Comprehensive Policy Framework Research Articles

Private Security in Ethiopia: Key Challenges and the Ways Forward

This study sought to explore private security in Ethiopia focusing on the challenges that hindered it to provide effective security service to its clients. To this end, the study employed a qualitative research method. Data were generated from both primary and secondary sources using in-depth interviews, focus group discussion, observation, and document review. Primary data were purposively gathered from lawmakers, security service providers, law enforcement organs, and private security service users. They are identified as the major actors that have a direct relevance to the subject under investigation. Secondary data were consulted from pertinent legislations and other materials. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The study found that the major challenges as regards private security are lack of comprehensive legal and policy frameworks, absence of institutional arrangements, lack of standardized training and education. Given these, the researcher, among other things, suggested strong normative frameworks, institutional arrangements, standardized training along with periodic evaluations. Keywords: Private Security, Private Security Service, Challenges, Training DOI: 10.7176/JAAS/75-02 Publication date: August 31 st 2021

An industrial policy framework for transforming energy and emissions intensive industries towards zero emissions

ABSTRACT The target of zero emissions sets a new standard for industry and industrial policy. Industrial policy in the twenty-first century must aim to achieve zero emissions in the energy and emissions intensive industries. Sectors such as steel, cement, and chemicals have so far largely been sheltered from the effects of climate policy. A major shift is needed, from contemporary industrial policy that mainly protects industry to policy strategies that transform the industry. For this purpose, we draw on a wide range of literatures including engineering, economics, policy, governance, and innovation studies to propose a comprehensive industrial policy framework. The policy framework relies on six pillars: directionality, knowledge creation and innovation, creating and reshaping markets, building capacity for governance and change, international coherence, and sensitivity to socio-economic implications of phase-outs. Complementary solutions relying on technological, organizational, and behavioural change must be pursued in parallel and throughout whole value chains. Current policy is limited to supporting mainly some options, e.g. energy efficiency and recycling, with some regions also adopting carbon pricing, although most often exempting the energy and emissions intensive industries. An extended range of options, such as demand management, materials efficiency, and electrification, must also be pursued to reach zero emissions. New policy research and evaluation approaches are needed to support and assess progress as these industries have hitherto largely been overlooked in domestic climate policy as well as international negotiations. Key policy insights Energy and emission intensive industries can no longer be complacent about the necessity of zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Zero emissions require profound technology and organizational changes across whole material value chains, from primary production to reduced demand, recycling and end-of-life of metals, cement, plastics, and other materials. New climate and industrial policies are necessary to transform basic materials industries, which are so far relatively sheltered from climate mitigation. It is important to complement technology R&D with the reshaping of markets and strengthened governance capacities in this emerging policy domain. Industrial transformation can be expected to take centre stage in future international climate policy and negotiations.

A Framework for Integration of Smart and Sustainable Energy Systems in Urban Planning Processes of Low-Income Developing Countries: Afghanistan Case

Population growth and city expansion in developing countries require traditional urban planning practices to be transformed in order to tackle climate change and follow Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agendas. Almost every expert in the urban sector believes that future cities should be sustainable, smart, and environmentally friendly, where energy is one of the most critical factors to achieve these goals. They also agree that smart and sustainable energy provision for cities requires a comprehensive and responsive legal and policy framework to be in place at the national level. However, this research’s findings reveal a lack of such frameworks for this group of countries. Considering the challenges and unique nature of Low-Income-Developing (LID) countries, there should be a framework based on the realities in these countries. In this research, key challenges of urban and energy sectors of LID countries, specifically Afghanistan, are identified, and a framework for the integration of sustainable and smart energy in the urban planning processes for LID countries is proposed. To make it easily replicable and adaptable for LID countries, the proposed framework is studied and analyzed around Afghanistan’s urban and energy sectors. This is one of the few frameworks of its kind for LID economies to the best of the authors’ knowledge. This framework lays a solid foundation for sustainable and smart energy integration in the urban planning process of developing countries. This study highlights that sustainable and smart energy systems could ensure climate change mitigation and economic growth enhancement but require close cross-sectoral coordination and policy maker’s commitments and involvement. This research will help many existing and emerging cities in the LID countries’ worldwide use and benefit from the proposed framework in their urban planning processes. It also enables policymakers, urban planners and designers, municipalities leadership, and other stakeholders of the urban, energy, and environment sectors to work together and make smart and rational decisions for the future of their cities and lead them towards smart and sustainable cities.

