuel-based systems, poses a significant barrier to decarbonization. As CLI continues to impede China’s progress toward carbon neutrality, understanding the role of next-generation productive forces (NGPFs) in breaking this path dependence has become increasingly [...] Read more.
Carbon lock-in (CLI), defined as the structural persistence of fossil-fuel-based systems, poses a significant barrier to decarbonization. As CLI continues to impede China’s progress toward carbon neutrality, understanding the role of next-generation productive forces (NGPFs) in breaking this path dependence has become increasingly urgent; however, it remains underexplored in empirical research. This study examines the impact of NGPFs on CLI using provincial panel data from 2012 to 2022. Composite indices for NGPFs and CLI are constructed using the entropy weight method. The analysis applies instrumental variable estimation (IV-GMM) to address potential endogeneity, feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) to account for heteroskedasticity, and spatial Durbin models (SDMs) to capture spatial dependence. In addition, quantile regression is used to explore distributional effects, and subsample regressions are conducted to assess regional heterogeneity. The results show that (1) a 1% increase in NGPFs leads to approximately a 0.9643% reduction in CLI, effectively mitigating CLI. (2) NGPF levels are high in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangdong, while being constrained in Heilongjiang, Gansu, and Qinghai. Provinces like Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shandong are rapidly catching up. (3) Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, and Shandong struggle with high comprehensive CLI from carbon-heavy industries; in contrast, Beijing, Shanghai, and Hainan show low CLI. (4) As CLI levels increase (90th percentile), the effectiveness of NGPFs in reducing CLI gradually diminishes (−0.2724). (5) The impact of NGPFs on CLI is not significant in the Eastern region, while in the Central and Western regions, the effects are −1.1365 and −1.0137, respectively. This study offers vital insights for shaping policies that promote sustainable growth and mitigate CLI in China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Energy Economics, Energy Policy and Sustainability Transition)
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29 pages, 6752 KiB  
Article
Global Climate Risk Perception and Its Dynamic Impact on the Clean Energy Market: New Evidence from Contemporaneous and Lagged R2 Decomposition Connectivity Approaches
by Dan Yi, Sheng Lin and Jianlan Yang
Sustainability 2025, 17(8), 3596; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17083596 - 16 Apr 2025
Viewed by 567
Abstract
The acceleration of global climate change presents unprecedented challenges to market stability and sustainable social development. Understanding how market dynamics are impacted by perceptions of climate risk is essential to creating risk management plans that work. Current research frequently concentrates on static evaluations [...] Read more.
The acceleration of global climate change presents unprecedented challenges to market stability and sustainable social development. Understanding how market dynamics are impacted by perceptions of climate risk is essential to creating risk management plans that work. Current research frequently concentrates on static evaluations of how climate risk is perceived, ignoring its dynamic influence on clean energy markets and the intricate channels via which these risks spread. To examine the dynamic influence of climate risk perceptions on clean energy markets, this study builds a spillover network model. We determine the main risk transmission pathways and their temporal variations by looking at changes in market connection over time. Our results demonstrate that climate risk perceptions have a substantial direct and indirect impact on the volatility of clean energy markets. Specifically, the ‘Risk Concern Index (GCTC and GCPC) → Clean Energy Market Index → Climate Policy Uncertainty Index (CPU) → Risk Indices (GCTRI and GCPRI)’ pathway highlights how public and policymaker concerns about climate risk significantly influence market behavior and overall dynamics. Furthermore, the dynamic analysis demonstrates that market spillovers are significantly amplified by economic and geopolitical events, highlighting the necessity of taking external shocks into account when designing policies. This study offers fresh perspectives on how climate risk perception affects clean energy markets, serves as a useful resource for investors and policymakers, and encourages the creation of robust risk management plans and market mechanisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Energy Economics, Energy Policy and Sustainability Transition)
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25 pages, 1607 KiB  
Article
Does the Low-Carbon City Pilot Promote Household Energy Transition in China?
by Yaning Song, Chong Zhuo and Yuyang Deng
Sustainability 2025, 17(7), 2863; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17072863 - 24 Mar 2025
Viewed by 530
Abstract
How to promote the household energy transition (HET) has become an important response to extreme climate change. Our paper examines whether a low-carbon city pilot (LCCP) can promote HET. We empirically use the Staggered Difference-in-Differences (DID) model to explore its mechanisms. The results [...] Read more.
