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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 July 2023) | Viewed by 21766

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Atif Jahanger

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Guest Editor

School of Economics, Hainan University, Haikou City 570228, China
Interests: economic development; green economy; renewable energy; globalization; tourism; energy economics; environmental degradation

Dr. Daniel Balsalobre-Lorente

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Guest Editor

Department of Political Economy and Public Finance, Economic and Business Statistics and Economic Policy, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Rectorado UCLM, Calle Altagracia, 50, 13001 Ciudad Real, Spain
Interests: energy transition; environmental degradation economic growth; tourism; public finances
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Yang Yu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of Economics, Hainan University, Haikou City 570228, China
Interests: climate change economics; energy economics; sustainable development; international economics; tourism; economic growth

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The conventional way of looking at environmental problems is becoming blurry, following the introduction and success of various innovative and holistic ideas that ensure economic growth. This Special Issue seeks research pertaining to those areas of the environment that offer novel and innovative ways to deal with environmental issues. In addition, the Special Issue welcomes research dealing with greenhouse gases, achieving carbon neutrality and sustainable environmental solutions through green investment, green energy, cleaner production and environmentally friendly technologies. Similarly, our major focus is on how the building, transport, health and tourism sectors can reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. The research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Sustainable consumption and production;
Green innovation and environment;
Information communication technologies and greenhouse gases;
Emission reduction and globalization;
Role of health, transport, agriculture, and tourism sectors in ecological footprint;
New production models for green economies;
Digital currency, social media, and environmental sustainability;
Economic growth, fossil fuels and renewable energy;
Green corporate social responsibility and green management.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Atif Jahanger
Dr. Daniel Balsalobre-Lorente
Dr. Yang Yu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

climate changes
environmental risks
globalization
environmental sustainability
green economy
green growth
green investments
energy efficiency
foreign direct investment
energy productivity
environmental sustainability
energy productivity
environmentally friendly technologies
financial inclusion
green energy transitions

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 3747 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of the Carbon Footprint of the Textile Industry: PES- and PP-Based Products with Monte Carlo Uncertainty Analysis

by Tuğçe Demirdelen, İnayet Özge Aksu, Kübra Yilmaz, Duygu Durdu Koç, Miray Arikan and Arif Şener

Sustainability 2023, 15(19), 14237; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151914237 - 26 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1410

Abstract

The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism was developed to ensure that industrial sectors operating outside the EU follow the same environmental standards and targets while competing with the EU’s carbon market. This mechanism aims to calculate the carbon footprint of goods and services imported into the EU and make carbon adjustments accordingly. The transition phase, starting in 2023, represents the period when the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism will be implemented. The completion of the transition phase is targeted for 2025. By this date, the effective implementation of this mechanism is aimed at demonstrating that countries outside of the EU comply with emissions regulations using Carbon at Border certificates. The textile industry’s products have a significant environmental impact throughout their life cycle, from the production of raw materials to the disposal of the finished product. Textile production, especially synthetic yarns, requires large amounts of energy, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. In this study, a “cradle-to-customer plus waste” life cycle assessment (LCA) is conducted to evaluate the environmental impacts of two products in the textile sector. The Monte Carlo analysis method can be used to handle uncertainties in LCA calculations. It is a method for modeling uncertainties and statistically evaluating results. In this study, this method is preferred at the stage of determining uncertainties. The processes from chips to yarns are investigated for two synthetic yarns: polyester (PES) and polypropylene (PP). The carbon emissions of PP and PES used in textiles are calculated for the first time in this study using detailed modeling with LCAs and a real application. The main production operations are considered: (i) transport of raw materials and packaging material, (ii) energy consumption during the production process, (iii) transport of products, and (iv) end-of-life steps. When the actual data obtained from a company are analyzed, the carbon footprints (CFs) of the PES and PP are calculated to be 13.40 t CO₂-eq (t PES)-1 and 6.42 t CO₂-eq (t PP)-1, respectively. These data can be used as reference points for future studies and comparisons. According to the results obtained, when the energy consumption and raw material stages in the production of the PES and PP products are compared, it is seen that the CF of PP yarn is lower, and it is more environmentally friendly. These findings can be utilized to enhance government policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and managing synthetic yarn production in Türkiye. Since PP and PES raw materials are predominantly used in synthetic yarns, this study’s objective is to quantify the carbon emissions associated with the utilization of these raw materials and provide guidance to companies engaged in their production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Green Ecological Environment)

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21 pages, 1459 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Halo Effect of Government: Does State-Owned Capital Promote the Green Innovation of Chinese Private Enterprises?

by Chen Hu, Yanan Li and Penghao Ye

Sustainability 2023, 15(11), 8587; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118587 - 25 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1548

