Environment-related Technologies Research Articles

The role of environmental technology for energy demand and energy efficiency: Evidence from OECD countries

The present study aims to fill an important research gap by investigating the role of environmental-related technologies on energy demand and energy efficiency in a sample of 28 OECD economies. The current study utilizes annual data for the period of 1990–2014 and employs panel estimation techniques, which addresses the issues of cross-sectional dependence, fixed effect, and endogeneity. The results, across various estimates, confirm that environmental technology has a substantial negative influence on energy consumption and also plays an important role in improving energy efficiency by reducing energy intensity. These evidences suggest that environmental technology helps the OECD economies to reduce their overall energy consumption and improves overall energy efficiency in their respective countries. The comprehensive empirical outcomes document that financial development and income are the key determinants of energy demand. Given these results, the study proposes several fruitful implications regarding sustainable development goals of OECD countries.

Do innovation in environmental-related technologies cyclically and asymmetrically affect environmental sustainability in BRICS nations?

This study contributes to the current research by identifying the cyclical and asymmetrical impact of innovation in environmental-related technologies on carbon dioxide emissions in BRICS economies, as well as control variables such as fossil fuels, export taxes, household consumption expenditures, and exports, for the period 1990(Q1)-2016 (Q4). Following are some of the key findings. First, the data analysis indicated a significant long-term positive link between negative shocks to innovation in environmental-related technologies and carbon dioxide emissions during the economic downturn. Second, positive shocks to innovation in environmental-related technologies minimize carbon dioxide emissions during the economic upturn. Third, the relationship between innovation shocks in environmental-related technologies and carbon dioxide emissions was counter-cyclical during business cycles. Fourth, impact of positive shocks to innovation in environmental-related technologies on carbon dioxide emissions was more than the impact of negative shocks to innovation in environmental-related technologies on carbon dioxide emissions. Fifth, increasing the export tax serve as an effective measure to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions. Sixth, an increase in exports, use of fossil fuels, and household consumption expenditures contributed to the carbon dioxide emissions. Based on estimated results, the paper suggests policy implications for policymakers to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Do innovation in environmental-related technologies asymmetrically affect carbon dioxide emissions in the United States?

This research scrutinizes the cyclical impact of innovation in environmental-related technologies on CO2 emanations for the United States from 1990Q1 to 2016Q4. First, the findings point out that positive shocks in innovation in environmental-related technologies during the expansion phase lead to a decrease in CO2emissions. Second, the results highlight that negative shocks in innovation in environmental-related technologies during the contraction phase increase CO2 emissions. Third, the results also indicate that gross domestic product and trade openness have a positive impact on CO2 emissions. Fourth, the findings signify that renewable energy consumption serves as an effective measure to mitigate CO2emissions. Government is suggested that certain measures supporting innovation in environmental-related technologies during the boom and recession periods be implemented to reduce CO2 emissions in the United States.

Role of financial development, environmental-related technologies, research and development, energy intensity, natural resource depletion, and temperature in sustainable environment in Canada.

Environmental sustainability concerns are increasing worldwide; both developing and developed countries face environmental degradation. Literature has highlighted the environment-growth nexus; however, the impact of environmental-related technologies on the environment is ignored in early studies. This study aims to explore the implications of financial development, environmental-related technologies, research and development, energy intensity, renewable energy production, natural resource depletion, and temperature in a sustainable environment in Canada by using a time series model, i.e., dynamic ARDL simulations (Jordan and Philips 2018) with data from 1989 to 2020. The examined findings of the dynamic ARDL simulations indicate that environmental-related technologies in Canada help to reduce environmental degradation both in the short run and in the long run. At the same time, financial development, energy intensity, renewable energy production, research and development, natural resource depletion, and temperature causes boost the environmental degradation in Canada. To achieve sustainable environment, Canada needs to improve innovations in the environmental-related technologies for achieving sustainable growth and environment.

The nexus of environment-related technologies and consumption-based carbon emissions in top five emitters: empirical analysis through dynamic common correlated effects estimator.

Climate action got attention from the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Although a large number of studies are investigating the said phenomenon, however, the literature on the top five responsible countries is unable to evaluate the role of environment-related technologies (ERTs) and institutional quality (IQ). The top five consumption-based carbon dioxide (CBCO2) emitting economies, i.e., China, India, Japan, Russia, and the USA, are considerable stakeholders in this challenge. To fill this void, with the latest data available from 1992 to 2017, short- and long-run relationships are estimated with dynamic common correlated effects estimator and augmented mean group in the framework of EKC hypothesis. Reported results indicate the negative effect of ERTs and IQ towards CBCO2, which means that adoption of ERTs and better IQ is supportive in controlling environmental degradation. Findings are also robust to the policy implications for the UN's SDGs.

