Role of hydroelectricity and natural gas consumption on environmental sustainability in the United States: Evidence from novel time-frequency approaches

Abstract

This study analyzes time- and frequency-varying impacts of hydroelectricity energy consumption, natural gas energy consumption, and economic growth on environmental sustainability proxied by carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the United States of America (the US) for the period 1965/Q1 to 2020/Q4. This study is the first of its kind to contribute to the current literature by analyzing dynamic relationships among these variables in the short-, medium-, and long-term at different time frequencies in the framework of a multivariate correlation, hence providing a more comprehensive picture about the impacts of these effective factors on CO2 emissions. To meet the objectives of the study, Wavelet local multiple local (WLMC), which is a recent novel methodology developed by Polanco-Martínez et al. (2020), is applied. Moreover, the Wavelet coherence (WTC) approach is used for robustness check. The outcomes provide fresh insights into the long-term dynamic correlations among hydroelectricity energy consumption, natural gas energy consumption, economic growth, and CO2 emissions. The study discovers a robust positive co-movement between natural gas energy consumption and CO2 emissions and a negative correlation between hydro energy consumption and CO2 emissions that is the most intense on the long-term frequencies. Furthermore, economic growth causes CO2 emissions, which is evidenced by a positive relationship between both factors at short- and long-term time-frequencies. Supported by the outcomes of the study, the authors urge to suggest crucial insights and policy points for the US policymakers to shift from fossil energy to renewable energy sources to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG-7 and SDG-13, since they induce lower emissions.