Green Infrastructure Investment Research Articles

The Effect of Green Infrastructure Investment, Capital Structure, and Operational Efficiency on Financial Performance of Companies in Central Java

This study investigates the influence of green infrastructure investment, capital structure, and operational efficiency on the financial performance of companies operating in Central Java. A quantitative research approach was employed, utilizing survey data collected from 173 companies across various industries. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), with hypothesis testing conducted to assess the significance of the relationships between the variables. The results indicate significant positive associations between green infrastructure investment, capital structure, operational efficiency, and financial performance. Specifically, companies that prioritize sustainability initiatives, maintain optimal capital structures, and enhance operational efficiency tend to achieve superior financial performance outcomes. These findings highlight the multidimensional nature of value creation within organizations and underscore the importance of integrating environmental and operational considerations into strategic decision-making processes. The implications of the study extend to policymakers, business leaders, and stakeholders seeking to enhance the financial sustainability and resilience of companies in Central Java.

Role of sustainability ethics in amplifying investments in common green properties and infrastructure in China

Role of sustainability ethics in amplifying investments in common green properties and infrastructure in China

Impact of Green Infrastructure Investment on Urban Carbon Emissions in China

Given the increasingly severe global climate change, the reduction in urban greenhouse gas emissions has become the common goal of all nations. As a widely concerned sustainable development strategy, green infrastructure investment (GII) aims to reduce urban carbon emissions, improve the efficiency of resource utilization, and improve environmental quality. However, the construction cycle of green infrastructure is long, and the construction process itself may produce carbon emissions; so, the final effect of GII on urban carbon emissions is unclear, which deserves our in-depth study. Further, is this effect having a time-lag effect? Is there only a simple linear relationship between GII and urban carbon emissions? Based on panel data from 235 Chinese cities from 2006 to 2019, this study conducted an econometric regression analysis using time-lag-effect and threshold-effect models. The results showed the following: (1) GII had a negative inhibitory effect on urban CO2 emissions. Adding one unit to the GII could reduce urban CO2 emissions by 0.032 units. (2) GII exhibited a time-lag effect on urban CO2 emissions, and the greatest reduction in CO2 emissions occurred in the third lag period. (3) GII had a threshold effect on urban CO2 emissions based on technological progress (TP). This paper used the static and dynamic panel threshold models to research separately, and obtained the corresponding regression results. In the static panel, the double threshold values for TP were 3.9120 and 6.8035. At different TP levels, GII had an inhibitory effect on CO2 emissions, but the coefficients were different. However, in the dynamic panel, the threshold value was 3.666. The threshold changed over time and the effect of GII on CO2 emissions shifted from facilitation to inhibition.

Simulation and feasibility assessment of a green hydrogen supply chain: a case study in Oman.

The transition to sustainable energy is crucial for mitigating climate change impacts. This study addresses this imperative by simulating a green hydrogen supply chain tailored for residential cooking in Oman. The supply chain encompasses solar energy production, underground storage, pipeline transportation, and residential application, aiming to curtail greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH). The simulation results suggest leveraging a robust 7 GW solar plant. Oman achieves an impressive annual production of 9.78 TWh of green hydrogen, equivalent to 147,808 tonnes of H2, perfectly aligning with the ambitious goals of Oman Vision 2040. The overall LCOH for the green hydrogen supply chain is estimated at a highly competitive 6.826 USD/kg, demonstrating cost competitiveness when benchmarked against analogous studies. A sensitivity analysis highlights Oman's potential for cost-effective investments in green hydrogen infrastructure, propelling the nation towards a sustainable energy future. This study not only addresses the pressing issue of reducing carbon emissions in the residential sector but also serves as a model for other regions pursuing sustainable energy transitions. The developed simulation models are publicly accessible at https://hychain.co.uk , providing a valuable resource for further research and development in the field of green hydrogen supply chains.