Abstract

To achieve carbon neutrality, China is working toward a green transition where a key focus is to promote green innovation among privately-owned enterprises (POEs). Reverse mixed ownership reform, represented by the participation of state-owned capital, is a major direction in the current reform of Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Nevertheless, few studies have thoroughly investigated the impact of state-owned capital participation on green innovation in POEs. Thus, this research aims to analyze how state-owned capital influences POEs’ green innovations. Using an unbalanced panel dataset of 12,206 firm-year observations of Chinese listed companies from 2011 to 2019, we employ the fixed-effect ordinary least square (FE-OLS) as an effective estimation method to control unobserved individual heterogeneity and potential endogeneity. The results show that state-owned capital can significantly promote POEs’ green innovation. Mechanistic analyses suggest that state capital eases financial constraints and attracts more creative talent to work for the private sector, thus promoting green innovation. In addition, our baseline findings are more salient for enterprises with political connections, those operating in heavily polluting industries, and those located in areas with more stringent intellectual property rights (IPR) legislation. Finally, these findings are confirmed significant, even with endogeneity concerns and robustness checks being considered. The contribution of this research outlines the key role of state-owned capital in alleviating financial constraints and attracting talent to promote POEs’ green innovation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Green Ecological Environment)

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18 pages, 914 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Normative Corporate Income Tax with Rent for SDGs’ Funding: Case of the U.S.

by Mihoko Shimamoto

Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3176; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043176 - 9 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1350

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explain the justification for taxing corporate rents as a funding source for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and to calculate a normative corporate tax rate that takes into account rents for corporations, especially multinational corporations, and to recommend that the current corporate tax surcharge be used to finance social common capital. Considering global tax avoidance, we propose that many countries cooperate to raise their corporate taxes and finance SDGs. Aiming to calculate a normative corporate tax rate with rents for each country, we applied the total factor productivity method for calculating the markup rate, assumed long-term interest rates to be the marginal efficiency of capital, and developed a normative corporate tax rate calculation method. Using a Cobb–Douglas function in dynamic pseudo-competitive profit optimal conditions, we calculated the rents of 234 American corporations listed on the S&P 500 index. The normative tax rates from 1982 to 2014 for these companies are stable at 40 to 60%, whereas corporate income tax has gradually decreased from 40% to less than 30%. Thus, the amount lost due to the race to the bottom of corporate taxes can be used to finance the SDGs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Green Ecological Environment)

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24 pages, 2048 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Digital Economy, Industrial Structure, and Environmental Quality: Assessing the Roles of Educational Investment, Green Innovation, and Economic Globalization

by Yao Zhao, Xuena Kong, Mahmood Ahmad and Zahoor Ahmed

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2377; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032377 - 28 Jan 2023

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2634

Abstract

This study constructs a digital economy (DE) index and explores its impact on environmental quality by utilizing data from China’s 287 prefecture-level cities from 2013 to 2019. Unlike past studies, this research examines the indirect effect of DE on environmental pollution through the channels of industrial structure and educational investment. Further, it also analyzes the moderating role of economic globalization and green technology innovation in the nexus between DE and environmental quality. The empirical results indicate that DE significantly and positively enhances environmental quality by mitigating environmental pollution. This outcome remained stable after a series of empirical analyses and stability checks. Secondly, DE positively affects ecological and environmental quality by improving education levels and upgrading industrial structures. Thirdly, green technological innovation and economic globalization positively and significantly moderate the effect of DE development on ecological and environmental quality. Fourthly, associations between the development of DE and environmental quality are heterogeneous in terms of regions and markets, among which the most significant impact exists in the eastern area and the area with higher marketization. Based on the empirical findings, this paper provides comprehensive recommendations for promoting the DE and advancing China’s environmental quality. Based on the results, important policy implications are suggested. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Green Ecological Environment)

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23 pages, 34337 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of Geotextile Tubes to Coastal Silt Mitigation: A Case Study in Niaoyu Fishing Harbor

by I-Fan Tseng, Chih-Hung Hsu, Heng-Chih Cheng and Yen-Shun Chen

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2024; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032024 - 20 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1665

Abstract

Pengpeng Beach, near Niaoyu Fishing Harbor, is an offshore sandbar that formed on the west side of Niaoyu Island in Penghu County, Taiwan, in 1995. Due to siltation, Pengpeng Beach also forms a sandbar tail that stretches toward the Niaoyu Fishing Harbor, meaning the Niaoyu Fishing Harbor and its navigation channel are facing serious siltation problems. This study aimed to find a solution for the siltation problem of the area by utilizing geotextile tubes, which are an economical material in terms of their material and construction cost, as well as being ecologically friendly in terms of their carbon emissions during production and transportation. Based on numerical simulations, location candidates for placing silt trap facilities were tested, selected, and modified to develop alternative mitigation plans. Evaluation of the mitigation plans was based on (1) the silt mitigation effect; (2) engineering cost; (3) public acceptance; and (4) impact on the surrounding landscape. The results showed that the proposed silt mitigation plan would be effective, and the plan was accepted by the local residents and government. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Green Ecological Environment)