Determinants of urban sprawl in Latin America: evidence from Santiago de Chile

Urban sprawl has been widely discussed in regard of its economic, political, social and environmental impacts. Consequently, several planning policies have been placed to stop—or at least restrain—sprawling development. However, most of these policies have not been successful at all as anti-sprawl policies partially address only a few determinants of a multifaceted phenomenon. This includes processes of extended suburbanisation, peri-urbanisation and transformation of fringe/belt areas of city-regions. Using as a case study the capital city of Chile—Santiago—thirteen determinants of urban sprawl are identified as interlinked at the point of defining Santiago's sprawling geography as a distinctive space that deserves planning and policy approaches in its own right. Unpacking these determinants and the policy context within which they operate is important to better inform the design and implementation of more comprehensive policy frameworks to manage urban sprawl and its impacts.

Natural gas security evaluation from a supply vs. demand perspective: A quantitative application of four As

The rising share of natural gas in global energy mix has resulted in concern over its security recently. But research from a perspective of exporting countries has not attracted enough attention. This study examines natural gas security from a supply vs. demand perspective. Firstly, a natural gas security index (NGSI) is formulated to quantify the NGSI score (NGSItot) of 22 selected countries, and the approach is based on a quantitative application of the “four As” of energy security. Secondly, a balance NGSI score (NGSIbla) matrix is introduced to gauge how well a specific country manages the trade-offs among the “four As”. Key research findings are as follows: (1) Proven gas reserves per capita and Annual median PM2.5 concentration are more important than other indicators. (2) Nations that have a more balanced pattern against these four-A dimensions rank better. (3) According to the NGSIbla, eight countries fall into the Good group, ten in the Limited group, and four in the Weak group. Consequently, this study suggests that differentiated policy frameworks should be tailor-made for specific country to ensure natural gas security. This article contributes a replicable method of energy security evaluation, and a comprehensive policy framework to enhance natural gas security.

Influence of Infrastructure Development Policies on Provision of Quality Teaching And Learning of Early Childhood Education in Mbita Sub-County Homabay County, Kenya

Pursuant to the Government of Kenya’s policy framework on education, training and research a comprehensive policy framework has been developed to ensure that quality services are delivered efficiently and effectively at all times in ECD centres in Kenya. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of infrastructure development policies on provision of quality teaching and learning of early childhood education in Mbita Sub-County Homabay County, Kenya. The study adopted organizational learning theory. Descriptive survey research design was employed. The sample size for this study was 27 head teachers, 54 ECD teachers, 6 Zone ECD Supervisors. The study used simple random sampling and purposive sampling technique. The tools used in this study were questionnaires and interview schedules. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics while qualitative data was analyzed according to emerging themes. The analyzed data was presented using tables. The study findings showed that 79.49% (mean=3.97 and Std Dev=1.093) of the respondents accepted that the county has policies guiding classroom structuring which has enhanced teaching and learning. In conclusion, school infrastructures like toilets, play grounds, classrooms, and libraries are constructed according to the ministry of education standards. Toilets, pit latrines are located far from the classrooms to avoid air pollution and provide good learning environment. The study recommends that the ministry of education at the county level should facilitate construction of libraries in the primary schools so as to improve and enhance teaching and learning of children beginning from the preprimary to senior classes. In addition, the facilitation will boost learning and power of implementing and enacting the policies set for improving learning and teaching of learners.

Land Abandonment in Mountain Areas of the EU: An Inevitable Side Effect of Farming Modernization and Neglected Threat to Sustainable Land Use

In a period of rising concern for sustainable land management systems to achieve food security at a global scale, land-use changes demand increased attention. This study assesses the past observations and future risk calculations for land abandonment across European regions, highlighting the particular risk for mountain areas. It draws from a study commissioned by the European Parliament to investigate the situation and probability for high and very high risk of land abandonment until 2030. Revealing that land abandonment is at three times higher risk in mountain areas than in non-mountain areas, the need for action to cope with this pressure is the core result. We reveal that the high disparity in agricultural competitiveness between regions (at fine geographical scale) is the main driving force leading to the spatially uneven performance of land management. Viewing this wide set of drivers and mitigation options, land abandonment is understood as the outcome of a multitude of factors of socio-ecological systems and a combination of farm-specific, internal regional and trans-regional factors. The present dominance of narratives of effectiveness leaves little scope for mountain regions under threat of abandonment and marginalization. In this situation, policy reform would address the issue but this might turn out to be influential only if the complex nature and trade-off of the comprehensive policy framework are prioritized.

