Green Growth Research Articles

Impact of green trade on green growth in Malaysia: A dynamic ARDL simulation

Green economic growth emphasizes developing an economy that safeguards natural resources, enhances resource capabilities, and promotes sustainable resource utilization. This approach is vital for balancing economic development with environmental preservation, highlighting the efficient and sustainable use of renewable and non-renewable resources to maintain a clean environment and societal well-being. It also stresses the long-term preservation of natural resources for green growth and prosperity. Environmental sustainability is key for economic growth, as poor sustainability can lead to economic decline due to inefficient resource use. The Eleventh Malaysia Plan highlights the importance of green economic growth, focusing on areas such as creating a supportive environment for green growth, adopting sustainable consumption and production practices, conserving natural resources, and strengthening resilience against climate change and natural disasters. This study examines the impact of natural resource use on the green economic growth in Malaysia from 1990 to 2021, with a focus on green trade as a key component. To achieve this objective, this study utlizies the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) method and also its extension, the Dynamic ARDL (DYNARDL). Estimation results for both model indicate that green trade has a significant long run positive impact on green economic growth. While for short run, only DYNARDL method found evidence for positive impact of green trade. These findings suggest that policymakers should further promote green trade as a means to enhance sustainable and equitable resource use, thereby supporting the growth of the green economy in Malaysia.

U.S. Labor and renewable energy: green growth versus the Green New Deal

ABSTRACT In this article, I examine findings from an NSF-funded project on U.S. labor unions’ stance on renewable energy technologies such as wind and solar power, which is neither simple nor well understood. The discourse on energy issues of 11 national-level U.S. unions posted to union websites from 2012 to 2020 was examined and coded using NVivo. While almost all unions in this study were enthusiastic supporters of renewable energy, the reasons for their support were very different, with different implications for the goal of low-carbon energy transition. Unions disagree on issues of ‘just transition,’ and exhibit lines of conflict on four issues: who should lead the energy transition; whether jobs in renewable energy are or could be as good as fossil fuel jobs; whether fossil fuels should be phased out; and whether a just transition necessarily includes transformation of unjust social relations. Union strategies regarding renewable and fossil fuel energy were characterized as ‘Green Growth,’ versus Green New Deal. Examining these contrasting strategies through the lens of theoretical perspectives including ecological modernization, feminist theory, Treadmill of Production theory, and the theoretical perspectives of Gramsci and Polanyi allows labor’s role in energy transition to be better understood while refining sociological theory.

Deconstruction of green product innovation drivers for regional export-oriented industrial enterprises in China: the product space perspective

Achieving green economic growth requires enterprises to develop and promote green products that balance environmental protection, intensive resource utilization, and sustainable development. However, under the externality assumption, the green market is often faced with the challenge of insufficient supply. Based on 2004–2018 panel data covering regional industrial enterprises in 30 provinces in China, this study empirically tests the composite driving mechanism of the effect of an increase in the regional green production capacity, organizational factors, and environmental policies on the green product innovation (GPI) of regional export-oriented industrial enterprises (REIEs). This study finds that the increase in regional green production capacity directly drives an improvement in REIEs’ GPI level, that the regional green technology level and degree of human capital accumulation are indirect driving channels between capacity increases and product innovation, and that environmental regulations and green credit have a positive moderating effect on the influence of increasing green production capacity on GPI. Further threshold regression analysis reveals that increasing green production capacity, foreign direct investment, digitization, and trade openness have an inverted U-shaped promoting effect on GPI and that the proportion of local government expenditure shows a diminishing marginal utility effect on GPI.

Prioritizing environmental and policy factors and solutions in sustainable mineral resources management for green growth in China

AbstractIn the wake of the increasing environmental challenges and the urgent need for sustainable development, this study focuses on the complex issue of mineral resource management. Given the growing global demand for minerals and the environmental impact of extraction, the research seeks to uncover the solutions that promote green growth while effectively addressing the ecological consequences of resource utilization in China. In the study, six factors, twenty‐four sub‐factors, and five potential solutions have been identified influencing sustainable mineral resource management and green growth. The study utilizes fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to assess these factors and sub‐factors. Following, the study utilizes fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method to evaluate and rank five potential solutions for sustainable development. The fuzzy AHP results indicate that environmental impact mitigation, robust policy frameworks, and innovation in extraction techniques are the most crucial factors. The fuzzy TOPSIS findings indicate that technological innovation for sustainability ranks highest, followed by policy‐driven green growth, socio‐economic empowerment, enhanced environmental stewardship, and integrated circular economy approaches. These findings emphasize the critical role of advanced technologies and robust policies in promoting sustainability while addressing the socio‐economic and environmental dimensions of mineral resource management.