Can Green Infrastructure Investment Reduce Urban Carbon Emissions:Empirical Evidence from China

Green infrastructure (GI) plays a pivotal role in contemporary urban infrastructure. Green infrastructure investment (GII) provides a fresh perspective for controlling urban carbon emissions in the context of global climate change. Based on theoretical analysis, we employed panel data from Chinese cities to examine the effects and operating mechanisms of GII on urban carbon emissions. The research reveals that the incremental GII can notably decrease urban carbon emissions, and various robustness tests and endogeneity checks corroborate this finding. However, when considering the cumulative effect, the GII stocks do not appear to influence urban carbon emissions; GII mitigates urban carbon emissions by drawing in pollution control talents, improving the efficiency of household waste treatment, increasing urban green spaces, and heightening public attention to the environment. Relative to cities in the central-western region, northern cities, smaller cities, resource-based cities, smart pilot cities, and cities with a lesser environmental emphasis, GII is more effective in curbing carbon emissions in eastern cities, southern cities, larger cities, non-resource-intensive cities, cities not in the smart pilot initiative, and cities with a stronger environmental focus. This research enhances the understanding of GI’s environmental outcomes and the determinants of urban carbon emissions from an investment viewpoint. It also dissects the four operative mechanisms through which GII lowers urban carbon emissions, offering a novel interpretation of GII for the variance in carbon emission levels across cities with diverse traits.

Evolution of the Green Investment: Prospectus to the Companies

This chapter discusses the scenario of Green Investment in small & Medium Enterprises towards sustainable development. Projects. Green finance is an upcoming & novel area under the broader area of Environmental Accounting. Green Bonds are debt instruments which used the raised funds for Green Bonds are issued to raise funds towards environmentally friendly & responsive investing proposals related to green finance. By making investments in energy efficiency, green infrastructure, renewable and conservative energy, community development, and reducing environmental pollution, they stand for socially responsible investing. Academicians are trying to support gearing up the environmentally friendly economy. This project covers a detailed study of the current Green Bonds under the Green Finance scenario from various dimensions like investors, Corporate, and Small & Medium Enterprises. To understand the level of awareness & figure out the facts in figures & bridge the gap between the objective of the issue & reach. 
 "The demand for green bonds should remain elevated amid increased investor appetite for sustainable securities that offer transparency over the use of proceeds, and ongoing regulator and central bank encouragement." Vincent Juoyns, Global market strategist.

Strategic evaluation of the 2021 Nigeria Climate Change Act: Surmounting challenges, paving the way for success, and envisioning future trajectories

The 2021 Climate Change Act is a pioneering initiative aimed at addressing the pressing global issue of climate change. This study evaluates the Act's impact, and its prospects for achieving energy security, environmental sustainability, economic prosperity, and social justice. The paper dissects the hurdles facing the Act and outlines a strategy to realize the Act's ambitions via public investments in green infrastructure, technology, energy efficiency and robust support for renewable energy sources. The study delves into the Act's capacity to shape the trajectory of future climate policies, identifying focal points and strategies essential for its successful implementation. It underscores the Act's potential and the obstacles it must surmount to be an effective instrument for climate change mitigation via reforms. Employing a rigorous doctrinal legal research methodology, this study relies on an extensive array of primary and secondary legal sources. The study unveils the struggle in combating the repercussions of climate change, due to reliance on fossil fuels as a primary revenue source. It concludes that low-carbon energy is an option, recommending the domestication of the CCA, 2021, establishment of a Forest Commission to safeguard forests and advocates the use of windfall and solar energy for a transition towards a green economy.

Green Infrastructure Investment: The Public Sector Cannot Do It Alone

Green Infrastructure Investment: The Public Sector Cannot Do It Alone

Recent SDGs and ESG Implementation by Qatar

The gas-rich nation, Qatar, became the first Middle Eastern country to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022, after beating South Korea, Japan, Australia, and the US. Qatar invested an enormous amount of money in implementing the measures outlined by FIFA and United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the World Cup was included in Qatar’s sustainable Vision 2030. Qatar has gained international support and wants to host more mega-events despite controversies surrounding its FIFA World Cup, including workers’ deaths during infrastructure construction and protests from western athletes, politicians, and media against the Qatari government and FIFA’s ban on LGBT+ symbols and alcohol in the stadium. Qatar’s 2022 FIFA World Cup left a sustainable legacy by following ESG principles. This paper analysed how FIFA 2022 applies SDGs, ESG, and Islamic principles and their managerial implications. We concluded with lessons to be learnt from FIFA 2022 and Qatar’s investments in green infrastructure, sustainable mobility, and carbon offsetting, as well as how the country’s efforts to leave a sustainable legacy after the event could inspire other nations.