A scoping review of genetics and genomics research ethics policies and guidelines for Africa

BackgroundGenetics and genomics research (GGR) is increasingly being conducted around the world; yet, researchers and research oversight entities in many countries have struggled with ethical challenges. A range of ethics and regulatory issues need to be addressed through comprehensive policy frameworks that integrate with local environments. While important efforts have been made to enhance understanding and awareness of ethical dimensions of GGR in Africa, including through the H3Africa initiative, there remains a need for in-depth policy review, at a country-level, to inform and stimulate local policy development and revision on the continent.MethodsTo identify and characterize existing ethics-related guidelines and laws applicable to GGR across much of Africa, we conducted a scoping review of English language policy documents identified through databases, repositories, and web searches. Thirty-six documents were included and coded using a framework that contained a range of themes across five analytical categories: (1) respect, (2) beneficence, (3) justice, (4) independent oversight, and (5) bans and prohibitions. Data analysis software (NVivo 12) was used to organize, code, and tabulate information according to document characteristics and topics. Illustrative examples of policy requirements were selected for inclusion.ResultsDocuments that met inclusion criteria spanned 20 years; published between 1996 and 2018, with the majority (58%) published after 2009. About two-thirds were denoted as “guidelines,” and slightly more than half were non-exclusive to GGR. Very few (six) country-level documents identified were specific to GGR. Requirements related to the principle of “respect” appeared most often across all documents, relative to other principles and processes. The most commonly stated ban was on reproductive cloning. Other prohibitions applied to germline editing, undue inducements in research, sample use for commercial purposes, employee mandatory DNA testing, fetal sex selection, stem cell use, eugenics, and research without public health benefits.ConclusionsEnforceable policies that are indispensable to the ethical conduct and review of GGR are either deficient or missing in many African countries. Existing international, GGR-specific ethics guidelines can be used to inform GGR policy development at a country-level, in conjunction with insight from country specific ethics committees and other local stakeholders.

New policy papers address health care disparities and discrimination

New policy papers address health care disparities and discrimination

Indian Legal System as An Source of Women Empowerment

India is a developing country but until and unless Women don’t get their status and respect India can’t be developed. Due to Gender Inequality Women are left behind. Violence against Women in India refers to physical or sexual violence committed against Indian women, typically by a man. Any Kind of Violence Is Illegal and to bear the Violence is illegal too. It is an issue regarding economic development, educational, human rights and heath. Its impact ranges from immediate to long-term multiple physicals, sexual and mental consequences for women and girls, including death. Violence Against Women Is Continuing Since. The Ancient Period Mahabharata Cities the Violence against Dropati. Indian Society Has Always Revered Women. Many Female Deities Goddess Saraswati, Laxmi, Durga, Kali etc are worshipped across the Whole India. On other side, the system of patriarchal system is continuing since rig veda. Women suffer this and decides to remain silent because she is afraid of getting discriminated in the society where she can’t speak or stood up against the crime she is been suffering. She is afraid because of the customs laid by our society. In such situations our patriarchal society will blame the women but they will never feel the situation that she is going through. The Position Of Women In Indian Constitution Is Very Wide. Our Constitution has empowered women equally under Article 14. Over the past two decades, violence against women had came to be understood as a form of discrimination and violation of women’s human rights. Violence against women, and the obligation to enact laws to address violence against women, is now the subject matter of a comprehensive legal and policy framework at the international and regional levels. The constitution guarantees that all citizens of India (including women) have the fundamental right to live in peace and harmony. Violence against women is a global issue that has an impact on our society. Such outbreaks of violence have a devastating effect on the lives of victims, their families and also communities. The worth of a civilization can be judged by the place given to women in society. One of several factors that justify the greatness of India’s ancient culture is the honorable place granted to women. They were deprived of their rights to equality with men. There is no denying the fact that women in India had not made considerable progress in the last seventy-five years of India Independence but yet they have to struggle against many handicaps and social evils in the male-dominated society. In this advanced era of feminism when it’s an agenda stresses on key concepts of individuality and embracing women hood, the prevailing scenes of violence against women threaten to topple the pillars on which the entire notion of feminism is based. Wives(Women) are considered as a better half and religious partners of their husband which means the half part of a man belongs to his wife. Apart from these there are some peoples who still exists while saying a girl child is being a burden towards the family so it’s better to abort the baby it is because there is lack of knowledge that in today’s world a girl can do everything just she needs support and love to care for her effort to overcome.