The road to inclusive green growth in China: Exploring the impact of digital-real economy integration on carbon emission efficiency

With the emergence of digital transformation, China confronts the dual challenge of fostering sustainable economic and social development while fulfilling its "dual-carbon" commitments. Is the digital-real economy integration a blessing or a curse for inclusive green development? The study was conducted under this backdrop. This paper explores the impacts and mechanisms of digital-real economy integration on carbon emission efficiency, utilizing panel data from 274 Chinese cities over the period from 2011 to 2021. The results indicate that this profound integration significantly enhances urban carbon emission efficiency, although this relationship is partially mediated by industrial structure upgrading. Additionally, natural resources dependence may compromise efficiency gains, exhibiting varying effects across different contexts. The impact of digital-real economy integration on carbon efficiency (Cee) manifests as a non-linear U-shaped relationship that intensifies with increased integration. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that major, eastern, coastal, and resource-scarce cities experience the most profound benefits. These findings highlight the urgency of advancing digital carbon neutrality and offer strategies for emerging economies to transcend traditional constraints, thereby achieving green economic recovery and inclusive development.

Nexus between green production practices and green growth: policy recommendations for emerging economies

Nexus between green production practices and green growth: policy recommendations for emerging economies

Is Environmental Information Disclosure Driving Green Energy Development? Contextual evidence from Chinese city level data in the lens of sustainability

As an important supplement to mandatory environmental regulation, third-party participation in environmental regulation has become an important driving force for the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development. Environmental information disclosure (EID) has become a widely used form of third-party participation ecological regulation, and the study of its impact on green energy development (GED) is receiving more and more academic attention. However, the research on this issue is still insufficient in academia. Based on resource-based theory and information processing theory, with IPE project of pollution information survey in China as an exogenous impact, this paper analyzes the causal impact of EID for GED using panel data of 285 Chinese cities from 2000 to 2020. The findings revealed that EID is a strong driver of GED in the long run, further amplified by the smart city pilot program. Besides, industrial structure transformation (IST), substantive green technological innovation (SGTI), non-substantive green technological innovation (NOSGTI), and green finance development (GFD) are important mediating mechanisms through which EID facilitates the GED. Concerning resource endowments of different regions and cities, the heterogeneity test asserted that the promotion effect of EID for GED is best in resource-based cities and old industrial parks. These results emphasize the importance of public participation in urban sustainable development and provide new ideas for promoting green growth.

Exploring the influence of green growth and energy sources on “carbon-dioxide emissions”: implications for climate change mitigation

Exploring the influence of green growth and energy sources on “carbon-dioxide emissions”: implications for climate change mitigation

Redefining Middle Power Diplomacy: South Korea’s Strategic Shift towards Global Leadership

This paper explores South Korea’s evolving foreign policy under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, highlighting its shift from a traditional middle power to a “Global Pivotal State” (GPS). The study examines the key drivers behind this transformation, particularly the enhanced U.S.-South Korea alliance, which has allowed South Korea to increase its regional and global influence. Through an analysis of the "Global Pivotal State" policy, the paper delves into how South Korea seeks to expand its leadership role in multilateral diplomacy, focusing on areas such as security, democracy, and climate change. Additionally, the study emphasizes South Korea’s efforts to strengthen bilateral relations, especially with the U.S., Japan, and Europe, while expanding its diplomatic reach to new regions such as the Indo-Pacific. By leveraging its strengths in green growth, technology, and official development assistance (ODA), South Korea aims to secure leadership in key global issues. Ultimately, the Yoon administration’s vision reflects South Korea's ambition to redefine its role in the international order, positioning itself as an influential actor in global governance.

