Asymmetric linkage between biomass energy consumption and ecological footprints in top ten biomass-consuming nations

In the current sustainable growth framework, the role of renewable energy cannot be overemphasized. Furthermore, several sustainable development targets necessitate the optimal utilization of biomass energy. Their benefits, trade-off dynamics, and implementation vary according to geography, necessitating an in-depth examination to manage their influence. Therefore, we investigated the impact of biomass energy utilization on the ecosystem in the top ten biomass-consuming nations: India, Austria, Brazil, China, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States. To compare the impact of biomass energy utilization on ecological footprint, this study employed a quarterly dataset covering the period between 1970 and 2018. To achieve this objective, we used the Quantile-on-Quantile approach, which suggests that biomass improves environmental quality in six nations (i.e. Austria, Brazil, China, Germany, Sweden, and United Kingdom) but it degrades the environment in the other countries (i.e. Finland, Italy, India, and the USA). Furthermore, the study employed the Granger causality test in quantile, and the results indicate that biomass energy utilization and ecological footprint can predict each other in nine nations (i.e. Austria, Brazil, China, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Italy, UK, and the USA). However, for India, we detected the absence of causality between biomass energy and ecological footprint. Based on this outcome, this study suggests policies such as intensifying and coordinating the transition from traditional to contemporary biomass, which might increase the green impacts of biomass use, hence lowering environmental degradation. This transition will strengthen the energy efficiency of biomass energy generation, providing additional opportunities to revitalize the forest areas.