A Comprehensive Policy Framework to Understand and Address Disparities and Discrimination in Health and Health Care: A Policy Paper From the American College of Physicians.

Racial and ethnic minority populations in the United States experience disparities in their health and health care that arise from a combination of interacting factors, including racism and discrimination, social drivers of health, health care access and quality, individual behavior, and biology. To ameliorate these disparities, the American College of Physicians (ACP) proposes a comprehensive policy framework that recognizes and confronts the many elements of U.S. society, some of which are intertwined and compounding, that contribute to poorer health outcomes. In addition to this framework, which includes high-level principles and discusses how disparities are interconnected, ACP offers specific policy recommendations on disparities and discrimination in education and the workforce, those affecting specific populations, and those in criminal justice practices and policies in its 3 companion policy papers. ACP believes that a cross-cutting approach that identifies and offers solutions to the various aspects of society contributing to poor health is essential to achieving its goal of good health care for all, poor health care for none.

Adoption of sustainable solid waste management and treatment approaches: A case study of Iran.

Developing countries face serious environmental, social and economic challenges when it comes to managing different kinds of solid waste. Iran, as one such country, is forced to deal with many difficulties including the absence of a comprehensive policy framework, a lack of technical know-how, insufficient financial resources and lack of proper disposal facilities. This study attempts to suggest ways to overcome those problems by providing applicable waste management solutions to the local conditions. The research was performed in four structured phases: diagnosis of the existing solid waste management system practised, identification of areas of weakness in the waste management frameworks, bridging the gaps to ensure the sustainability of the concepts offered, and finally the provision of affordable solutions. A source-separated collection system for wet and dry fractions was drawn up. Establishment of a mechanical biological treatment facility and the introduction of biological treatment technology were considered as the main treatment options. From the economic point of view, the extended producer responsibility concept was provided as a resource management tool. The involvement of the stakeholders, as well as the public-private partnership model, was identified as the cornerstone in the planning and implementing of the new approaches. A roadmap was consequently designed aimed at gradually introducing a waste management system in a sustainable and environmentally sound manner.

Are We Asking Too Much of the Health Sector? Exploring the Readiness of Brazilian Primary Healthcare to Respond to Domestic Violence Against Women.

There is growing recognition of the health sector's potential role in addressing domestic violence (DV) against women. Although Brazil has a comprehensive policy framework on violence against women (VAW), implementation has been slow and incomplete in primary healthcare (PHC), and little is known about the implementation challenges. This paper aims to assess the readiness of two PHC clinics in urban Brazil to integrate an intervention to strengthen their DV response. We conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with health managers and health providers; a document analysis of VAW and DV policies from São Paulo and Brazil; and 2 structured facility observations. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings from our readiness assessment revealed gaps in both current policy and practice needing to be addressed, particularly with regards to governance and leadership, health service organisation and health workforce. DV received less political recognition, being perceived as a lower priority compared to other health issues. Lack of clear guidance from the central and municipal levels emerged as a crucial factor that weakened DV policy implementation both by providers and managers. Furthermore, responses to DV lost visibility, as they were diluted within generic violence responses. The organizational structure of the PHC system in São Paulo, which prioritised the number of consultations and household visits as the main performance indicators, was an additional difficulty in legitimising healthcare providers' time to address DV. Individual-level challenges reported by providers included lack of time and knowledge of how to respond, as well as fears of dealing with DV. Assessing readiness is critical because it helps to evaluate what services and infrastructure are already in place, also identifying obstacles that may hinder adaptation and integration of an intervention to strengthen the response to DV before implementation.

