Search Results (1,675)

This study investigates the determinants of green energy penetration in the Next Eleven (N-11) economies over the period 2000–2022, with a particular focus on the roles of foreign direct investment (FDI), green transition, governance quality, industrial growth, and urbanization. The primary objective of the study is to assess how investment flows, structural transformation, and institutional capacity jointly shape the adoption of renewable energy in fast-growing emerging economies. To achieve this goal, the study employs a second-generation panel econometric and machine-learning framework that accounts for cross-sectional dependence, slope heterogeneity, and long-run equilibrium relationships. Specifically, cross-sectional dependence and slope homogeneity tests are conducted, followed by CADF and CIPS unit root tests and the Westerlund cointegration approach. Long-run effects are then estimated using Partialing-Out LASSO and Cross-Fit machine-learning estimators, complemented by SHAP analysis to interpret nonlinear and heterogeneous effects. The results indicate that green transition, governance quality, and urbanization significantly promote green energy penetration. In contrast, FDI and industrial growth exert adverse effects, reflecting carbon-intensive investment and production structures. The findings highlight the importance of coordinated investment strategies, institutional strengthening, and urban planning in accelerating renewable energy transitions in emerging economies. These results provide policy-relevant insights for achieving sustainable energy development while supporting long-term economic growth in the N-11 countries. Full article

The shift towards the integration of and transition to renewable energy has led to an increase in renewable energy communities (RECs) and smart grids (SGs). The significance of these RECs is mainly energy self-sufficiency, energy independence, and energy autonomy. Despite this, in low- and middle-income countries and regions like Pakistan and the Middle East, SGs and RECs are still in their initial stage. However, they have potential for green energy solutions rooted in their unique geographic and climatic conditions. SGs offer energy monitoring, communication infrastructure, and automation features to help these communities build flexible and efficient energy systems. This work provides an overview of Pakistani and Middle Eastern energy policies, goals, and initiatives while aligning with European comparisons. This work also highlights technical, regulatory, and economic challenges in those regions. The main objectives of the research are to ensure that residential service sizes are optimized to maximize the economic and environmental benefits of green energy. Furthermore, in line with SDG 7, affordable and clean energy, the focus in this study is on the development and transformation of energy systems for sustainability and creating synergies with other SDGs. The paper presents insights on the European Directive, including the amended Renewable Energy Directive (RED II and III), to recommend policy enhancements and regulatory changes that could strengthen the growth of RECs in Asian countries, Pakistan, and the Middle East, paving the way for a more inclusive and sustainable energy future. Additionally, it addresses the main causes that hinder the expansion of RECs and SGs, and offers strategic recommendations to support their development in order to reduce dependency on national electric grids. To perform this, a perspective study of Pakistan’s indicative generation capacity by 2031, along with comparisons of energy capacity in the EU, the Middle East, and Asia, is presented. Pakistan’s solar, wind, and hydro potential is also explored in detail. This study is a baseline and informative resource for policy makers, researchers, industry stakeholders, and energy communities’ promoters, who are committed to the task of promoting sustainable renewable energy solutions. Full article

Despite substantial growth in eco-innovation (EI) research, most studies rely on cross-sectional data, limiting understanding of the temporal dynamics of EI and its determinants under varying macroeconomic conditions. This study addresses this gap by analysing panel data from Spanish manufacturing firms across three phases of the business cycle: pre-crisis expansion (2004–2007), the global financial crisis (2008–2013), and recovery (2014–2016). We investigate the drivers of two distinct types of eco-innovation: efficiency EI (energy and material savings) and environmental EI (reducing environmental harm), focusing on the role of regulation, institutional interventions, and firm-level innovation capacities. Using a random-effects panel probit model that accounts for unobserved firm heterogeneity, we examine how these drivers operate across different macroeconomic contexts. Our findings reveal that regulation consistently fosters EI, while the influence of subsidies, R&D capacity, and collaborative networks is more context-dependent, particularly during economic downturns. The results highlight the cumulative, path-dependent, and cyclical nature of EI, providing novel insights into the conditions that enable firms to sustain green innovation over time. Drivers of eco-innovation differ systematically between efficiency- and environment-oriented strategies, and these differences remain stable over the business cycle, implying distinct underlying mechanisms and policy implications. Accordingly, policy design—particularly during economic downturns—should distinguish between reinforcing incentives for internal efficiency improvements and sustaining regulatory and financial support for environmental EI. Full article