The role of environmental taxes on technological innovation

Several studies have investigated the effect of environmental taxes on economic growth and carbon emissions. However, limited studies have quantitatively identified the connection between environmental taxes and technological innovations. The main focus of this study is to investigate the causal relations between environmental taxes and environment-related technological innovation with a holistic, robust model with significant statistical power. This model consists of panel cointegration analysis considering the cross-sectional dependence, applied to quantify the effects of environmental taxes on environment-related technological innovation in high and middle-income 42 countries from 1995 to 2018. The long-run results suggest that environmental taxes stimulate technological innovation; for example, a 1% increase in environmental taxes was found to increase environment-related technological innovation by 0.57 and 0.78% on average for high and middle-income countries using the CCEMG and AMG techniques, respectively. The policy implications of this study suggest that imposing environmental taxes can accelerate the advancement of environmental-related technologies for reducing carbon emission and sustainable development in high and middle-income nations, with possible applications in a broad range of nations, particularly as an evidence base for developing nations to shorten energy transition timelines.

The role of institutional quality and environment-related technologies in environmental degradation for BRICS

An expanding body of literature has highlighted the environment–growth nexus. However, the literature is scarce on the role of environmental technologies and institutional quality in environmental pollution. The present study aims to contribute to the existing knowledge by utilizing environment-related technologies (ERT), institutional quality (IQ), and energy consumption to investigate ecological footprints (EF) as a proxy for the environment in BRICS economies in a framework based on environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) theory. By using data from 1992 to 2016, long- and short-term relationships are estimated through cross-section augmented autoregressive distributive lag model, augmented mean group estimator, and common correlated effects mean group. The second-generation econometric tools indicate that IQ and ERT negatively affect ecological footprints, thereby implying reductions in environmental degradation. The EKC hypothesis is not validated, implying that an increase in economic activities causes an increase in pollution. Overall, BRICS economies should improve their quality of institutions and enhance investments in environmental technologies to achieve a sustainable environment in the future. Findings are robust to practical policy implications.

Unveiling the heterogeneous impacts of environmental taxes on energy consumption and energy intensity: Empirical evidence from OECD countries

This study sheds new light on the ambiguous role of environmental taxes in reducing energy usage and energy intensity from 1994 to 2018. We contribute to the energy economics literature by unveiling the interaction between environmental taxes, energy intensity, and energy consumption in 29 OECD economies. Owing to the recent environmental reforms and focus on SDGs, it is necessary to examine the impact of environmental taxes on energy consumption and energy efficiency function. The empirical results from FMOLS, DOLS, and panel quantile regression reveal that the implementation of environmental tax helps to control overall energy usage and promotes energy efficiency by encouraging policymakers, industries, and residents to promote innovation in environment related technologies. We conclude by arguing that the efforts towards a sustainable environment by reducing energy consumption should adopt innovative policies by ensuring the displacement of non-renewables and improve energy efficiency.

Single-Atom Catalysts: A Sustainable Pathway for the Advanced Catalytic Applications.

A heterogeneous catalyst is a backbone of modern sustainable green industries; and understanding the relationship between its structure and properties is the key for its advancement. Recently, many upscaling synthesis strategies for the development of a variety of respectable control atomically precise heterogeneous catalysts are reported and explored for various important applications in catalysis for energy and environmental remediation. Precise atomic-scale control of catalysts has allowed to significantly increase activity, selectivity, and in some cases stability. This approach has proved to be relevant in various energy and environmental related technologies such as fuel cell, chemical reactors for organic synthesis, and environmental remediation. Therefore, this review aims to critically analyze the recent progress on single-atom catalysts (SACs) application in oxygen reduction reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, hydrogen evolution reaction, and chemical and/or electrochemical organic transformations. Finally, opportunities that may open up in the future are summarized, along with suggesting new applications for possible exploitation of SACs.