Green campus paradigms for sustainability attainment in higher education institutions – a comparative study

PurposeThis study aims to explore the current Green practices implemented in Malaysia higher education institutions toward sustainability attainment by developing a multi-disciplinary comprehensive policy framework to further extend the collaboration among sustainability practitioners in providing integrated data on Green indicators linked to economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainability in higher education institutions.Design/methodology/approachPrimary data which comprises of sustainability archival documents from sixteen universities in Malaysia was used to explore the extent of Green practice for sustainability. In addition, this study also used secondary data from existing literature on sustainable development in Malaysia higher education institutional context.FindingsFindings from the examined 16 universities and prior sustainability studies in Malaysia universities suggest that higher education institutions in Malaysia are presently implementing Green practices in their university campuses toward attaining sustainability.Research limitations/implicationsQualitative data is only collected from higher education institutions in Malaysia. Hence, findings from this study cannot be generalized to universities in other countries.Practical implicationsThis study provides insights toward infusing Green campus paradigms from a technological perspective to facilitate the exchange of information between sustainability practitioners to produce innovative solutions for addressing sustainability challenges.Social implicationsThis research developed a policy framework that provides trans-disciplinary approach to be adopted by higher education institutions in Malaysia and further beyond toward attaining sustainability. Socially, this study provides Green indicators that act as a reference manual and road map toward sustainable development in higher education institutions.Originality/valueA novel multi-disciplinary comprehensive policy framework is developed grounded on identified Green indicators integrated to provide information on how sustainability practitioners can implement Green practices paradigms across universities. Furthermore, the Green indicators can be used as metrics to provide data for Green practice measurement and monitoring in higher education institutions.

Residents’ perception towards tourism impacts in Kashmir

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to understand the residents’ perception towards environmental, social, cultural and economic impacts of tourism development in Kashmir.Design/methodology/approachThe research instrument containing 27 items pertaining to six variables is adopted from the literature. A mix-method survey approach is used to solicit residents’ perceptions regarding environmental, social, cultural and economic impacts of the current level of tourism development. A total of 326 useful responses were subjected to descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc analysis using SPSS (Version 22.0).FindingsIn general, the negative and positive impacts of tourism development are well perceived by the residents. The results indicate that the residents display positive perception regarding economic impacts, however, social and environmental impacts are negatively perceived. Furthermore, barring level of education, the study found no significant difference in the residents’ perception towards tourism impacts (environmental, social, cultural, economic, quality of life and cost of living).Research limitations/implicationsThe paper identifies perceived impacts and issues of tourism development thereby, proposing possible mitigating measures. Also, the study identifies the need to develop a comprehensive policy framework addressing the issues related to the resident’s negative feelings towards tourism impacts. Further, the study envisages the need for engaging residents in developing a progressive and participatory planning process for future tourism activities in the area.Social implicationsThe study offers critical social implications for city tourism development. It suggests a community-based approach should be adopted to sensitize residents about the positive benefits of tourism.Originality/valueThe study is a novel attempt concerning residents’ residents perceptual differences towards tourism impacts. Furthermore, this study investigated socio-cultural impacts of tourism under two separate categories for better understanding. in doing so, this study provides finer understanding of perception of residents towards tourism impacts in Indian context. The findings of the study will prove critical for different stakeholders in developing future tourism framework and policies in the region.

Coastal Community's Perception on Climate Change and Its Impacts: Analysis of Local Coastal Community of Winneba, Ghana

Aims: The study assessed the perception of the coastal inhabitants of Winneba on climate change and its impacts.
 Study Design: This study is descriptive in nature and employed both qualitative and quantitative approaches.
 Place and Duration of Study: This research was conducted in Winneba, Ghana in February 2020.
 Methodology: The survey method of research was employed in this study. An annual mean temperature timeseries data of Winneba from 1980- 2017 to supplement respondents' subjective views. In addition, community interactions were conducted to get personal information from the inhabitants about the impacts of climate change. 152 inhabitants were sampled through the convenience and the purposive sampling techniques. The convenience technique was used to select 148 respondents and 3 fishermen, and 1 fish seller selected purposively. This was done through questionnaire administration and interviews. Community's interactions centred on inhabitants' perception of climate change and its impacts.
 Results: The study found that temperature in the Winneba community has increased. The study again found diverse views on the most serious impact of climate change in the community. While some attributed it to rising temperatures, others attributed it to sea level rise and coastal erosion. The study also revealed that although many of the inhabitants lamented about rising temperatures as it disrupts their daily activities and cause diseases, sea level rise and erosion has also played a devastating role on the environment which needs to be addressed.
 Conclusion: Local community perception and knowledge on climate change is important. Increased knowledge and awareness influence a community’s choice of mitigation and adaptation to climate change impacts. A comprehensive policy framework on climate change awareness creation and education should, therefore, be implemented and made available to local coastal community members.