Promoting green industrial development and enhancing high-quality employment are crucial for advancing county-level economic growth and achieving shared prosperity. This study analyzes the spatiotemporal evolution trends of green industrial development and high-quality employment using panel data from 20 mountainous counties (cities and districts) in Zhejiang Province from 2010 to 2023. It employs panel models to investigate the effects and mechanisms through which green industrial development fosters high-quality employment. The results indicate that, during the study period, both green industry development and high-quality employment exhibited uneven progress across the 20 mountainous counties (cities and districts) in Zhejiang. Mechanism analysis revealed that green industrial development significantly promotes high-quality employment through two pathways: industrial structure upgrading and technological progress. The heterogeneity analysis indicates that the impact of green industrial development on high-quality employment varies significantly across different industrial structures, with counties dominated by the tertiary sector showing more substantial promotion effects. The threshold regression analysis reveals a dual-threshold effect of technological progress in promoting high-quality employment through green industrial development, presenting an approximately J-shaped nonlinear relationship. The research findings provide significant support for the sustainable development of the ecological environment and society by addressing current imbalances between ecological preservation and economic or social growth. Full article

Although greenhouse gas emissions have significantly reduced, the European Union still faces a major challenge in meeting its 2050 net-zero goal set under the European Green Deal. Focusing on the impacts of population, economic output, and carbon intensity of economy, this study employs Index Decomposition Analysis to estimate the reductions in carbon intensity needed to reach this target. The findings show that the extent of the technical effort required for decarbonization is much influenced by economic expansion. Under a 3% annual Gross Domestic Product growth scenario, the EU’s carbon intensity of economy must decline by 11.8% per year, which is a particularly demanding rate given the already low baseline. The decomposition also quantifies the technological challenge: under high growth, up to 5867 MtCO₂ in reductions would be needed by 2050 (compared with 1990), with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) contributing only 10–15%. In contrast, in zero- or negative-growth scenarios, required reductions fall to 4923–4594 MtCO₂, with CCS accounting for up to 50–90%. These results show that decarbonization in EU industrial sectors requires systemic transformations and strategic CCS deployment. A balanced approach, limiting economic growth and increasing innovation, appears essential to achieve the climate neutrality target. Full article

Rapid economic growth has directly driven up energy demand, and the gradual depletion of traditional fossil fuels has severely hindered sustainable development. Developing green and efficient geothermal exploitation technologies constitutes a crucial measure for tackling this sustainable development issue. This paper presents a field test associated with a clean energy system conducted in the Guanzhong Basin, China, with the core component of a coaxial casing deep geothermal well. A distributed temperature sensing system (DTS system) with over 3000 m-depth optical fiber installed and adopted to monitor near-wellbore formation temperature changes. Combining information on the inlet/outlet water temperature and flow rate monitored by an integrated temperature–pressure monitoring system, the heat transfer patterns during the operation of the deep geothermal well are deeply investigated. The research results demonstrate that a higher operation parameter of flow rates has a significant increasing effect on the heat transfer capacity of heat exchangers for coaxial casing deep geothermal wells. Although the increase in inlet temperature has minimal effect on the outlet temperature, it leads to a continuous decline in heat transfer capacity. In addition, as heat exchange duration extends, the geothermal gradient of the near-wellbore formation progressively declines. Full article

