Showing papers in "Environmental Science and Pollution Research in 2022"

A review of the global climate change impacts, adaptation, and sustainable mitigation measures

Abstract: Climate change is a long-lasting change in the weather arrays across tropics to polls. It is a global threat that has embarked on to put stress on various sectors. This study is aimed to conceptually engineer how climate variability is deteriorating the sustainability of diverse sectors worldwide. Specifically, the agricultural sector’s vulnerability is a globally concerning scenario, as sufficient production and food supplies are threatened due to irreversible weather fluctuations. In turn, it is challenging the global feeding patterns, particularly in countries with agriculture as an integral part of their economy and total productivity. Climate change has also put the integrity and survival of many species at stake due to shifts in optimum temperature ranges, thereby accelerating biodiversity loss by progressively changing the ecosystem structures. Climate variations increase the likelihood of particular food and waterborne and vector-borne diseases, and a recent example is a coronavirus pandemic. Climate change also accelerates the enigma of antimicrobial resistance, another threat to human health due to the increasing incidence of resistant pathogenic infections. Besides, the global tourism industry is devastated as climate change impacts unfavorable tourism spots. The methodology investigates hypothetical scenarios of climate variability and attempts to describe the quality of evidence to facilitate readers’ careful, critical engagement. Secondary data is used to identify sustainability issues such as environmental, social, and economic viability. To better understand the problem, gathered the information in this report from various media outlets, research agencies, policy papers, newspapers, and other sources. This review is a sectorial assessment of climate change mitigation and adaptation approaches worldwide in the aforementioned sectors and the associated economic costs. According to the findings, government involvement is necessary for the country’s long-term development through strict accountability of resources and regulations implemented in the past to generate cutting-edge climate policy. Therefore, mitigating the impacts of climate change must be of the utmost importance, and hence, this global threat requires global commitment to address its dreadful implications to ensure global sustenance.

Does green finance mitigate the effects of climate variability: role of renewable energy investment and infrastructure

Abstract: Few researches have inspected the task of green finance in reducing CO2 emissions, while earlier studies have inspected the influence of economic development on carbon emissions. A green finance development index is built using four indicators to fill in this knowledge gap: green credit, green insurance, green securities, and green investing. Using data spanning the years 2005–2019, a panel quantile regression is applied to investigate the links between green finance, renewable energy, and CO2 emissions. Increases in renewable energy use and advances in the green finance development index have contributed to a reduction in CO2 emissions from BRICS countries. CO2 emissions on the other hand slowed the growth of renewable energy use, slowed the flow of investment to green projects, and ultimately hampered the development of green finance. There was also a clear policy-driven influence on renewable energy spending in the countries of the BRICS region. Green finance policies, on the other hand, have consistently failed to have a long-term impact. Therefore, rising the consumption of renewable energy and creating a carbon trading market are all part of this study’s recommendations for green finance policy improvement.

Alternative energy and natural resources in determining environmental sustainability: a look at the role of government final consumption expenditures in France

Abstract: The global community is concerned about several environmental changes. Climate change, desertification, destruction of tropical rainforests, erosion of coastal ecosystems, soil resource loss, overfishing, species extinction, and loss of biodiversity are all contributing factors. Many commentators contend that these issues make up a cumulative, sustained human impact on the environment that has profoundly changed the surface of the Earth. We explore the effects of alternative energy sources, natural resources, and government consumption expenditures on French environmental sustainability from 1990 through 2018 under the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) framework. We apply advanced econometric methodologies for empirical analysis. Our long-run estimates indicate that alternative and nuclear energy, natural resources, and government final consumption expenditures are negatively associated with CO2 emissions, while economic growth is positively related to CO2 emissions. CO2 emissions are negatively correlated with the square root of economic growth (EKC), thereby supporting EKC. As economic growth increases, environmental sustainability deteriorates. Eventually, EKC will make a positive contribution to environmental improvement. Future research directions, research limitations, and policy implications are discussed.

