Enabling Strategies and Policies Toward a Sustainable Environment, 2nd Edition

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Environmental sustainability is one of the most discussed goals, with over 200 countries pledging their support. During the pandemic, environmental sustainability became more important, and it continues to be so even after the pandemic. World leaders, civil society organizations, and governments from developing and developed countries have recently reiterated their commitment to attaining carbon neutrality through energy efficiency, renewable energy, green financing, and a sustainable transportation system at the COP26 conference. This Topic welcomes empirical papers that enhance econometric approaches for climate change research, as well as studies that contribute to a better understanding of the financial and economic aspects of such policies. Therefore, this Topic will seek submissions related to the following themes: achieving sustainability in transport systems; disparities in energy poverty; energy transition; gender aspects of achieving carbon neutrality; the circular economy and sustainability; governance and democracy; the role of renewable energy sources; urbanization, globalization, and innovation; corporate social responsibility; green financing; responsible consumption; reducing greenhouse gas emissions; and the role of industry and the agriculture, tourism, and health sectors. Submissions to this Topic will provide readers from all backgrounds with new policy ideas on how to formulate strategies and policies to address climate change and environmental issues. Furthermore, this volume will pave the way for new econometric approaches to guide future research in the field of environmental change. This Topic plans to bring together academia with the most up-to-date techniques and theoretical expertise to further our understanding of environmental pollution as well as inform policymakers about the stringent policy insights required to reach carbon neutrality in time.

Dr. Abdul Majeed
Prof. Dr. Yuantao Xie
Prof. Dr. Judit Oláh
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Economies economies	2.1	4.0	2013	21.9 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Energies energies	3.0	6.2	2008	16.8 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Resources resources	3.6	7.2	2012	26.1 Days	CHF 1600	Submit
Sustainability sustainability	3.3	6.8	2009	19.7 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Water water	3.0	5.8	2009	17.5 Days	CHF 2600	Submit

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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21 pages, 489 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Polluting Industry Agglomeration, Environmental Regulation, and Urban Air Quality

by Hanna Li and Yu Chen

Sustainability 2025, 17(4), 1731; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17041731 - 19 Feb 2025

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Abstract

In China, with the increasing emphasis on the concept of green sustainable development, polluting industries characterized by pollution and high energy consumption are facing unprecedented challenges. The development of the intermediate demand-type characteristics of polluting industries should be more reasonably laid out and [...] Read more.

In China, with the increasing emphasis on the concept of green sustainable development, polluting industries characterized by pollution and high energy consumption are facing unprecedented challenges. The development of the intermediate demand-type characteristics of polluting industries should be more reasonably laid out and regulated. In this paper, environmental regulation and environmental quality are introduced into the new economic geography model. On the basis of theoretical analysis, the IV regression method was used to study the interaction between polluting industry agglomeration, environmental regulation, and their effects on urban air quality with key cities as research objects. The results show that an increase in the agglomeration of polluting industries leads to significant deterioration in urban air quality and that this effect is linear, whereas an increase in the intensity of environmental regulation significantly dampens this effect. Each 1% increase in the intensity of environmental regulation results in a 1.17% reduction in air pollution. Therefore, to effectively protect the environment, the development of polluting industries should be relatively decentralized. Additionally, city governments should fully consider their urban eco-geographical characteristics, directly reduce and indirectly inhibit the degree of agglomeration of polluting industries and simultaneously strengthen the intensity of environmental regulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Enabling Strategies and Policies Toward a Sustainable Environment, 2nd Edition)

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32 pages, 7164 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating Policy Frameworks and Their Role in the Sustainable Growth of Distributed Photovoltaic Generation

by Annelys Machado Schetinger and André Frossard Pereira de Lucena

Resources 2025, 14(2), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources14020028 - 3 Feb 2025

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Abstract

In response to the growing photovoltaic distributed generation market, this study investigates the evolution of energy policies and mechanisms driving the growth of photovoltaic distributed generation (DGPV). Analyzing the top ten countries in photovoltaic installations, it examines historical trends in capacity growth, installation [...] Read more.

In response to the growing photovoltaic distributed generation market, this study investigates the evolution of energy policies and mechanisms driving the growth of photovoltaic distributed generation (DGPV). Analyzing the top ten countries in photovoltaic installations, it examines historical trends in capacity growth, installation costs, and stakeholder engagement to evaluate policy effectiveness. Eight policy categories are identified as follows: direct financial incentives, energy market regulation, government management, production incentives, performance-based feed-in tariffs, renewable energy obligations, research and development initiatives, and agreements and commitments. The research results emphasize the crucial influence of government management policies, direct financial incentives, and energy market regulation on promoting the growth of DGPV. Political will and effective governance are identified as key drivers in advancing technology and market development. Policies reducing installation costs and encouraging investment support the transition of photovoltaic systems from early adoption to market maturity. Despite these advances, disparities in policy implementation highlight the need for adaptable frameworks tailored to local contexts. By leveraging solar energy, an abundant and universally accessible resource, nations can enhance energy equity through effective policies and accelerate the shift toward sustainable energy systems. This analysis offers valuable insights for policymakers seeking to promote DGPV as a central strategy in combating climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Enabling Strategies and Policies Toward a Sustainable Environment, 2nd Edition)

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22 pages, 719 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

ICT-Driven Strategies for Enhancing Energy Efficiency in G20 Economies: Moderating the Role of Governance in Achieving Environmental Sustainability

by Zohaib Zahid, Jijian Zhang, Chongyan Gao and Judit Oláh

Energies 2025, 18(3), 685; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18030685 - 2 Feb 2025

Viewed by 520

Abstract

Achieving environmental sustainability has become a global priority, with energy efficiency (EE) emerging as a critical pathway. This study examines the influence of information and communication technology service exports (ICT) on EE by integrating the moderating role of regulatory quality. We employ a [...] Read more.

Achieving environmental sustainability has become a global priority, with energy efficiency (EE) emerging as a critical pathway. This study examines the influence of information and communication technology service exports (ICT) on EE by integrating the moderating role of regulatory quality. We employ a super-slack-based measure (Super-SBM) and generalized least squares models in G20 economies throughout 2001–2023. The findings show that the average EE is 0.855, which indicates a potential for further improvement of 14.50%. The findings further show that ICT is positively related to EE, and regulatory quality delivers a conducive environment for the adoption of technologies to optimize energy usage. The findings also indicate a synergistic effect between ICT and regulatory quality, which can lead to substantial improvements in EE, emphasizing the importance of governance in facilitating technological advancements. The findings highlight the role of renewable energy and economic openness in shaping EE. Furthermore, Argentina and South Africa achieved the highest EE, reflecting their proximity to the efficient frontier. In robust tests, this study verifies its results using the generalized method of moments, panel-corrected standard error, and feasible generalized least squares models. The findings suggest that ICT and governance perspectives can provide valuable insights for policymakers aiming to enhance energy sustainability through digital transformation and institutional reforms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Enabling Strategies and Policies Toward a Sustainable Environment, 2nd Edition)

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