Do Environment-Related Policy Instruments and Technologies Facilitate Renewable Energy Generation? Exploring the Contextual Evidence from Developed Economies

Attaining sustainable development and cleaner production is a major challenge both for developed and developing economies; income, institutional regulations, institutional quality and international trade are the key determinants of environmental externalities. The current work attempts to study the role of environmental taxes and regulations on renewable energy generation for developed economies. For that, the authors have used the annual dataset for the period 1994 to 2018. More specifically, the study investigates the impacts of environmental taxes, environment-related technologies and the environmental policy stringency index on renewable electricity generation in 29 developed countries. Given the short available data of these countries, the authors have developed panel cointegration and panel regressions models (fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS), quantile regressions). The heterogeneous panel empirics stated that environmental regulations and income level support renewable electricity generation. The conclusions further mention that bureaucratic qualities such as decision making and trade openness tend to reduce renewable energy generation. The empirical findings allowed us to draw new narrative and implications. Overall, the conclusions argue that innovative regulations and policies can be useful for attaining specific sustainable development goals (e.g., SDG-7: cleaner and cheap energy).

Demand or Supply? An Empirical Exploration of the Effects of Climate Change on the Macroeconomy

The macroeconomic effects of climate-related events and climate policies depend on the interaction between demand- and supply-type of shocks that those events and policies imply. Using a panel of 24 OECD countries for the sample 1990-2019 and a standard macroeconomic framework, the paper tests the combined effect of (1) climate change, (2) environmental policies and (3) environment-related technologies on the macroeconomy. Results show that climate change and policies to counteract them have a significant, albeit not sizeable, macroeconomic effects over the business cycle. We find evidence that physical risks work as negative demand shocks while transition policies or technology improvements resemble downward supply movements. Furthermore, the disruptive effects on the economy are exacerbated for countries without carbon tax or with a high exposure to natural disasters. Overall our results support the need for a uniform policy mix to counteract climate change with a balance between demand-pull and technology-push policies. JEL Classification: C11, C33, E32, E58, Q5

Green growth and low carbon emission in G7 countries: How critical the network of environmental taxes, renewable energy and human capital is?

This study analyses the role of green growth in promoting a sustainable environment. In literature, the empirical and theoretical examination on the role of green growth in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is missing, especially in combination with other factors, i.e., human capital index, environment-related taxes and development of environment-related technologies. This study investigates the role of environmentally adjusted multifactor productivity growth (i.e. green growth) on CO2 emissions for G7 countries from 1991 to 2017. The study utilizes second generation panel data method(s), i.e. Cross-Sectionally Augmented Auto-regressive Distributive lag (CS-ARDL) model. The outcomes of theoretical and empirical findings indicate that both linear and non-linear term for green growth reduces CO2 emissions. Also, environmental tax, human capital and renewable energy use are found to decrease CO2 emissions. The impact of GDP growth both in short-run and long-run is environment depletion. However, our result supports the theoretical notion that green growth sustains environment quality. We obtained consistent results from panel causality test. Our results may further strengthen the belief of policymakers in developed countries on the promotion of green growth.

Analysing the role of environment-related technologies and carbon emissions in emerging economies: a step towards sustainable development

ABSTRACT The evaluation of the contribution of consumption-based carbon (CBCO2) emissions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is crucially important for the design of sustainable environmental policies. Despite its importance, attention to the discussion of the role of environment-related technologies (ERT) in abating CBCO2 emission is limited. The role of ERT and renewable energy in reducing carbon emissions is investigated in a panel of seven emerging economies during 1990–2016 in the ‘Environment Kuznets Curve (EKC)’ framework. Cross-sectional dependence test, CIPS unit root test, Westerlund co-integration, and cross-sectional augmented autoregressive distributive lag econometric techniques are employed to support the propositions. Findings suggest the supportive role of environment-related technologies in the presence of renewable energy in reducing carbon emissions. However, GDP growth is substantially worsening the environment. The findings indicate the need to increase investment in environment-related technologies by the E-7 economies for a sustainable reduction in CB CO2 emissions.

How do environmental technologies affect green growth? Evidence from BRICS economies

Green growth has become one of the best alternative strategies for sustainable development. Although environmental technologies play a fundamental role in green growth, further investigations are required to understand whether and how environmental technologies affect green growth. Therefore, this study explores the role of environmental technologies in green growth by controlling renewable and non-renewable energy consumption for BRICS countries. To this end, the study conducts advanced panel data estimation techniques that produce robust results against endogeneity, heteroskedasticity, and cross-sectional dependence issues. Empirical results show that environmental-related technologies positively contribute to green growth. Results also confirm that renewable energy promotes green growth, but non-renewable energy is detrimental to green growth. BRICS countries need to improve innovations in the energy sector for achieving green growth and sustainability targets.