Impacts of urbanisation on vegetation dynamics in Chinese cities

Urbanisation is a global phenomenon that dramatically impacts ecosystems and their services. In recent years, urbanisation in China increased substantially. To improve the urban environment, the Chinese government has implemented several programs to green the cities' central areas and limit forest and grasslands in expanding areas. However, more information is needed about the trend and the factors affecting vegetation status in urban centres and expanding areas. Here we studied the vegetation in these areas in 3345 cities in China using 30 m spatial resolution Annual Net Primary Production (NPP) Change (ANC) and NPP Change Rate (ANCR) in 2000 and 2020. The results showed that most Chinese cities' central areas have a greening trend. However, vegetation cover decreases in expansion areas, mainly in southern cities. The opposite is observed in some urban areas in the country's North. This is mostly attributed to the highest urbanisation trends observed in the South than in the North. The most important factors that affected the ANC trend were mean temperature/precipitation, expansion area, and CO2 changes. ANCR was mainly affected by mean temperature/precipitation. Political decisions such as increasing the greening areas in city centres in China also affected the increase of vegetation in urban cores. In some cities located in the North, the investment in green infrastructure in expansion areas may have also contributed to increased vegetation. The results are important for managers to improve cities' livability, especially in the South of China, where the degradation of the ecosystems is high in expansion areas.

Inequity in nature’s contributions to people in Ōtautahi/ Christchurch: A low-density post-earthquake city

Nature’s contributions to people (NCP) include the regulating, material, and non-material benefits of urban vegetation that improve well-being. It is increasingly important to plan cities that provide multiple types of NCP equitably to all residents of the city. However, due to historical legacies and planning policies, it is common for the most socially and economically vulnerable urban residents to suffer reduced access to the benefits of urban ecosystems. Previous studies of urban NCP have drawn attention to inequity in one or several types of NCP, but few have analysed a broad range. Here we analysed inequity in nine diverse forms of urban NCP across an index of economic and social vulnerability designed specifically to characterise vulnerability to environmental pressures. Furthermore, we used spatial analysis to map co-variance in vulnerability and a composite indicator of urban NCP, thus highlighting priority regions for future investments in green infrastructure. We applied this approach to the city of Christchurch/ Ōtautahi in Aotearoa/ New Zealand, which provides a valuable case study due to its multicultural population and recent history of widespread damage and regeneration following the 2011 earthquake. Overall, the distribution of urban NCP is inequitable to the disadvantage of more vulnerable residents. Residents of more vulnerable neighbourhoods experienced reduced provision of carbon stock, runoff retention, air quality enhancement, shade, educational green space, public outdoor space accessibility, private green space, and bird biodiversity contributions. Conversely, more vulnerable neighbourhoods had greater provision of erosion mitigation (although negligible in magnitude). The wide range of indicators used and assessed in response to vulnerability, coupled with an assessment of the type of vegetation cover (i.e. grass, tall trees) provides greater insights into how inequities in urban NCP can be addressed in future redevelopment.