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18 pages, 301 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Effect of Carbon Dioxide and Energy Reduction on Production Efficiency and Economic Growth: Application of Carbon Neutrality in Korea

by Sangmok Kang, Ziyao Li and Dasom Jeong

Sustainability 2022, 14(24), 17054; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142417054 - 19 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1498

Abstract

Global interest in climate change and carbon neutrality is hot. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, achieving carbon neutrality is the solution to avoiding climate change. Carbon neutrality is a global challenge for sustainable economic growth. In response, Korea declared 2050 carbon neutrality in 2021. However, for Korea to be carbon neutral, an incredible transformation in terms of an energy revolution is required. In this context, this study aims to diagnose the current situation to achieve carbon neutrality in Korea and to explore the direction of minimizing the national economic burden in the implementation process. To this end, we use the data envelopment analysis (DEA) directional distance function based on the material balance flow approach to examine changes in production efficiency and GDP due to carbon dioxide reduction and energy conversion. The empirical analysis results are as follows. First, in the analysis, according to the type of reduction, when only 1% of CO

_{2}

was reduced, GDP decreased by about 0.1%. Still, when reduced simultaneously with fossil energy, GDP fell by about 0.3% or more. Secondly, based on the scenario of the 2050 carbon-neutral plan, as a result of estimating the efficiency and GDP change caused by Korea’s energy transition, Korea is a country with a significant increase in inefficiency due to the energy transition and a substantial loss of GDP. Therefore, the government should establish a Korean carbon-neutral policy at a level that the national economy can afford. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Green Ecological Environment)

17 pages, 1450 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Do Renewable Energy and the Real Estate Market Promote Environmental Quality in South Africa: Evidence from the Bootstrap ARDL Approach

by Atif Jahanger, Daniel Balsalobre-Lorente, Ahmed Samour, Foday Joof, Mumtaz Ali and Turgut Tursoy

Sustainability 2022, 14(24), 16466; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416466 - 8 Dec 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2192

Abstract

Recent empirical research indicates that South Africa’s present level of wealth and energy, given its fast-expanding population, is unsustainable. Studies in this domain focus on the impact of economic growth and energy use on environmental quality; the role of the real estate market on environmental quality in South Africa is ignored in the emerging literature. The current study aims to deliver a fresh empirical analysis in this context by analyzing the impact of South Africa’s real estate sector expansion and renewable energy sources on carbon emissions. Using the newly developed “bootstrap autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach”, the results of the empirical investigation showed that renewable energy improves South Africa’s environmental quality. The current research also shows that the South African real estate industry has a negative impact on the environment. According to the current research, South African policymakers should create new regulations for the sustainable real estate sector to improve environmental quality by encouraging the usage of and investment in renewable energy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Green Ecological Environment)

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17 pages, 592 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impacts of Upgrading of Consumption Structure and Human Capital Level on Carbon Emissions—Empirical Evidence Based on China’s Provincial Panel Data

by Jianbo Dong, Min Zhang and Guangbin Cheng

Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 12373; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912373 - 28 Sep 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1429

Abstract

Carbon emission reduction (CER) is increasingly becoming a global issue. This study explored the impact mechanism of upgrading of consumption structure (UCS) and human capital level (HC) on carbon emissions, and an empirical test was carried out using the provincial panel data from 2000 to 2019 in China. The results show the following: (1) China’s UCS could significantly curb carbon emissions. (2) At present, China’s HC is positively correlated with carbon emissions. The higher the level of human capital, the less conducive to CER. Additionally, the moderating effect of HC could inhibit the CER induced by UCS. (3) Regional heterogeneity analysis showed that the UCS in the central and western regions of China was conducive to CER, while the estimated coefficient of UCS on CER in the eastern region was not significant. (4) The UCS could reduce carbon emissions by stimulating the mediating effect of industrial upgrading. Based on empirical study results, this study proposes policy suggestions that can help reduce China’s carbon emissions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Green Ecological Environment)

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16 pages, 1211 KiB

Open AccessArticle

County Economy, Population, Construction Land, and Carbon Intensity in a Shrinkage Scenario

by Tianyi Zeng, Hong Jin, Xu Gang, Zihang Kang and Jiayi Luan

Sustainability 2022, 14(17), 10523; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141710523 - 24 Aug 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1390