Growing Green: the Role of Path Dependency and Structural Jumps in Green Economy Expansion

Existing research argues that countries increase their production basket by adding products which require similar capabilities to those they already produce, a process referred to as path dependency. Green economic growth is a global movement that seeks to achieve economic expansion while at the same time mitigating environmental risks. We postulate that countries engaging in green economic growth are motivated to invest strategically to develop new capabilities that will help them transition to a green economy. As a result, they could potentially increase their production baskets not only by a path dependent process but also by the non path dependent process we term, high investment structural jumps. The main objective of this research is to determine whether countries increase their green production basket mainly by a process of path dependency, or alternatively, by a process of structural jumps. We analyze data from 65 countries and over a period from years 2007 to 2017. We focus on China as our main case study. The results of this research show that countries not only increase their green production baskets based on their available capabilities, following path dependency, but also expand to products that path dependency does not predict by investing in innovating and developing new environmental related technologies.

Coordinating technological progress and environmental regulation in CO2 mitigation: The optimal levels for OECD countries & emerging economies

As technological progress and environmental regulation are not only important drivers of but also the double-edged swords in mitigation of CO 2 emissions, it is important to figure out their optimal threshold values for CO 2 emissions' reduction. This paper employs the panel smooth transition regression technique to explore these optimal values in the case of OECD countries and emerging economies. The results show that: (1) OECD countries are at a level of excessive technological progress, which will have a rebound effect and increase CO 2 emissions. (2) Emerging economies are under a strict level of environmental regulation, which will lead to serious ‘green paradox’ effects and harm the economic development. Moreover, they have great potential to achieve CO 2 emissions reduction targets through technological progress. (3) Due to the rebound effect, the concentration of environment-related technologies should be shifted from improving energy efficiency to reducing carbon emissions directly such as capture, storage, sequestration or disposal of greenhouse gases. (4) OECD countries should provide low-carbon technical support to emerging economies. In addition, because of the existence of heterogeneity, OECD countries ought to determine their levels of technological progress and environmental regulation according to their own actual conditions. • A PSTR model is employed to explore the optimal values of technological progress and environment regulation for OECD countries and emerging economies. • Results indicate that technological progress may lead to rebound effect. • The strict level of environmental regulation in emerging economies will cause ‘green paradox’ effects and hinder economic development. • Concentration of CO 2 mitigation should be shifted from improving energy efficiency to reducing carbon emissions directly. • OECD countries should provide low-carbon emission reduction technical support to emerging economies.

Non-linear effects of heterogeneous environmental regulations on green growth in G20 countries: Evidence from panel threshold regression

A comprehensive understanding of the relationships between environmental regulations and green growth of economy is essential for policy design and decision-making. This paper combines hybrid measure with Global Malmquist Luenberger index to estimate national green growth level. A panel threshold regression technique is then employed to observe the non-linear impacts of both the formal and informal environmental regulations on green growth in Group 20 countries during 2001–2015. Results from empirical tests reveal that, for the formal environmental regulations represented by Environmental Policy Stringency (EPS), the market-based EPS is only significant at high-level phase while this is not the case in the low-level counterpart; non-market based EPS witnessed significant signs across the three phases, but in varied coefficients and significance levels. By comparison, the informal environmental regulations represented by environmental-related technologies and education levels show positive and significant impact on green growth, except for the case when countries have higher level of technologies. In addition, income per capita and gross Research & Development (R&D) expenditures present significant positive impacts on the dependent while share of service sector to the economy and investment on transport infrastructure witnessed negative effects across the models. Policy implications are proposed thereafter, although both the formal and informal environmental regulations are important to promote green growth, but they show different impacts at different phases.

Adoption of nutrition and environment-related technologies by women: Case of IFAD’s interventions on cassava in south-east Nigeria

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) mainstreamed gender, nutrition and environment issues in her interventions on cassava (Manihot esculenta crantz) value chain to achieve food nutrition and health securities. However, implementation strategies could have affected adoption of technologies along the line. This study assessed adoption of nutrition and environment-related technologies/information (NE p<0.05).and environment-related technologies (F=29.365; p<0.05). Serious constraints to adoption of technologies included inadequate infrastructural development ( X =3.99), inability to afford inputs ( X =3.98), poor access to capital and credit ( X =3.97), low level of education ( X =3.95) and low extension contact ( X =3.92). The findings underline the achievements of IFAD in targeting women. More interventions on household food, nutrition and environment are recommended to address the barriers to cassava technology adoption and encourage more women’s participation. Keywords : Women, nutrition, environment, cassava technology adoption, IFAD, Nigeria.