Electric mobility is increasingly recognised as a sustainable transportation solution worldwide. While the economic and environmental aspects of e-mobility have been explored extensively, social dimensions such as equity, accessibility, and inclusiveness remain underexplored. Existing literature on these social aspects is fragmented across disciplines, shaped by varying regional contexts, which complicates efforts to form a coherent understanding of the field. To address this gap, a bibliometric analysis was conducted using the R-studio software via the Biblioshiny app. Version 4.3.0. This analysis systematically maps the intellectual landscape, identifies dominant themes, and highlights critical research gaps at the intersection of e-mobility and social sustainability. A total of 490 publications were extracted from the Scopus database as of 23 March 2025. The findings reveal a sharp increase in scholarly attention since 2018, peaking at 110 publications in 2024. The top-ranked country is China, which has 130 publications. In addition, the research has clustered around four thematic areas: energy and charging infrastructure, social and economic impacts, public policy and regulations, and technological innovations. Despite this growth, persistent gaps remain, particularly concerning social equity, inclusive policy design, socio-economic disparities, and the real-world effects of emerging technologies on vulnerable populations. Future research should specifically explore how e-mobility initiatives can reduce regional access inequalities, generate quality green employment, and ensure that technologies such as vehicle-to-grid systems are equitably deployed to benefit low-income and marginalised populations. Full article

Green technologies are strongly present in the energy mixes of countries around the world. In addition to the need to reduce the extraction of non-renewable raw materials and the harmful environmental impact associated with energy production, the trend towards renewable energy development should also be linked to the need to minimize energy poverty stemming from high electricity prices and the need to increase the energy efficiency of existing solutions. These issues formed the basis for the study’s objective, which was to examine the regulatory framework for the development of Poland’s energy system, with particular emphasis on sustainable development. A particularly important aspect of the study was the exploration of the market for green technologies introduced into the energy system in Poland, with a primary focus on solutions dedicated to small, individual consumers (households). The cognitive value of the study and its original character is created by the cognitive aspect in terms of the interests and consumer preferences of households in this area, motivated by economic considerations related to the energy efficiency aspect of RES solutions. In this regard, there is a relatively limited number of current studies conducted for the reference country (Poland), justifying the choice of the research topic and theme. For the purposes of the study, a literature review, as well as legal standards and industry reports, was conducted. A practical study was conducted based on the results of surveys conducted by selected companies involved in the sale and installation of heating solutions. Detailed research was supported by statistical instruments using PQstat software version 1.8.4.164. Key findings confirm significant household interest in green electricity production technologies, which enable improved energy efficiency of home energy installations. Importantly, the potential for lower electricity bills, which can be attributed to low system maintenance costs and the ability to manage consumption, is a factor in choosing renewable energy solutions. Current interest in renewable energy solutions focuses on heat pumps, photovoltaics, and energy storage. Renewable energy users are interested in integrating renewable energy technology solutions into energy production and management to optimize energy consumption costs and increase household energy independence. Full article

China’s dual carbon goals and rural revitalization strategy necessitate innovative models that integrate energy transition with ecological conservation. However, a critical disconnect persists between photovoltaic (PV) promotion and forest carbon sink projects, limiting their collective potential for coordinated urban–rural emission reduction and common prosperity. To bridge this gap, this study pioneers an integrated “cooperation-mutual assistance” framework that synergizes PV and carbon sinks. A system dynamics model encompassing economic, energy, and environmental subsystems is developed to simulate the long-term evolution (2025–2050) of this synergy under multiple policy scenarios. The simulation results demonstrate that this integrated model can achieve substantial co-benefits: It enables a cumulative carbon emission reduction of 17.5 Gt (gigatons of CO₂ equivalent) from 2025 to 2050, boosts regional GDP by 4.8% by 2050 compared to the baseline scenario, and narrows the urban–rural income gap by prioritizing rural resident income growth. The main contribution of this study is the novel integration of PV and carbon sinks into a unified analytical framework, quantitatively verifying its win–win potential. These findings provide a critical scientific basis for crafting integrated policies that combine carbon markets, green finance, and smart grid planning. Full article

