The role forest resources, energy efficiency, and renewable energy in promoting environmental quality

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment Vol. 195; no. 9; p. 1071
• Main Authors: Akpanke, Thomas Abuobeleye, Deka, Abraham, Ozdeser, Huseyin, Seraj, Mehdi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.09.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Carbon; Carbon dioxide; Carbon emissions; Carbon neutrality; Comparative analysis; Data analysis; Developed countries; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Economic analysis; Ecotoxicology; Efficiency; Emissions; Emissions control; Energy efficiency; Energy utilization; Environment; Environmental degradation; Environmental Management; Environmental monitoring; Environmental quality; Environmental science; Forest resources; Forests; Heterogeneity; Industrialized nations; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Nations; Natural resources; Population number; Renewable energy; Renewable resources; Non-renewable energy; Ecological footprint; Renewable energy; Carbon emissions
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11617-8

At a time when environmental concerns are rising in the world, natural resources, such as trees and other green plants, remain the most crucial factors responsible for reducing environmental degradation. Green plants inhale carbon dioxide and prevent the soil from wash and wear, hence their significant role in enhancing environmental quality. Therefore, it is essential to come up with state-of-the-art researches on the role of green plants to the environment. The present research is aimed at adding to the growing body of literature by investigating the effect of forest resources, together with renewable energy and energy efficiency in enhancing environmental quality. In this research, we use the data of the seven emerging countries, seven developed nations and 15 developing west African nations, from 1990 to 2019. The current research adds to the growing body of literature in that it presents a comparative analysis of the three important economic blocks, as well as employing three major methodologies of data analysis, the CS-ARDL, AMG, and CCEMG techniques, which are strong over cross-sectional dependence, heterogeneity, and dynamics. Major research outcomes show that renewable energy and energy efficiency negatively affects carbon emissions, while gross domestic product positively affects carbon emissions in all three regions. Population size and forest resources reduces carbon emissions in the emerging countries and seven developed countries, respectively. Non-renewable energy promotes carbon emissions in the seven developed countries, while in the emerging countries it reduces emissions. This research recommends the efficient utilization of energy, use of renewable energy, and forest preservation to promote carbon neutrality goal.