How to promote the household energy transition (HET) has become an important response to extreme climate change. Our paper examines whether a low-carbon city pilot (LCCP) can promote HET. We empirically use the Staggered Difference-in-Differences (DID) model to explore its mechanisms. The results indicate that the LCCP can substantially promote HET. The primary driving mechanism underlying this transition is enhanced governmental emphasis on carbon emission reduction and elevated public environmental awareness. However, the increased local expenditure on energy conservation and environmental protection does not serve as an effective mechanism. The heterogeneity analysis reveals that the LCCP has the most pronounced impact on HET among high-income groups, whereas the effect on low-income groups is relatively minor. Furthermore, the LCCP significantly promotes HET in the eastern region and urban areas, while the central region tends to inhibit it, and the western region and rural areas show no significant effect. The heterogeneity analysis further reveals that the LCCP is effective in Municipalities and Strong-Capital Provinces, where centralized governance and strong political incentives enhance policy implementation. In contrast, the policy shows limited or even negative effects in Non-Municipal Provinces and Non-Strong-Capital Provinces. We provide valuable policy insights for governments to bolster the LCCP implementation to promote HET and achieve carbon neutrality at an earlier stage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Energy Economics, Energy Policy and Sustainability Transition)
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24 pages, 2042 KiB  
Article
Social Dimension of Poland’s Sustainable Energy Transition as Assessed by Residents of the Silesian Region
by Ewelina Włodarczyk and Joanna Herczakowska
Sustainability 2025, 17(6), 2707; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17062707 - 19 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 739
Abstract
Sustainable development is a key concept that has been formulated over many years and is currently transforming our world. Decisions made in its spirit are influencing the economic and legal order and the daily lives of people in Europe and around the world. [...] Read more.
Sustainable development is a key concept that has been formulated over many years and is currently transforming our world. Decisions made in its spirit are influencing the economic and legal order and the daily lives of people in Europe and around the world. In Poland, achieving sustainable development requires a number of difficult decisions, and one of them is to transform the energy system toward low carbon. Poland’s energy transition is not an easy task in a country where, for many years, the dominant energy resource in terms of availability, resources and price has been coal. In view of such conditions, the Polish energy system has been based on coal, which in Polish conditions is still of strategic importance in meeting energy needs. For this reason, Poland’s planned move away from coal raises many controversies and concerns, especially in areas where mines operate. At the same time, it should be remembered that the mining industry, in addition to mining companies, brings together a large group of mining-related companies working for the benefit of mining. Due to the fact that it is in the territory of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin that about 80% of the documented balance resources of Polish hard coal are located, it was justified to conduct a survey among the residents of the Silesian Province as the group most likely to be affected by this decision. The aim of the survey was to find out the target group’s opinion on Poland’s transition away from coal. In turn, the main research problem was an attempt to answer the question of what percentage of households in the Silesian Province are opposed to Poland’s transition away from coal and what are the most significant factors influencing their opinion. Hence, this study presents the results of an empirical survey conducted among a randomly selected group of residents of the Silesian Province. The size of the research sample was 385 people. The study took into account factors such as age, place of residence, income, the square footage of the dwelling and the method of heating it, as well as respondents’ professional affiliation with the mining, mining-related, gas or energy industry. The results of the survey and analyses show that the vast majority of Upper Silesian residents are against the departure from coal, which is being planned in Poland’s energy transition. In addition, the most significant factors influencing respondents’ opinion on Poland’s move away from coal were identified and evaluated, revealing two social groups with differing views: one group opposes the move away from coal, prioritizing energy independence, energy security, energy prices and jobs over environmental issues; the other group advocates for the transition mainly for environmental reasons. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Energy Economics, Energy Policy and Sustainability Transition)
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26 pages, 3296 KiB  
Article
Spatial Effects of New Quality Productivity on the Low-Carbon Transformation of Energy Consumption Structure—Evidence from Provincial Data in China
by Kaimin Yin and Xing Shen
Sustainability 2025, 17(5), 2091; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17052091 - 28 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 724
Abstract
The low-carbon transformation of an energy consumption structure (ECS) is related to the sustainable development of society. New quality productivity (NQP) is an important means to promote the green transformation of an ECS. This paper examines the spatiotemporal evolution of NQP development and [...] Read more.
The low-carbon transformation of an energy consumption structure (ECS) is related to the sustainable development of society. New quality productivity (NQP) is an important means to promote the green transformation of an ECS. This paper examines the spatiotemporal evolution of NQP development and low-carbon transformation of an ECS, utilizing panel data from 30 Chinese provinces (2012–2020) through kernel density estimation and spatial analysis methods. The impact of NQP development on the ECS and its spatial spillover effects are empirically analyzed using a two-way fixed-effects model and a spatial Durbin model. The study reveals that NQP development in China is generally positively correlated with ECS, although significant regional disparities exist. A significant positive spatial correlation exists between NQP and ECS. NQP development significantly promotes the transformation of local ECS but exerts a negative spatial spillover effect on neighboring regions. Further analysis reveals that NQP exhibits an “inverted U-shaped” impact on the spatial spillover effects of local ECS. Spatial attenuation analysis indicates that the negative spillover effects of NQP on ECS diminish with geographical distance, with a maximum attenuation boundary of 600 km. The study found that China is currently facing significant regional development imbalances. Promoting the balanced development of NQP is crucial for achieving high-quality and sustainable development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Energy Economics, Energy Policy and Sustainability Transition)
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