Abstract

As the largest ecological background system and basic economic unit in China, counties are of great significance to China’s carbon emission reduction targets. This article conducts theoretical model construction and empirical test research from a contraction perspective, using population and built-up area change as variables and combining indicators of county scale structure in an attempt to find key scale structure elements and representative indicators that affect the carbon emission intensity of counties. By using data from 140 counties in Northeast China during the period of 2015–2020, an empirical study was conducted on population shrinkage clustering, county size structure, and carbon emission intensity. The results show that: (1) population shrinkage significantly increases the carbon intensity of counties, but the contribution of population shrinkage to carbon intensity is scale-heterogeneous, the contribution effect decreases with population size, and the effect on large counties is minimal; (2) population size and industrial structure are the main factors influencing carbon intensity in counties, both have a negative linear elasticity relationship, and GDP per capita is not included in the overall model and is only significant in large counties; (3) the relationship between total construction land and carbon intensity is an inverted U-shaped Kuznets curve, with a critical value of 30 km², and the total construction land in most counties is below or close to the critical value. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Green Ecological Environment)

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16 pages, 449 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of High-Speed Rail on the Development Efficiency of Low-Carbon Tourism: A Case Study of an Agglomeration in China

by Mingwei Li, Bingxue Shao and Xiasheng Shi

Sustainability 2022, 14(16), 9879; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14169879 - 10 Aug 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1572

Abstract

As an important indicator for measuring the development level of low-carbon tourism, reducing the carbon emissions of tourism transportation has become an essential strategic goal and task for the sustainable development of tourism. Among many tourism vehicles, high-speed rails have a significant role in reducing the carbon emissions of tourism transportation. To clarify the impact of high-speed rails on the development efficiency of low-carbon tourism, using the relevant data of Zhengzhou urban agglomeration from 2010 to 2020, the DEA-BCC model and the Malmquist index method were used to measure these data. The results show the following: (1) the average comprehensive development efficiency of the Zhengzhou metropolitan high-speed rail for low-carbon tourism is low, and the comprehensive development efficiency of each city varies greatly; (2) the impact of high-speed rails on the development efficiency of low-carbon tourism in some underdeveloped areas is increasing. The impact on the development efficiency of low-carbon tourism in more developed areas is declining; (3) affected by COVID-19, tourism carbon emissions have shown a downward trend, reflecting the importance of low-carbon travel to low-carbon tourism to a certain extent. The research results not only verify the existing research conclusions but also verify the role of high-speed rails in the development of low-carbon tourism, and have practical value with respect to targeted guidance for the development of low-carbon tourism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Green Ecological Environment)

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17 pages, 680 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Transformative Impacts of Green Finance Governance on Construction-Related CO₂ Emissions

by Zhijuan Li, Liang Wu, Zemin Zhang, Rui Chen, Yinjuan Jiang, Yuting Peng, Kaixin Zheng and Wen Jiang

Sustainability 2022, 14(16), 9853; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14169853 - 10 Aug 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1485

Abstract

In the context of the commitment to peak carbon emissions by 2030, specific sectors in China should take responsibility to change their energy consumption patterns. In China and across the globe, the construction sector is a major source of carbon dioxide emissions, as well as an indicator of economic growth and structural transformation. In this study, we examine panel data for 30 provinces or regions from 2008 to 2019 to dissect which macro-factors contribute to growth in carbon emissions, and which will lead to carbon emission reductions. Derived by the entropy method, the Green Finance Index is a comprehensive environmental regulation index related to reduction in emissions in each province. It presents an N shape for construction emissions, and provinces are currently striving to cross the first inflection point, which will help to curb emissions. Judging from the combined effects of this and other structural factors, the Green Finance Index can promote the decarbonization of production by playing the role of guiding and screening capital allocation. Population expansion, income levels, and financial development initially stimulate demand for construction, but their effects eventually level off. This paper can serve as a reference for developing countries that are experiencing industrialization and urbanization processes and handling gas discharge pressure at the same time. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Green Ecological Environment)

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22 pages, 1359 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cooperative and Non-Cooperative Green Advertising in the Low-Carbon Supply Chain under Monopoly or Competitive Market

by Hong Zeng, Dongqin Jiang and Yimeng Li

Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9190; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159190 - 27 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1496

Abstract

Customers feel a degree of ambiguity associated with low-carbon products, such as remanufactured products, and undervalue them. Although green advertising significantly impacts consumers’ acceptance of remanufactured products and the low-carbon supply chain (LCSC), limited research has been carried out on advertisement decisions for remanufactured products in the LCSC. This study introduces a two-echelon remanufacturing supply chain motivated by the practice of applying green advertising to update consumers’ low-carbon awareness. We use a game-theoretical approach to analyze the remanufacturer’s and retailer’s decisions on the green advertising program (non-coop vs. co-op green advertising) under different competitive scenarios in the LCSC. We find that the LCSC’s and the retailer’s profits are optimal in the non-coop green advertising under the monopoly, but the LCSC’s and the remanufacturer’s profits are optimal in the co-op green advertising under the competition. We suggest that the entry and royalty fees can be applied to coordinate the LCSC under different competitive scenarios. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Green Ecological Environment)

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