The development of renewable energy has emerged as a cornerstone of sustainable economic transformation, offering a pathway to reduce carbon dependence and enhance long-term energy security. As a result, this study examines the influence of supply chain digitalization, economic growth, and environmental stringency policies on renewable energy consumption (REC) across 33 OECD countries from 2000 to 2021. Using the Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) approach, the research provides robust, distribution-sensitive insights into how these factors shape renewable energy dynamics. In addition to the main variables, financial development and economic globalization were included as control variables to capture broader macroeconomic effects. The empirical results reveal that supply chain digitalization exerts a negative and consistent influence on REC across all quantiles, suggesting that technological advancement within supply chains may still be heavily dependent on non-renewable energy inputs. Conversely, environmental stringency policies demonstrate a positive and significant impact on REC at all quantiles, indicating that stricter environmental regulations effectively drive the transition toward cleaner energy sources. However, the effect of economic growth varies across quantiles, reflecting a nonlinear relationship—fostering renewable energy use in some instances while increasing conventional energy demand in others. Among the control variables, economic globalization enhances REC, implying that greater international integration facilitates technology transfer and access to green innovations. In contrast, financial development negatively affects REC, suggesting that current financial systems may still prioritize fossil fuel investments. Overall, the study emphasizes the need to align digital transformation strategies, financial reforms, and policy frameworks to strengthen renewable energy development and ensure a sustainable, low-carbon future across OECD nations. Full article

Driven by the national policy of total water resources control and efficiency improvement, the behavior of water resource utilization reduction by firms is widespread, which may have an impact on the value of firms. This study integrates dynamic capability theory and signaling theory to construct a dual-path analytical framework, systematically investigating the impact of water utilization reduction on firm value and its intrinsic mechanisms. Based on data from Chinese A-share listed companies spanning 2012–2023, fixed-effect models, mediation-effect tests, and heterogeneity analysis are employed for empirical verification. The results reveal that water utilization reduction exerts a significant dual-path promoting effect on firm value: it enhances financial performance (ROA) primarily through technological innovation, reflecting the process of resource orchestration and dynamic capability construction; concurrently, it boosts market performance (Tobin’s Q) mainly by improving ESG performance as a signaling channel, mirroring the capital market’s positive pricing of green signals. Further heterogeneity analysis indicates that these effects are more pronounced during the policy deepening stage, in non-water-intensive industries, and in humid/sub-humid regions. This study contributes theoretical support and empirical evidence for firms’ green transformation and the formulation of differentiated water resource policies by the government, highlighting the synergistic development of high-quality economic growth and ecological civilization construction. Full article

Technological innovation plays a vital role in enhancing the economic growth and sustainability of the forestry sector. However, research on the nature, dynamics, and impact of such innovations, particularly within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), remains limited. The forestry sector is often characterised by low levels of technological advancement and a traditionally conservative attitude toward change. Limited expertise, financial constraints, and ownership structures further influence the potential for innovation. This study examines the development of innovation among SMEs in Lithuania’s forestry sector and its contribution to sustainable forest management. Forestry innovations are understood as new processes, products, or services introduced by forest owners and managers to improve management efficiency and sustainability. The study employed the method of a structured questionnaire survey to evaluate technological, organisational, and financial aspects of innovation adoption among small and medium-sized enterprises in the forestry sector. Drawing on comparative survey data from 2005 and 2024, the study analyses the types of innovations implemented by forestry enterprises, the factors driving or hindering their adoption, and the evolving trends in innovation application. The results reveal a significant shift toward digitalisation and technology-based management practices, suggesting that Lithuanian forestry enterprises are gradually transitioning toward a more innovation-driven model. These developments appear to be influenced by the EU Green Deal policy framework, evolving innovation support mechanisms, and broader socio-economic changes. Nonetheless, technological transformation introduces new challenges, including the need for workforce upskilling and enhanced adaptability to rapidly changing market conditions. Full article

