Investigating the impact of import, export, and innovation on carbon emission: evidence from Belt and Road Initiative countries.

Abstract

Carbon emissions are a major cause of global climate change. The public is aware that the world must rapidly reduce its windows to avoid the worst effects of climate change. But how this responsibility is distributed between regions, countries, and individuals has become a recurring element of debate in international debates. Most countries are willing to adopt new policies to tackle the global problem of carbon emission. Since China is a real model and the first country of initiating the goal of carbon neutrality, this study aimed to compare the different impacts of export, import, and innovation on carbon emission in 29 selected countries with the Belt and Road Initiative from 2008 to 2019. STIRPAT modeling, cross-sectional analysis, and integrated testing were used to analyze the obtained data. The results show that exports and imports have a negative effect on carbon emission, and population size and energy efficiency increase carbon emission since most countries under the BRI are developing countries, and they tend to emit greatly due to various factors. However, the adoption of green energy via innovation has a significant impact on carbon emissions. In addition, the adoption of modern technologies via innovation reduces carbon emission by increasing energy efficiency. We recommended a set of policies that can efficiently reduce the emission of carbon to achieve an eco-friendly environment in the selected countries. It is important to promote environmental sustainability and the development of professional enterprises in certain countries.