Linking Green Infrastructure Deployment Needs and Agroecosystem Conditions for the Improvement of the Natura2000 Network: Preliminary Investigations in W Mediterranean Europe

Reconnecting natural habitats and improving agroecosystem conditions are strategic targets set by several European policies. In order to combine both of these needs, the European Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 has triggered new investments in Green Infrastructure (GI), which actually represents a valuable tool to increase ecological connectivity across natural and semi-natural habitats. In particular, GI may benefit the Natura2000 (N2K) network (i.e., the network of protected sites under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives) by reinforcing the node/site number, extent, and distribution and by improving connections between often small and isolated habitat patches. However, there is a lack of knowledge on what the actual needs of GI deployment are for improving the current N2K network, on the distribution of these needs across Europe and on the potential role of agricultural areas in the improvement of the network functionality. Concurrently, especially in SW Europe, there is an ongoing trend toward the homogenisation and intensification of agricultural systems and the combined loss of associated landscape elements, such as natural and semi-natural Small Woody Features (SWF). Although a well-planned network of such elements could support biodiversity and landscape connectivity, thus effectively complementing the N2K network, little evidence is available on their abundance and residual distribution, especially in agricultural areas and at continental/bioregional scales. Therefore, the present work is aimed at (i) identifying different types of territorial units (NUTS3) in W Mediterranean Europe according to current N2K network features, the overall composition of the actual landscape mosaic and the potential natural heterogeneity of the environment and (ii) identifying and spatialising N2K-related GI deployment needs according to a more specific network analysis in terms of nodes (extent of the total protected area) and links (density of residual woody elements in arable land) within the different types of NUTS3. By means of this wide-scale investigation, four different types of GI deployment needs were generalised across the W Mediterranean Europe NUTS3. Overall, the need for connection restoration prevails, followed by the need for the consolidation of node and link conservation, for the creation of new protected sites and for the enlargement of existing N2K sites. Although useful for a preliminary setting, the shortcomings related to summary data at the European level were also highlighted when compared to local-scale information, with the latter being more suitable for identifying and prioritising truly effective GI conservation and restoration actions.

The impact of small-scale green infrastructure on the affective wellbeing associated with urban sites

The largest public space in any city is its streets. Investments which incorporate small-scale green infrastructure into streetscapes can bring more nature into the lives of urban residents worldwide, including those living in even the most economically and spatially constraint places. However, little is known about the impact of such small-scale investments on urban residents’ affective perceptions of their local environments and how to design these investments to maximise their positive impacts. In the current study, we use photo simulation techniques and an adapted form of the Positive and Negative Affective Schedule to examine the impact of small-scale green infrastructure interventions on the affective perceptions of low, middle and high-income sites in Santiago Chile. Our results, based on 62,478 reports of affective perceptions from 3,472 people, indicate that green infrastructure investments can both promote positive affect and, to a lesser, but still substantial extent reduce negative affect. The magnitudes of these relationships vary across discrete affective measures and for many of these measures, both positive and negative, a minimum of 16% increase in green coverage is required to see an impact. Finally, we find people associated lower affect with low, compared to middle and high, income sites but that these affective inequalities can be addressed, at least in part, through green infrastructure interventions.

The role of entrepreneurship, cooperative innovation, environmental investment in relationship between the Belt and Road Initiative and green innovation upgrading

PurposeThis paper analyzes the effect of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on firm green innovation upgrading using data on Chinese firms between 2009 and 2021.Design/methodology/approachThe author adopts the staggered difference-in-difference (DID) method to estimate regressions, treating the proposal of the BRI in 2013 as a policy shock. Our analysis yields few findings.FindingsThe author yields few findings. First, the BRI can significantly promote Chinese firms green innovation upgrading. Specifically, the BRI can promote firm green innovation upgrading by 0.9%. Second, the BRI mainly promotes firms green innovation upgrading by promoting firms to increase green entrepreneurship, cooperative innovation and environmental investment. Finally, the BRI has a greater impact on the green innovation upgrading of firms in the digital industrialization industry rather than digital industry and firms with low pollution emissions rather than firms with high-pollution emissions. This research indicates that the BRI is not only an important platform for sustainable development and also an important opportunity for green entrepreneurship.Research limitations/implicationsFirst, due to the low quality of data and the lack of detailed information on some firms' patents owned after 2018, fully applying data of all years for regression was not possible. Second, the author did not construct a theoretical model to explore the impact of the BRI on green innovation upgrading of firms from the perspective of outward foreign direct investment (OFDI), which is also the direction of future research. Finally, there are still some unexplored mechanisms of the BRI on firms green innovation upgrading, which should be further explored in the future.Originality/valueFirst, from the micro perspective, the author measures the quality of firms' green patents, further measuring the firms' green innovation upgrading. Second, the author discusses the impact of the BRI on firm green innovation upgrading with the method of staggered DID, so that the policy effect of the BRI can be more accurately evaluated. Third, the author comprehensively analyzes the mechanism of cooperative innovation and green infrastructure investment, as well as analyzing the heterogeneity from the perspective of industry digital transformation and firm pollution emissions. Lastly, the author provides specific paths for firms to make high-quality investment from the green BRI construction.