This study analyzes artificial intelligence development and green economic efficiency across 31 Chinese provinces using 2019–2021 panel data. We apply the entropy weight TOPSIS method to measure AI development levels. The entropy weight TOPSIS method measures AI development levels, the DEA-BCC model assesses green economic efficiency, and their coordination types are identified. Findings reveal a significant negative correlation between AI development and green economic efficiency. We explain this complex relationship through three mechanisms: short-term polarization effects, technology conversion lags, and spatial spillovers. Spatial analysis shows AI development forms high-high agglomerations in the Yangtze River Delta and Shandong. Green economic efficiency shows high-high clustering in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and selected western provinces. Using a “two-system” coupling framework, we identify four provincial categories. The “double-high” type should function as growth poles. The “high-low” type requires improved technology conversion efficiency. The “low-high” type can leverage ecological advantages. The “double-low” type needs enhanced factor inputs. We propose three targeted policy recommendations: establishing digital-green synergy platforms, implementing inter-provincial AI resource collaboration mechanisms, and developing locally adapted action plans. Full article

This paper examines how logistics performance conditions the relationship between trade openness, economic growth and per capita CO₂ emissions in Mediterranean economies. Using an unbalanced panel of 20 countries over the period 2007–2022, we combine static fixed-effects, dynamic panel generalized method of moments (GMM) estimators and Method-of-Moments Quantile Regression (MM-QR). CO₂ emissions per capita, the World Bank Logistics Performance Index (LPI), trade openness and GDP per capita are drawn from World Bank databases, and interaction terms between LPI and both income and trade openness are constructed to capture conditional effects. The results from fixed-effects and system GMM estimations show that logistics performance exerts a robust and statistically significant negative effect on emissions, whereas GDP per capita is a positive driver and trade openness tends to reduce emissions when logistics capacity is sufficiently strong. Negative and significant interaction terms between LPI and both income and openness indicate that logistics efficiency amplifies the environmental benefits of trade and growth. Quantile regressions reveal that these patterns are most pronounced in high-emission countries, where improvements in logistics performance and its interaction with trade and income generate larger marginal reductions in CO₂ emissions. Overall, the findings highlight the central role of logistics modernization and green trade facilitation in reconciling trade-led growth with decarbonization in the Mediterranean Basin. From a policy perspective, the evidence suggests that prioritizing green logistics and trade facilitation—particularly in high-emission Mediterranean economies—can yield the largest marginal reductions in CO₂ emissions. Full article

Against the backdrop of rapid urbanization, megacities have become crucial drivers of development. As the country with the largest number of megacities (seven in total), China is confronted with significant challenges such as population–resource–environment conflicts, which render high-quality development an imperative pursuit. This study employs a system dynamics approach to assess high-quality development in China’s megacities. It analyzes interactions among economic growth, technological innovation, environmental quality, and livelihood security under policy regulation, clarifying their evolutionary mechanisms and constructing a model to project the high-quality development index (HQDI) and coupling coordination degree (CCD) among subsystems. Findings reveal an upward trend in both HQDI and CCD across the seven megacities, with notable stratification. Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen form the top echelon, leveraging financial and technological resources, driven by science and green development. Guangzhou and Chongqing constitute the second tier, supported by regional integration and industrial clusters, while Chengdu and Tianjin form the third echelon via regional strategic transformations. In coordinated development, Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou lead with multi-link synergy, whereas Chengdu, Chongqing, and Tianjin advance industry–ecology–livelihood coordination through regional strategies. This study offers insights for overcoming development bottlenecks, optimizing policies, and enhancing urban governance to foster a coordinated, high-quality development pattern. Full article