Dual targeting of xylanase to chloroplasts and peroxisomes as a means to increase protein accumulation in plant cells

One of the limiting factors in the production of recombinant proteins in transgenic plants is the low level of protein accumulation. A strategy was investigated for a high level of protein accumulation in plant cells. A fungal xylanase encoded by XYLII of Trichoderma reesei was chosen as the model protein because xylanases have a high potential for applications in environment-related technologies. Xylanase was expressed in the cytosol or targeted either to chloroplasts or peroxisomes alone, or to both organelles simultaneously. When xylanase was targeted to both chloroplasts and peroxisomes simultaneously the amount of xylanase accumulated was 160% of that in chloroplasts alone and 240% of that in peroxisomes alone although the transcript levels were similar among these constructs. The growth stage of the transgenic plants also affected the total amount of xylanase; the highest level of accumulation occurred at the time of flowering. This study provides genetic and biochemical data demonstrating that a high level of protein accumulation in transgenic plants can be obtained by targeting a protein to both chloroplasts and peroxisomes at the same time.

EHPnet: Environmental Technology Opportunities Portal

Vol. 112, No. 13 EnvironewsOpen AccessEHPnet: Environmental Technology Opportunities Portal Erin E. Dooley Erin E. Dooley Search for more papers by this author Published:1 September 2004https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.112-a737AboutSectionsPDF ToolsDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail In 2003, Congress mandated that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set up a centralized office for facilitating public–private partnerships established to commercialize cost-effective environment-related technologies. As part of this effort, the EPA has created the Environmental Technology Opportunities Portal (ETOP), located at http://www.epa.gov/etop/, where technology developers can access the numerous programs—financial and otherwise—that the EPA offers them. The site is designed to help developers understand EPA programs on offer so that they can better take advantage of the money and other resources available through these programs.The site has three primary sections. The largest is the For Technology Developers section. From this section, visitors can go to subsections to learn more about getting financial support, finding ways to demonstrate and verify their technologies, marketing their products, disseminating information, building partnerships, and advocating for their innovations.The Financial Support subsection of this page includes information not just about EPA sources, but also about monies available from other federal agencies and the private sector. The Demonstration/Verification subsection has links to various programs designed specifically for field-testing and otherwise demonstrating new technologies in certain areas, such as the Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation Program.The Marketing subsection provides links to the VENDINFO database of pollution prevention equipment, products, and services, as well as to marketing/labeling programs such as Energy Star. Finally, the Information, Partnership, and Advocacy Programs subsection includes links to resources such as the EPA’s Technology Innovation Program, an information and advocacy group that promotes the use of new technologies in remediation of a variety of polluted sites. This program works with other federal agencies, states, engineering firms, responsible parties, investors, and developers to provide technology and market information and to facilitate the implementation of these innovations.Back at the homepage, the Technology Users section of the ETOP site connects those searching for environmental technologies to appropriate solutions, sorted by type: air, water, solid and hazardous waste, and pollution prevention. Included is information on EPA research and development activities. This section also provides the Thesaurus of Environmental Technology Terms, a compendium of relevant terminology, technologies, programs, and offices.The ETOP site offers a number of features on its homepage to help ensure that visitors can easily get the information they need. The Where You Live link leads to an interactive map that allows visitors to pull up information by EPA region or state (the map currently contains information just for Region 1). Visitors can also subscribe to two mailing lists: the ETOP mailing list provides information about funding opportunities as they are announced and updates to the ETOP site, while the EnvirotechNews mailing list features a calendar of upcoming events, information on federal funding opportunities, and items on enforcement actions. Finally, ETOP News pulls together news items of interest to the environmental technology developer community, such as the recent awarding of $900,000 to four companies to develop environmentally relevant nanotechnologies.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Vol. 112, No. 13 September 2004Metrics About Article Metrics Publication History Originally published1 September 2004Published in print1 September 2004 Financial disclosures License information EHP is an open-access journal published with support from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health. All content is public domain unless otherwise noted. Note to readers with disabilities EHP strives to ensure that all journal content is accessible to all readers. However, some figures and Supplemental Material published in EHP articles may not conform to 508 standards due to the complexity of the information being presented. If you need assistance accessing journal content, please contact [email protected]. Our staff will work with you to assess and meet your accessibility needs within 3 working days.