The Nature Smart Cities business model: A rapid decision-support and scenario analysis tool to reveal the multi-benefits of green infrastructure investments

Incorporating natural spaces within urban areas has been shown to have multiple benefits. However, despite greening and adaptation strategies at different levels of government, progress remains slow with a lack of easy to use and comprehensive tools identified as key to overcoming this. This paper presents a co-designed tool with academic and local authority partners to demonstrate the ecosystem service benefits of small-scale urban green infrastructure projects. Through the tool, users can readily assess the impact of green infrastructure investments on the delivery of a selection of ecosystem services in the early stages of a project. Furthermore, the tool provides a standardised assessment of cultural ecosystem services’ contributions, as well as offering a method to score spatial designs on the impact on habitat for biodiversity. Use of the tool is demonstrated using a pilot study in Kapelle, the Netherlands. The results set out an overview of the impacts of the spatial design on estimated ecosystem service delivery. They also show the tool’s potential to add value in early project stages and as a planning and design tool, helping to maximise the benefits that can be achieved through green infrastructure design. Complementing these arguments with ball-park estimations on green infrastructure costs, the Nature Smart Cities Business Model aims to offer public sector officers the means to create a business case for green infrastructure measures, facilitating the translation from strategies to actual plans, thus benefitting green infrastructure implementation in the public realm.

The Effects of CO2 and NO2 Emissions on Economic Growth in Nigeria

This paper examined the relationship between carbon emissions and Nigeria's economic growth from 1985 to 2021. ARDL approach was adopted in analyzing the data. Gross domestic product (GDP) was used as a proxy for economic growth in Nigeria, while carbon dioxide (C02) emission, nitrous oxide (N02), and gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) were used as the independent variables. The findings revealed that Gross fixed capital formation had a significant positive influence on GDP in the short-run but a significant negative influence on GDP in the long-run. While nitrous oxide ((N02) emissions and carbon dioxide (C02) emissions follow the Kuznets curve of Grossman and Krueger (1995) of positive and negative impacts on GDP in the short-term and long-term, respectively. To have a carbon economy, it is recommended that the Nigerian government should both conceptualize and implement favourable policies and incentives (granting of tax credits to carbon-neutral corporations) from the government as a foundational catalyst for the development of green infrastructure and significant investments in renewable energy technology are immediately needed to keep pace with the country's growing population.

Examining the role of business improvement districts (BIDs) as contemporary alternatives for Green Infrastructure funding in London, UK

Sustainable sources of funding for investment in Green Infrastructure have become increasingly difficult to identify due to centralised government financing cuts in the UK. Although local government, as traditional normative funders, have adopted innovative approaches to capital and revenue spending there remains a significant gap in how and what resources are supported. Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are one set of stakeholders that potentially have a role to play in addressing funding deficits. As subscriber funded organisations, they work at a local level to enhance economic prosperity, as well as delivering socio-cultural and ecological enhancement in identified urban areas. This paper examines the experience of BIDs in London to debate the influences and barriers to their investing in Green Infrastructure. It argues that BIDs can act as critical advocates for Green Infrastructure planning where the latter aligns with local economic objectives. Moreover, we identify spatial variations in the extent to which BIDs in London engage with Green Infrastructure in their documentation and practice, illustrating differences in the perceived value of the concept. We conclude that BIDs hold the potential to facilitate investment in Green Infrastructure due to their position as conduits of business, local government, and community objectives. However, to fully embrace this role balance is needed between the setting of environmental objectives and the need to support local business needs, land ownership issues, and capital/revenue financing considerations.