Green energy security assessment in Morocco: green finance as a step toward sustainable energy transition

Abstract: Morocco is an energy-deficient country depending on almost 94% of energy imports to fuel its growing economy. Due to its fast-growing population, Morocco's energy consumption is projected to increase significantly, adding more pressure on the energy system. On the other hand, the rising tension of scarcity of resources, energy price fluctuations, and environmental issues have all made energy security one of its top priorities. Therefore, Morocco launched the National Energy Strategy (NES) in 2009 to reach 42% renewable generation by 2020, which was renewed to up to 52% by 2050. This study analyzes Morocco's energy security under the 4-As framework from 2000 to 2016.The 4-As methodology aims to assess and graphically illustrate the changes in Morocco's energy security by mapping these changes into four key dimensions: the availability of energy resources, the applicability of technology, the acceptability by the environment and society, and the affordability of energy resources. The quantitative analysis shows that Morocco's energy security performance was at its optimum during the first period of study (2000-2004) but then regressed for the remainder of the study period, as energy imports and prices increased, in addition to the low performance in applicability characterized by low energy efficiency. To improve Morocco's energy security status and move toward a sustainable energy transition, this study suggests integrating a higher share of renewable energy into the energy mix and boosting efficient technologies through a large scale of green finance and green investment projects.

Modeling factors of biogas technology adoption: a roadmap towards environmental sustainability and green revolution

Abstract: In a developing country such as Pakistan, adopting biogas technology is a complicated process. The government has taken several steps to address energy issues by increasing biogas facilities. This research seeks to identify the major barriers to the deployment of biogas plants. Respondents were selected using the snowball sampling method. As a result, 79 adopters of biogas plants participated. Utilizing a structured questionnaire, primary data were collected. Hypotheses were evaluated using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Study results demonstrate that all influencing factors are favorably associated with implementing biogas technology, minimizing energy crises, and achieving cost-cutting objectives. In addition, the findings show that properly reducing economic and governmental barriers, encourage farmers to use biogas plants productively and substantially. To build biogas facilities, the government should adopt an economic strategy, owner training, day-to-day operations, and professional technical assistance.

Green bond as a new determinant of sustainable green financing, energy efficiency investment, and economic growth: a global perspective

Abstract: The purpose of the study is to test the role of green bond financing on energy efficiency investment and economic growth. To achieve the study objective, fuzzy decision-making modeling technique is applied. The results revealed that bank loans are now the main source of financing for energy efficiency projects. Project-based financing might be replaced with Energy Performance Contracts (EPC) warranting energy efficiency investment. Moreover, green banks invest both public and private funds in energy efficiency promoting economic growth. The usage of green bonds for financing environmentally beneficial projects or companies is limitless. Providing for screening energy efficiency investment proposals with small payback hurdle rates might have large opportunity costs. Green bonds can be used to remove the financing barriers for green finance and sustainability tool. On this, study provides policy implications to key stakeholders; if suggested policy suggestions implemented successfully, these would help to enhance scope of green bond financing to uplift energy efficiency financing and green growth successfully.

An overview of the environmental pollution and health effects associated with waste landfilling and open dumping

Abstract: Abstract Landfilling is one of the most common waste management methods employed in all countries alike, irrespective of their developmental status. The most commonly used types of landfills are (a) municipal solid waste landfill, (b) industrial waste landfill, and (c) hazardous waste landfill. There is, also, an emerging landfill type called “green waste landfill” that is, occasionally, being used. Most landfills, including those discussed in this review article, are controlled and engineered establishments, wherein the waste ought to abide with certain regulations regarding their quality and quantity. However, illegal and uncontrolled “landfills” (mostly known as open dumpsites) are, unfortunately, prevalent in many developing countries. Due to the widespread use of landfilling, even as of today, it is imperative to examine any environmental- and/or health-related issues that have emerged. The present study seeks to determine the environmental pollution and health effects associated with waste landfilling by adopting a desk review design. It is revealed that landfilling is associated with various environmental pollution problems, namely, (a) underground water pollution due to the leaching of organic, inorganic, and various other substances of concern (SoC) contained in the waste, (b) air pollution due to suspension of particles, (c) odor pollution from the deposition of municipal solid waste (MSW), and (d) even marine pollution from any potential run-offs. Furthermore, health impacts may occur through the pollution of the underground water and the emissions of gases, leading to carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects of the exposed population living in their vicinity. Graphical abstract