Determinants of adoption of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) based technology in handicrafts among rural women of Amathole, South Africa: A double hurdle model approach

Indigenous Knowledge (IK) based technologies and skills have been central to rural livelihoods for ages. Women apply these techniques in a wide range of livelihood activities both on-farm and off-farm. Despite, growing scholarly work on adoption of technologies in rural areas, howbeit studies which focused on adoption of retro technologies and off-farm livelihood activities are very few. Given how central both IK based technologies and handicrafts are in the rural development nexus, studying determinants of adoption of such technologies among rural women assumes importance. This study used a cross-sectional survey of 170 rural women (88 adopters and 82 non-adopters) in Amathole District Municipality. Adoption of IK based technology was specified as a two-step decision process with awareness as a precondition for adoption. Thus, the study employed the Heckman two-stage model to analyze factors affecting awareness and adoption of IK based technologies among rural women. Age, employment status, social networks, access to material, access to the tourism market and workshop attendance influenced awareness. Employment status, number of employed household members, workshops attendance and crafter experience influenced adoption. The study urges the development of a comprehensive policy framework to promote awareness and adoption of IK based technologies in handicrafts as a rural poverty alleviation and employment creation strategy.

The Political Economy of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Does Performance on the SDGs Affect Re-Election?

While the economic voting hypothesis is a well-researched approach to explain behavior at the ballot box, a broader perspective of economic, social and environmental issues regarding a government’s chances to get re-elected is still missing in the literature. In this context, this paper makes use for the first time of the Agenda 2030 with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the comprehensive policy framework that all 193 UN member states have pledged to achieve. The objective of our study is therefore to examine the relationship between SDGs’ progress and the likelihood of re-election. Our analysis of 124 countries regarding performance on the SDGs over time and voting behavior shows: the chance to get re-elected as a government significantly increases for progress made towards SDG 5 (Gender Equality). Notable differences are also found for high-income vs. low-income countries. The fact that governments are rewarded at the ballot box for successful action towards gender equality is encouraging, while the mechanisms behind other SDG areas deserve more research.

Sustainable urban mobility in Istanbul: Challenges and prospects

Rapid urban growth and rising mobility demand in megacities having a population of more than 10 million people in emerging economies call for a consistent and comprehensive urban mobility policy framework. Implementing sustainable urban mobility policies in these cities is complicated by fragmented governance structures, conflicting policy priorities and lack of effective financing mechanisms. The city of Istanbul, with a population of nearly 15 million people, has been grappling with rapidly increasing urban mobility problems such as chronic traffic congestion, increasing motorization, overcrowded public transport services, air and noise pollution. Although major infrastructure investments such as new metro and tram lines, a bus rapid transit (BRT) line and capacity increases in public bus network have been undertaken in recent years, the objective of achieving a modal shift from car use to more sustainable transport modes such as public transport, cycling and walking is far from being realized. The focus on megaprojects such as Marmaray, Eurasia Tunnel and Third Bridge further complicate the urban mobility landscape by bringing about conflicting policy priorities. In this paper, a comprehensive review and analysis of Istanbul’s urban transport policies and strategies are scrutinized under the framework of sustainable urban mobility paradigm to better understand the mobility predicament which have long stifled the quality of life of Istanbulites. The challenges are identified, recommendations are proposed, and prospects are put forward as to how to achieve sustainable urban mobility in Istanbul.

Revisiting the role of tourism and globalization in environmental degradation in China: Fresh insights from the quantile ARDL approach

Ascertaining sustainable development is a major issue across the globe, and the economic growth pattern achieved is a predominant reason behind this. The globalization-led economic growth achieved by the emerging economies might not be ecologically sustainable, as globalization might not have been utilized as a policy tool. Moreover, a sound policy calls for considering the entire data spectrum for the analysis, which is largely ignored in the literature. This research contributes to the literature by proffering a policy framework for the emerging economies by analyzing the impact of globalization and tourism on environmental degradation, by considering the Chinese context as a sample. Following the quantile autoregressive distributed lag model, the impact of economic growth, globalization, and tourism on greenhouse gas emissions, carbon dioxide emissions, and the ecological footprint in China over 1978Q1-2017Q4 are analyzed. The results demonstrate that economic growth stimulates environmental degradation, while the presence of Environmental Kuznets Curve is also validated. Moreover, tourism has been found to exert positive environmental externalities, while globalization exerts negative environmental externalities. Based on the outcomes of the research, a comprehensive policy framework has been suggested, following which the Chinese economy might be able to attain the objectives of Sustainable Development Goals 7, 8, and 13.