Green Infrastructure- A Roadmap Towards Sustainable Development

India is the fifth more vulnerable country to climate change consequences, with 2.54.5 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at risk every year. In conclusion, India has committed to reducing the greenhouse emissions of its Gross Domestic Product by 33-35 per cent by 2030, compared to 2005 levels. However, India will need to raise $2.5 trillion between 2016 and 2030 to accomplish this goal (MOEFCC, 2015). However, climate-related investments — both public and private — in green infrastructure development remain restricted. While India has taken several measures to solve this issue, rising green investments would need a greater emphasis on India’s infrastructure development. Long-term infrastructure is essential for a better future in an era when India announced that it would begin its decarburization journey to reach specified green targets. Green infrastructure is innovation and practices that employ natural systems to get better the overall value of the environment and provide ecological, social, and economic rewards. The study describes the contribution and investment in green infrastructure to optimize the growth with sustainable development in India. The research reveals that effective planning for green investment helps to maintain the adequate trade-off between development and ecosystem.

Benefit-Cost Analysis of Green Infrastructure Investments: Application to Small Urban Projects in Hinesville, GA

Small scale urban green infrastructure projects can provide local ecological services that should be accounted for in project assessment. Benefits assessment can be expensive and time consuming; benefit transfer provides an economical alternative, but the quality of the analysis depends upon available data. A best-case scenario for many applications of benefit transfer is to utilize a conforming meta-analysis. In this paper, we use the meta-analysis of Bockarjova, et al. (2020) to predict ecological benefits of small scale urban green infrastructure investments in Hinesville, GA. In doing so, we implement a censoring procedure on the benefit transfer function to permit analysis of small-scale (less than one-hectare) projects. We find evidence of substantial net economic benefits, with estimates ranging from $738,312 to over $5.5 million; positive benefit-to-cost ratios are robust to substantial cost increases (4 times the estimated costs). We provide guidance for how to apply these methods to other contexts.

A Green Fiscal Pact for the EU: increasing climate investments while consolidating budgets

ABSTRACT To ensure sufficiently rapid decarbonization to meet the Paris Agreement goals, investments in green infrastructure will have to increase by an estimated 2% of world GDP annually, according to the International Energy Agency. A significant part of that investment will need to be funded with public resources – raising major tensions between consolidation needs after the high deficits during the pandemic and the need to increase investments. We consider this trade-off in the European Union, which has set itself one of the most ambitious climate targets in the world. The additional public investment required to meet the European Union’s climate goals is around 0.6% of GDP annually during this decade, which might increase if the green transition is accelerated due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Budget consolidation can be done at a moderate pace in line with EU fiscal rules if those rules are interpreted flexibly, but past consolidation episodes resulted in major public investment cuts. A ‘green golden rule’ –excluding net green investment from the fiscal indicators used to measure fiscal rule compliance– is proposed as the most promising option to address this tension and would provide a positive incentive to undertake such investments. However, the uncertain growth impact of green public spending and the risks to growth from climate change create difficult trade-offs in fiscally weaker countries. Better regulatory policy and a higher price on emissions should in parallel incentivise private green investment and reduce public costs. These ingredients should be combined to form a ‘Green Fiscal Pact’. Key policy insights Public investments tend to be cut in fiscal consolidation episodes by vote-maximising politicians and thus need to be treated differently in fiscal rules. Increasing green public investments will be difficult in the upcoming consolidation period. A ‘green golden rule’ –excluding net green public investment from the fiscal rule indicators– is proposed as the best option to incentivise public climate investment. Policymakers need to underpin such a rule by clearly defining what constitutes emission-reducing climate investments and monitoring compliance. Fossil fuel subsidies should also be eliminated, and private climate investment should be incentivised through appropriate taxation and regulation. Climate change may tighten budget constraints in countries with already high debt levels because of its negative growth effects, so these countries should delay the introduction of the green golden rule.