IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i11p6921-d832554.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Renewable Energy and Carbon Emissions: New Empirical Evidence from the Union for the Mediterranean

Author

Listed:
  • Burak Erkut

    (Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences, Bahçeşehir Cyprus University, Nicosia 99200, Turkey)

Abstract

This approach focuses on the renewable energy-carbon emission nexus by delivering new empirical evidence from 37 members of the Union for the Mediterranean. The approach makes use of panel data for the period 2002–2018 and uses panel data econometrical approaches, which are panel random effects regression, feasible generalized least squares regression, and the difference-generalized method of moments estimation, to understand how agricultural activity, economic growth, and renewable energy use impact carbon emissions. The results indicate that economic growth increases carbon emissions, whereas renewable energy use decreases them. In addition, separate analyses for EU and non-EU members indicate that agricultural activity has a significant negative effect only for the non-EU countries, which is further discussed with some relevant empirical evidence. The approach utilizes three fields of policy action. Firstly, economic growth comes to the Union countries with a cost-carbon emissions. Policymaking needs to include strategies to turn growth into sustainable growth. Secondly, the magnitude of the impact of economic growth on carbon emissions is greater than the magnitude of the impact of renewable energy. Research and development efforts need to improve this situation. Thirdly, the use of appropriate tools and technologies can decrease the carbon footprint of agricultural activity.

Suggested Citation

  • Burak Erkut, 2022. "Renewable Energy and Carbon Emissions: New Empirical Evidence from the Union for the Mediterranean," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-15, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:11:p:6921-:d:832554
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/11/6921/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/11/6921/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mohammad Mafizur Rahman & Khosrul Alam, 2022. "CO 2 Emissions in Asia–Pacific Region: Do Energy Use, Economic Growth, Financial Development, and International Trade Have Detrimental Effects?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-16, April.
    2. M. Hashem Pesaran, 2007. "A simple panel unit root test in the presence of cross-section dependence," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 22(2), pages 265-312.
    3. Andrew Adewale Alola & Uju Violet Alola, 2018. "Agricultural land usage and tourism impact on renewable energy consumption among Coastline Mediterranean Countries," Energy & Environment, , vol. 29(8), pages 1438-1454, December.
    4. Ceren Erdin & Gokhan Ozkaya, 2019. "Turkey’s 2023 Energy Strategies and Investment Opportunities for Renewable Energy Sources: Site Selection Based on ELECTRE," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-23, April.
    5. Yobouet Thierry Bienvenu Gnangoin & Liangsheng Du & GuyRoland Assamoi & Akadje JeanRoland Edjoukou & Diby François Kassi, 2019. "Public Spending, Income Inequality and Economic Growth in Asian Countries: A Panel GMM Approach," Economies, MDPI, vol. 7(4), pages 1-15, November.
    6. Maha Harbaoui Zrelli, 2017. "Renewable energy, non-renewable energy, carbon dioxide emissions and economic growth in selected Mediterranean countries," Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, Springer;Society for Environmental Economics and Policy Studies - SEEPS, vol. 19(4), pages 691-709, October.
    7. Mehmet Akif Destek & Esra Balli & Muge Manga, 2016. "The Relationship between CO2 Emission, Energy Consumption, Urbanization and Trade Openness for Selected CEECs," Research in World Economy, Research in World Economy, Sciedu Press, vol. 7(1), pages 52-58, June.
    8. M. Hashem Pesaran, 2015. "Testing Weak Cross-Sectional Dependence in Large Panels," Econometric Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(6-10), pages 1089-1117, December.
    9. Belaïd, Fateh & Zrelli, Maha Harbaoui, 2019. "Renewable and non-renewable electricity consumption, environmental degradation and economic development: Evidence from Mediterranean countries," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    10. John Vourdoubas, 2020. "Creation of Net Zero Carbon Emissions Agricultural Greenhouses Due to Energy Use in Mediterranean Region; Is it Feasible?," Journal of Agriculture and Crops, Academic Research Publishing Group, vol. 6(7), pages 89-95, 07-2020.
    11. Manuel Arellano & Stephen Bond, 1991. "Some Tests of Specification for Panel Data: Monte Carlo Evidence and an Application to Employment Equations," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 58(2), pages 277-297.
    12. Sharma, Gagan Deep & Tiwari, Aviral Kumar & Erkut, Burak & Mundi, Hardeep Singh, 2021. "Exploring the nexus between non-renewable and renewable energy consumptions and economic development: Evidence from panel estimations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    13. Shuddhasattwa Rafiq & Ruhul Salim & Nicholas Apergis, 2016. "Agriculture, trade openness and emissions: an empirical analysis and policy options," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 60(3), pages 348-365, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Yuting Sun & Shu-Nung Yao, 2022. "Sustainability Trade-Offs in Media Coverage of Poverty Alleviation: A Content-Based Spatiotemporal Analysis in China’s Provinces," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-26, August.
    2. Hüseyin Karşılı & Burak Erkut, 2022. "Ecological Footprint-Environmental Regulations Nexus: The Case of the Union for the Mediterranean," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-12, November.