Analysis of agricultural emissions and economic growth in Europe in search of ecological balance

Abstract This study analyses the relationship between economic growth, measured by gross value added in agriculture, and greenhouse gas emissions from the sector in 30 European countries during the period 2012–2021. The aim is to assess whether the increase in agricultural production leads to a corresponding increase in harmful emissions. Regression analysis is applied to establish linear statistical dependencies between variables, cluster analysis to group countries, and analysis of trends in the dynamics of indicators. The results show significant differences between countries, with no universal relationship between economic growth and emissions. A “decoupling” between growth and emissions is observed in some countries, demonstrating the potential for “green growth.” Regional and structural differences, as well as the level of technological development, stand out as key factors determining the relationship between economic growth and emissions, highlighting the need for an individualised approach in formulating policies for the sustainable development of the agricultural sector.

Correction: Assessing the impact of energy R&D on green growth in OECD countries: a CS-ARDL analysis

Correction: Assessing the impact of energy R&D on green growth in OECD countries: a CS-ARDL analysis

Does Income Inequality Endanger Green Growth? Evidence from Selected Countries in Asia and the Global South

Does Income Inequality Endanger Green Growth? Evidence from Selected Countries in Asia and the Global South

Dynamic and Stable R&D Strategies for Green Technology Based on Cooperative Differential Games

As the “carbon neutrality” strategy is implemented, green technology R&D, a core competitive strength for sustainable enterprise development, is an essential pathway for China’s transformation and green growth. Green technology, a breakthrough over traditional production technologies, involves lengthy and costly R&D processes with high risks typically beyond the reach of a single enterprise. It requires the heterogeneous functions of enterprises, universities, and research institutions to complement each other’s advantages and establish an “industry–university–research” collaborative innovation alliance for green technologies. This paper constructs differential game models for non-cooperative and cooperative green technology R&D involving a green manufacturer and a research institution. We solve and compare the profits for both parties under these scenarios, apply a time-consistent payment distribution mechanism to allocate cooperative profits, and ensure that neither party deviates from the optimal cooperative trajectory over a prolonged period, achieving Pareto improvement and enhancing social welfare.

The Effect of LED Lighting Durations on Growth, Yield and Quality of Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) under Greenhouse Condition

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) show promise as a radiation source for intensive crop cultivation systems, especially for vegetables in the greenhouse. Regarding mustard greens, most studies have investigated the effects of LED lights at the seedling stage under chamber conditions for microgreens not addressed throughout their growing period up to harvest. Therefore, this study is focused to evaluate the effect of additional LED lighting time from 6 pm on the growth, yield and quality of mustard greens under a greenhouse in Kien Giang province as a typical tropical region. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with 3 replications, from August 1st to September 18th, 2023. Four treatments: AL0, AL2, AL4 and AL6 correspond to lighting durations of 0, 2, 4 and 6 h of LED light, which includes a combination of 3 white lights: 1 pink light, 58 μmol·m−2·s−1 PPFD, and a Blue (18 %): Green (41 %): Red (41 %) ratio. Results showed that AL4 had the most significant positive impact on mustard plant growth, with higher dry and fresh weight, plant height, leaf width and length. However, AL6 inhibited most parameters except leaf number. Additionally, under AL4 conditions, mustard allocated more biomass to leaves, while those under AL6 conditions allocated more biomass to stems. In terms of quality, LED lighting duration negatively influenced protein content. For instance, AL0 showed the significantly greatest protein value (2.87 ± 0.08 g·kg−1) compared to others. Apart from AL0, AL6 had a considerably higher value of protein content (2.58 ± 0.2 g·kg−1) compared to AL2 (1.74 ± 0.04 g·kg−1) and AL4 (2.17 ± 0.07 g·kg−1). The additional durations of LED lighting influenced mature mustard greens’ morphology, physiology and quality, providing valuable scientific information for improving vegetable quality and quantity in tropical zones. HIGHLIGHTS 4 hours of additional LED light had the most significant positive impact on mustard plant growth, with higher dry and fresh weight, plant height, leaf width, and length. Additionally, leaf number increased under 6 hours of additional LED light. Under 4 hours of additional LED light, mustard allocated more biomass to leaves, while those under 6 hours of additional LED light allocated more biomass to stems. Lighting with LED resulted in a lower protein value, and different durations of LED lighting resulted in varying protein content values. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Isolation, Identification and Characterization of the Algicidal Micromycete Penicillium chrysogenum SR–1.3

