IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v17y2024i23p6074-d1535306.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Towards Sustainability: Understanding Norway’s Ecological Footprint Through the Framework of the Environmental Kuznets Curve

Author

Listed:
  • Irina Georgescu

    (Department of Economic Informatics and Cybernetics, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 0105552 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Ionuț Nica

    (Department of Economic Informatics and Cybernetics, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 0105552 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Jani Kinnunen

    (Department of Information Systems, Åbo Akademi University, Tuomiokirkontori 3, 20500 Turku, Finland)

Abstract

With rising concerns about environmental sustainability, examining the economic-environmental nexus is essential. This study investigates the relationship between economic growth (GDP), renewable energy consumption (RENC), urbanization (URB), and foreign direct investment (FDI) with Norway’s ecological footprint from 1990 to 2023. Guided by the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis, we aim to understand how these factors influence Norway’s environmental impact over time. Using an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model, the study captures both the short- and long-term effects of these variables on the ecological footprint, and model stability is confirmed through the Cumulative Sum of Squares (CUSUM) test. The findings reveal a U-shaped EKC pattern, where initial economic growth reduces the ecological footprint, but beyond a certain GDP threshold, environmental pressures increase. Renewable energy consumption is shown to lower the ecological footprint significantly, supporting Norway’s sustainability goals. Conversely, FDI is associated with increased environmental impact, potentially due to resource-intensive projects. These insights underscore the need for balanced policies that harmonize economic development with environmental preservation. Policymakers are encouraged to foster green FDI, prioritize renewable energy investments, and implement sustainable urban planning to maintain Norway’s trajectory toward ecological sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Irina Georgescu & Ionuț Nica & Jani Kinnunen, 2024. "Towards Sustainability: Understanding Norway’s Ecological Footprint Through the Framework of the Environmental Kuznets Curve," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-26, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:23:p:6074-:d:1535306
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/23/6074/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/23/6074/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Irina Georgescu & Jani Kinnunen, 2024. "Dynamic interactions between GDP, renewable energy, innovation, and CO2 emissions in Finland: a fourier-augmented ARDL analysis," Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 1-23, December.
    2. Sebastian Kripfganz & Daniel C. Schneider, 2023. "ardl: Estimating autoregressive distributed lag and equilibrium correction models," Stata Journal, StataCorp LP, vol. 23(4), pages 983-1019, December.
    3. Grossman, G.M & Krueger, A.B., 1991. "Environmental Impacts of a North American Free Trade Agreement," Papers 158, Princeton, Woodrow Wilson School - Public and International Affairs.
    4. Sebastian Kripfganz & Daniel C. Schneider, 2023. "ardl: Estimating autoregressive distributed lag and equilibrium correction models," Stata Journal, StataCorp LP, vol. 23(4), pages 983-1019, December.
    5. M. Hashem Pesaran & Yongcheol Shin & Richard J. Smith, 2001. "Bounds testing approaches to the analysis of level relationships," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 16(3), pages 289-326.
    6. Ionuț Nica & Irina Georgescu & Jani Kinnunen, 2024. "Evaluating Renewable Energy’s Role in Mitigating CO 2 Emissions: A Case Study of Solar Power in Finland Using the ARDL Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-29, August.
    7. Jani Kinnunen & Irina Georgescu & Ionuț Nica, 2024. "Evaluating the Environmental Phillips Curve Hypothesis in the STIRPAT Framework for Finland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-24, May.
    8. Raza, Ali & Ali, Mumtaz & Tursoy, Turgut & Seraj, Mehdi & Habeeb, Yusuf Olatunji, 2024. "Evaluating the Scandinavian economy's transition to a sustainable environment. Fresh evidence from newly developed CS-ARDL approach," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    9. Camelia Delcea & Ionuț Nica & Irina Georgescu & Nora Chiriță & Cristian Ciurea, 2024. "Integrating Fuzzy MCDM Methods and ARDL Approach for Circular Economy Strategy Analysis in Romania," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-35, September.
    10. Hinsene Lemma Wegari & Sisay Tolla Whakeshum & Negese Tamirat Mulatu, 2023. "Human capital and its impact on Ethiopian economic growth: ARDL approach to co-integration," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(1), pages 2186046-218, December.
    11. Buehn, Andreas & Farzanegan, Mohammad Reza, 2013. "Hold your breath: A new index of air pollution," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 104-113.
    12. Irina Georgescu & Ionuț Nica, 2024. "Evaluating the Determinants of Deforestation in Romania: Empirical Evidence from an Autoregressive Distributed Lag Model and the Bayer–Hanck Cointegration Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-28, June.