Environmental concerns of financial inclusion and economic policy uncertainty in the era of globalization: evidence from low & high globalized OECD economies

Abstract: Environmental consequences of financial aspects, policy uncertainties and rapid globalization is the topic of intense debate in present years. However, this study contribute to existing literature in an innovative way. We classified the 33 OECD economies in two group's lower globalized economies (LGE) and highly globalized economies (HGE), based on their level of globalization. Considering the cross-sectional dependency and slope heterogeneity in the data this study employed the Augmented Mean Group method to estimate the influence of financial inclusion, economic policy uncertainty and globalization on the environment quality of both groups for the period 1996-2019. The results revealed a negative significant impact of financial inclusion, while a positive significant impact of economic policy uncertainty on CO2 emissions in both groups, LGE and HGE. However the globalization estimated to have positive impact on CO2 emission in LGE's, in HGE's it is significantly impeding the CO2 emission. The interaction of globalization with financial inclusion and economic policy uncertainty respectively found negative and positive to effect the CO2 in both LGE's and HGE's. The study suggests that, LGE's are need to prepare for economic globalization, move toward adopting energy-efficient technology and promote trade in less-polluting products in order to sustain their environment quality. The outcomes of this study are robust by employing different model specifications.

Global impact of COVID-19 on agriculture: role of sustainable agriculture and digital farming

Abstract: The rise and spread of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has created an imbalance in all sectors worldwide, massively disrupting the global economy. Social distancing, quarantine regulations, and strict travel restrictions have led to a major reduction in the workforce and loss of jobs across all industrial sectors. One of the sectors completely exposed was the agriculture and food sector. The initiation of a nationwide lockdown by the government resulted in the shutdown of industries globally impacting the overall supply chain from farmer to consumer. The need of the hour is to propose effective solutions which can serve the dual purpose of market growth as well as customer satisfaction. This paper reviews the impact of COVID-19 on the agro-food system and its economy stressing critical factors like food production, demand, price hikes, security, and supply chain resilience. To conserve natural resources and meet the sustainable development goals (SDG), importance has been given to adopting sustainable agricultural practices with a prime focus on techniques like urban agriculture, crop rotation, hydroponics, and family farming. Possible advancements like the use of digital tools, mainly artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, and block-chain technology, in the agro-food sector have been discussed as they could be a promising tool to develop a self-reliant society. This work would be a perfect platform to understand the growing impact of the pandemic as well as supporting cost-effective solutions for a green ecosystem.

Financial stability role on climate risks, and climate change mitigation: Implications for green economic recovery

Abstract: As a response to the topic of how financial stability might be used to effectively finance for the mitigation of climate change and climate risks, it is important to look at the carbon risk that is still present in G-5 nations. The goal of our research is to determine the impact of financial stability on climate risk in order to effectively manage climate mitigation efforts. A technique called GMM is used to achieve this goal. Climate change mitigation was found to be substantial at 18 percent, while financial stability and carbon hazards were found significant at 21 percent, according to the conclusions of the study. Furthermore, the G-5 countries’ 19.5% correlation between financial stability and emissions drift, which raises climate change concerns, is noteworthy. In order to implement green economic recovery methods, one of the most strongly regarded approaches to mitigating climate change and ensuring long-term financial potential at the national scale, a country’s financial stability is required. The research on green economic expansion also offers the associated stakeholders with detailed policy implications on this relevance.