A novel strain SR–1.3 with algicidal properties and the ability to remove microcystin-LR was isolated from the water of Lake Sestroretskij Razliv during the active cyanobacteria vegetation. Based on the morphological and cultural characteristics and the results of sequencing of the ITS DNA region strain SR–1.3 was identified as Penicillium chrysogenum. The SR–1.3 strain exhibited algicidal activity against cyanobacteria and green algae. A dose-dependent and species-specific nature of the algicidal action of the P. chrysogenum SR–1.3 strain has been established. Cyanobacteria showed the highest sensitivity to strain SR–1.3. The complete lysis (100%) of cyanobacteria cells was observed when 10% (vol.) of the culture liquid or the micromycete filtrate were added to the medium. The algicidal effect of strain SR–1.3 on green algae was 30–70%, depending on the culture. According to the level of sensitivity to the algicidal effect SR–1.3, the test cultures can be arranged in the series Planktothrix agardhii Microcystis aeruginosa Aphanizomenon flos-aquae = Anabaena cylindrica Scenedesmus quadricauda Oocystis parva. The inhibitory effect of the strain SR-1.3 mycelium on the cyanobacteria and green algae growth did not exceed 3–6%. Based on the obtained results a conclusion was made about the indirect mechanism of the algicidal action of P. chrysogenum SR–1.3 by excretion into the medium of metabolites that inhibit and/or lyse cells of cyanobacteria and green algae. When toxigenic strains of M. aeruginosa and P. agardhii were cultivated on a medium containing exometabolites of strain SR–1.3, the concentrations of microcystins in the medium decreased by 3.3 and 1.8 times, respectively, compared with control variants. The ability of P. chrysogenum SR–1.3 to remove highly toxic microcystin-LR from the cultivation medium was revealed. The MC-LR content was found to decrease from 1.2 μg/ml to 0.79 μg/ml over 48 hours during the cultivation of strain SR–1.3 on medium with microcystin.

Does development in financial markets and institutions affect green growth? Empirical evidence from India

Abstract This study delves into the intricate connection between financial development and green growth in India. The study considers the development in financial institutions and financial markets as a proxy of financial development. By employing an autoregressive distributed lag model for the period 1990–2019, the results reveal a mixed impact of financial development on green growth in India. The study confirms a cointegrating relationship among the interested variables through the autoregressive distributed lag-bound test approach. Further, the results reported that financial institutions have a positive and statistically significant influence on green growth in India both in the short and long terms. However, financial markets have no statistically significant effect on green growth. These findings are important for policymakers, offering valuable insights into India’s intricate interplay between financial development and green growth. These findings suggest the way for targeted policy interventions to achieve green growth and better investment strategies in India’s economic landscape.

Evaluating the influence of environmental regulations on green economic growth in China: A focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency guidelines

China's status as the world's largest energy consumer highlights its pivotal role in global energy consumption and the urgency of enhancing its energy efficiency and renewable energy development. This study evaluates the influence of environmental regulations on green economic growth in China, with a focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency, from 2000 to 2023 across 30 provinces. Using the Metafrontier-Global-SBM super-efficient DEA model, the research measures green economic development through the lens of energy efficiency. An enhanced fuzzy comprehensive assessment gauges the stringency of environmental regulations. To explore non-linear impacts, regional spillover, and feedback effects, a spatial econometric model was applied. The results reveal a U-shaped non-linear relationship between environmental regulations and green economic growth, with significant spatial feedback and regional spillover effects. Environmental regulations are also shown to have a substantial positive influence on the development of renewable energy, a critical driver of green economic growth. Policy implications suggest that strengthening environmental regulations could accelerate renewable energy adoption and foster sustainable economic growth across regions in China.