    13. Marie Sophie Hervieux & Olivier Darné, 2016. "Production and consumption-based approaches for the environmental Kuznets curve using ecological footprint," Journal of Environmental Economics and Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 5(3), pages 318-334, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Quan-Hoang Vuong & Manh-Tung Ho & Hong-Kong To Nguyen & Minh-Hoang Nguyen, 2019. "The trilemma of sustainable industrial growth: evidence from a piloting OECD’s Green city," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Bartosz Jóźwik & Antonina Gavryshkiv, 2022. "Wpływ podatku środowiskowego na emisję gazów cieplarnianych w państwach Grupy Wyszehradzkiej," Gospodarka Narodowa. The Polish Journal of Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, issue 1, pages 66-78.
    3. Adebayo, Tomiwa Sunday & Awosusi, Abraham Ayobamiji & Bekun, Festus Victor & Altuntaş, Mehmet, 2021. "Coal energy consumption beat renewable energy consumption in South Africa: Developing policy framework for sustainable development," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 1012-1024.
    4. Bartosz Jóźwik & Antonina-Victoria Gavryshkiv & Phouphet Kyophilavong & Lech Euzebiusz Gruszecki, 2021. "Revisiting the Environmental Kuznets Curve Hypothesis: A Case of Central Europe," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-17, June.
    5. Okon Emmanuel O., 2021. "Nigeria: Is There an Environmental Kuznets Curve for Fluorinated Gases?," Open Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 4(1), pages 57-71, January.
    6. Nuno Carlos Leitão, 2021. "Testing the Role of Trade on Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Portugal," Economies, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-15, February.
    7. Boucekkine, R. & Laksaci, M. & Touati-Tliba, M., 2021. "Long-run stability of money demand and monetary policy: The case of Algeria," The Journal of Economic Asymmetries, Elsevier, vol. 24(C).
    8. Bouazza Elamine Zemri & Sidi Mohamed Boumediene Khetib, 2024. "Can Sustainable Economic Development Curtail Carbon Dioxide Emissions? Insights from Algeria’s Industry," Gospodarka Narodowa. The Polish Journal of Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, issue 3, pages 70-83.
    9. Stéphane Lemarié & Valérie Orozco & Jean-Pierre Butault & Antonio Musolesi & Michel Simioni & Bertrand Schmitt, 2020. "Assessing the long-term impact of agricultural research on productivity: evidence from France," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 47(4), pages 1559-1586.
    10. Sebastian Kripfganz & Daniel C. Schneider, 2020. "Response Surface Regressions for Critical Value Bounds and Approximate p‐values in Equilibrium Correction Models," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 82(6), pages 1456-1481, December.
    11. José F. Perles & Martín Sevilla & Ana B. Ramón-Rodríguez & María Jesús Such & Patricia Aranda, 2024. "Carry-over effects of tourism on traditional activities," Tourism Economics, , vol. 30(5), pages 1237-1256, August.
    12. Moutinho, Victor & Santos de Oliveira, Helena M. & Viana Espinosa de Oliveira, Henrique & Puime Guillén, Félix, 2023. "The augmented and integrative model of economic growth: Theoretical and empirical evidence from USA," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    13. Maria Karadima & Helen Louri, 2021. "Determinants of Non-Performing Loans in Greece: the intricate role of fiscal expansion," GreeSE – Hellenic Observatory Papers on Greece and Southeast Europe 160, Hellenic Observatory, LSE.
    14. Max Resende & Juliano Leal & João Simoni, 2021. "Electricity demand in the iron ore industry: Evidence from Brazil," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 41(3), pages 929-937.
    15. Desire Wade Atchike & Zhen-Yu Zhao & Geriletu Bao, 2020. "The Relationship between Electricity Consumption, Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Growth: Case of Benin," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 10(4), pages 507-515.
    16. Maria Karadima & Helen Louri, 2022. "Government debt accumulation and non-performing loans: An ARDL bounds testing approach," Economics and Business Letters, Oviedo University Press, vol. 11(4), pages 150-160.
    17. Olufunmilayo T. Afolayan & Henry Okodua & Hassan Oaikhenan & Oluwatoyin Matthew, 2020. "Carbon Emissions, Human Capital Investment and Economic Development in Nigeria," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 10(2), pages 427-437.
    18. Somoye, Oluwatoyin Abidemi & Ozdeser, Huseyin & Seraj, Mehdi, 2022. "Modeling the determinants of renewable energy consumption in Nigeria: Evidence from Autoregressive Distributed Lagged in error correction approach," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 606-616.
    19. Xiuqin Zhang & Xudong Shi & Yasir Khan & Majid Khan & Saba Naz & Taimoor Hassan & Chenchen Wu & Tahir Rahman, 2023. "The Impact of Energy Intensity, Energy Productivity and Natural Resource Rents on Carbon Emissions in Morocco," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-22, April.
    20. Sascha Keil, 2021. "The Challenging Estimation Of Trade Elasticities:Tackling The Inconclusive Eurozone Evidence," Chemnitz Economic Papers 042, Department of Economics, Chemnitz University of Technology, revised May 2021.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:23:p:6074-:d:1535306. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.