    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. Chen, Chaoyi & Pinar, Mehmet & Stengos, Thanasis, 2021. "Determinants of renewable energy consumption: Importance of democratic institutions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 75-83.
    2. Umme Habiba & Cao Xinbang, 2022. "An Investigation of the Dynamic Relationships Between Financial Development, Renewable Energy Use, and CO2 Emissions," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(4), pages 21582440221, November.
    3. Chen, Chaoyi & Pinar, Mehmet & Stengos, Thanasis, 2020. "Renewable energy consumption and economic growth nexus: Evidence from a threshold model," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    4. Stephen Taiwo Onifade & Bright Akwasi Gyamfi & Ilham Haouas & Simplice A. Asongu, 2024. "Extending the frontiers of financial development for sustainability of the MENA states: The roles of resource abundance and institutional quality," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(3), pages 1971-1986, June.
    5. Jan Hagemejer & Jakub Mućk, 2018. "Unraveling the economic performance of the CEEC countries. The role of exports and global value chains," NBP Working Papers 283, Narodowy Bank Polski.
    6. Philip Kofi Adom & Franklin Amuakwa-Mensah & Salome Amuakwa-Mensah, 2020. "Degree of financialization and energy efficiency in Sub-Saharan Africa: do institutions matter?," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 6(1), pages 1-22, December.
    7. Najia Saqib & Haider Mahmood & Aamir Hussain Siddiqui & Muhammad Asif Shamim, 2022. "The Link between Economic Growth and Sustainable Energy in G7-Countries and E7-Countries: Evidence from a Dynamic Panel Threshold Model," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 12(5), pages 294-302, September.
    8. Gandjon Fankem, Gislain Stéphane & Feyom, Cédric, 2024. "Does trade openness improve or worsen public governance in sub-Saharan Africa?," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    9. Philip Kerner & Torben Klarl & Tobias Wendler, 2021. "Green Technologies, Environmental Policy and Regional Growth," Bremen Papers on Economics & Innovation 2104, University of Bremen, Faculty of Business Studies and Economics.
    10. López-Mendoza, Héctor & González-Álvarez, María A. & Montañés, Antonio, 2024. "Assessing the effectiveness of international government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    11. Shreya Pal & Muhammed Ashiq Villanthenkodath & Gupteswar Patel & Mantu Kumar Mahalik, 2022. "The impact of remittance inflows on economic growth, unemployment and income inequality: An international evidence," International Journal of Economic Policy Studies, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 211-235, February.
    12. Goya, Daniel, 2020. "The exchange rate and export variety: A cross-country analysis with long panel estimators," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 649-665.
    13. Gregori, Tullio, 2021. "Protectionism and international trade: A long-run view," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 1-13.
    14. Khan, Anwar & Chenggang, Yang & Hussain, Jamal & Kui, Zhou, 2021. "Impact of technological innovation, financial development and foreign direct investment on renewable energy, non-renewable energy and the environment in belt & Road Initiative countries," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 479-491.
    15. Mahalik, Mantu Kumar & Patel, Gupteswar & Sahoo, Bimal Kishore & Rahman, Mohammad Mafizur, 2023. "Impact of income inequality on renewable energy demand in south Asian economies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    16. R. Golinelli & I. Mammi & A. Musolesi, 2018. "Parameter heterogeneity, persistence and cross-sectional dependence: new insights on fiscal policy reaction functions for the Euro area," Working Papers wp1120, Dipartimento Scienze Economiche, Universita' di Bologna.
    17. Thi Hong Hanh Pham, 2022. "Shadow Economy and Poverty: What Causes What?," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 20(4), pages 861-891, December.
    18. Daniel Goya, 2014. "The Multiple Impacts of the Exchange Rate on Export Diversification," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 1436, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    19. Swapan Chakraborty, 2021. "Labour Market Regulation and Manufacturing Employment: A Study of Organized Manufacturing Sector Across Indian States," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 64(1), pages 1-22, March.
    20. Chen, Chaoyi & Pinar, Mehmet & Stengos, Thanasis, 2022. "Renewable energy and CO2 emissions: New evidence with the panel threshold model," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 117-128.

    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:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:11:p:6921-:d:832554. 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.