Estimating afforestation related forest cover change using data fusion and machine learning

Abstract Climate change threatens natural ecosystems, including biodiversity, and has emerged as the greatest challenge to human well-being. To support sustainable forest use, it is important to accurately map the distribution of afforestation and how the forests have changed over time. Climate change is affected by land use and land cover (LULC) since it alters biogeochemical cycles. Pakistan's declining forest cover has motivated policymakers to undertake the Green Growth Initiative (GGI). In accordance with its commitment to the Bonn Challenge, Pakistan executed the Billion Tree Afforestation Project (BTAP) to restore forests covering approxi-mately 0.35 million Ha. To estimate forest cover mapping accuracy, we developed a novel method to combine Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2 data, and vegetation indices to assess forest cover change. The methods and models were used to create forest maps for the period of 2016 to 2022. The optimal mapping approach was chosen after classifying the land cover using two machine learning-based classifiers: random forests (RF) and support vector machines (SVM). Finally, the spatiotemporal distribution of the changes induced by afforestation was generated. Based on the classifications of land cover, forest and non-forest identification was carried out. The results show that RF produces more accurate results, with kappa coefficient of 94-97% & 0.93-0.96 respectively. The classification accuracy and Kappa coefficient of the SVM model ranges from 92-94% & 0.91-0.95. Overall, forested areas in the study area increased by 3.7%. The techniques used in this study are cost-effective for accurately monitoring changes in forest cover.

Study on the complex relationship of tourism-economy-ecological environment in arid zones: the case of Xinjiang, China

The synergistic integration of tourism, the economy, and the ecological environment within a region is crucial for promoting its sustainable development. Tourism acts as a catalyst for green economic growth, yet varying levels of tourism development can intensify the strain on the ecological environment. Thus, achieving a Pareto optimal balance among the benefits of these three entities holds significant theoretical and practical relevance. This research utilizes statistical data spanning from 2000 to 2021 to devise a tourism-economy-ecological environment (TEE) indicator system for Xinjiang. The study employs a coupled coordination model to analyze the spatial and temporal coupling dynamics between subsystems and to classify the types of coupled coordination. The analysis also identifies obstacles that impede the degree of coordination. The findings indicate that during the period under investigation, the TEE system in Xinjiang experienced consistent growth. However, the tourism subsystem exhibited disparate development and pronounced resource monopolization, which stimulated the economic subsystem’s growth, albeit with noticeable developmental lags in the latter stages. Spatially, economic performance demonstrated a declining trend from core urban centers like Urumqi City and Karamay City towards peripheral areas. From an ecological perspective, the distribution of resources exhibited a heterogeneous “M-V-W” pattern, characterized by significant disparities in the availability of natural resources and the occurrence of localized ecological deterioration. There is a notable and increasing degree of coupled coordination in regional synergistic development, which is primarily manifested in the delayed development of tourism. The combined development of the three subsystems is influenced by some factors, including environmental pollution, resources, economic quality, and industrial structure. Soot emissions, green space per capita in parks, and sulfur dioxide emissions are identified as key constraints. This study provides theoretical backing and empirical evidence for economic growth, the optimization of industrial structure, and the preservation of the ecological environment in arid and semi-arid regions globally.

Time‐Quantile and Frequency Response of Green Growth to Energy Vulnerability, Energy Uncertainty, and Geopolitical Risks

AbstractThe study explains the time‐quantile‐frequency adjustments of green growth to energy vulnerability, energy uncertainties, and geopolitical risks (GPR) in the United States (US). Novel insights with notable policy implications emerged following the empirical analysis of monthly data spanning 2000 m1–2022 m12. The study implemented the Wavelet Quantile Correlation (WQC), Wavelet Quantile Granger Causality, and the Rolling Windows Wavelet Quantile Granger Causality to understand the dynamics among the variables. Evidence from WQC divulged time‐specific positive and negative interactions between green growth and its determinants. Specifically, energy vulnerability dampened green growth more profoundly in the immediate and medium terms. However, in the long term, green growth prospers amidst energy vulnerability. This outcome reflects some policy effectiveness that reduced the negative effects of energy vulnerability for green growth. The effects of energy uncertainties are similar to that of energy vulnerability, with more profound damaging effects in the lower medium horizon of the distributions. GPR dampened green growth in the short run and enhanced it in the medium term, but it reduced green growth more profoundly in the long run. The pleasant effects of energy efficiency and digitalization are observed mostly in the long run, with notable green growth‐reducing effects mainly in the short run.