Exploring the impact of globalization and economic-energy dynamics on environmental sustainability in the EU

This paper investigates the determinants of environmental sustainability by analyzing the impact of various economic, fiscal, and energy-related variables on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy intensity (EI) across 27 European Union member states from 2005 to 2022. Using dynamic panel data an...

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Main Authors: Aura Girlovan, Cristiana Tudor, Gabriel Robert Saiu, Daniel Dumitru Guse
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-01-01
Series:Global Transitions
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589791824000318
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author Aura Girlovan
Cristiana Tudor
Gabriel Robert Saiu
Daniel Dumitru Guse
author_facet Aura Girlovan
Cristiana Tudor
Gabriel Robert Saiu
Daniel Dumitru Guse
author_sort Aura Girlovan
collection DOAJ
description This paper investigates the determinants of environmental sustainability by analyzing the impact of various economic, fiscal, and energy-related variables on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy intensity (EI) across 27 European Union member states from 2005 to 2022. Using dynamic panel data analysis through the system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimator, we explore how key factors such as GDP per capita growth, foreign direct investment (FDI), portfolio investments (PI), trade openness (TO), and stock market performance (SMP) influence environmental outcomes. Additionally, the analysis examines the role of fiscal policies, represented by government deficit/surplus (GDT), and energy-related factors, such as renewable energy consumption (REC) and research and development expenditure (ERD), in shaping sustainability. The findings reveal that while GDP growth correlates positively with increased GHG emissions, it negatively impacts energy intensity, suggesting that economic expansion may drive emissions upward while concurrently promoting greater energy efficiency. Trade openness significantly mitigates GHG emissions, indicating that enhanced international trade facilitates access to cleaner technologies. The effects of FDI and PI present a more ambivalent picture, often associated with elevated GHG emissions in the absence of stringent regulatory frameworks. Notably, renewable energy adoption emerges as a critical driver of sustainability, effectively mitigating the environmental impacts of globalization. This study provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between economic globalization and environmental sustainability, offering actionable policy recommendations to align economic growth with the EU's long-term environmental objectives.
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institution Kabale University
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language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
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spelling doaj-art-94dcb5841b10477bbb2c0fbfc06cf24e2025-01-05T04:28:32ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Global Transitions2589-79182025-01-0174155Exploring the impact of globalization and economic-energy dynamics on environmental sustainability in the EUAura Girlovan0Cristiana Tudor1Gabriel Robert Saiu2Daniel Dumitru Guse3Corresponding author.; Bucharest University of Economic Studies, RomaniaBucharest University of Economic Studies, RomaniaBucharest University of Economic Studies, RomaniaBucharest University of Economic Studies, RomaniaThis paper investigates the determinants of environmental sustainability by analyzing the impact of various economic, fiscal, and energy-related variables on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy intensity (EI) across 27 European Union member states from 2005 to 2022. Using dynamic panel data analysis through the system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimator, we explore how key factors such as GDP per capita growth, foreign direct investment (FDI), portfolio investments (PI), trade openness (TO), and stock market performance (SMP) influence environmental outcomes. Additionally, the analysis examines the role of fiscal policies, represented by government deficit/surplus (GDT), and energy-related factors, such as renewable energy consumption (REC) and research and development expenditure (ERD), in shaping sustainability. The findings reveal that while GDP growth correlates positively with increased GHG emissions, it negatively impacts energy intensity, suggesting that economic expansion may drive emissions upward while concurrently promoting greater energy efficiency. Trade openness significantly mitigates GHG emissions, indicating that enhanced international trade facilitates access to cleaner technologies. The effects of FDI and PI present a more ambivalent picture, often associated with elevated GHG emissions in the absence of stringent regulatory frameworks. Notably, renewable energy adoption emerges as a critical driver of sustainability, effectively mitigating the environmental impacts of globalization. This study provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between economic globalization and environmental sustainability, offering actionable policy recommendations to align economic growth with the EU's long-term environmental objectives.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589791824000318O52Economywide Country Studies: EuropeO00Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and GrowthF64Environment and International Trade
spellingShingle Aura Girlovan
Cristiana Tudor
Gabriel Robert Saiu
Daniel Dumitru Guse
Exploring the impact of globalization and economic-energy dynamics on environmental sustainability in the EU
Global Transitions
O52
Economywide Country Studies: Europe
O00
Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth
F64
Environment and International Trade
title Exploring the impact of globalization and economic-energy dynamics on environmental sustainability in the EU
title_full Exploring the impact of globalization and economic-energy dynamics on environmental sustainability in the EU
title_fullStr Exploring the impact of globalization and economic-energy dynamics on environmental sustainability in the EU
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the impact of globalization and economic-energy dynamics on environmental sustainability in the EU
title_short Exploring the impact of globalization and economic-energy dynamics on environmental sustainability in the EU
title_sort exploring the impact of globalization and economic energy dynamics on environmental sustainability in the eu
topic O52
Economywide Country Studies: Europe
O00
Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth
F64
Environment and International Trade
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589791824000318
work_keys_str_mv AT auragirlovan exploringtheimpactofglobalizationandeconomicenergydynamicsonenvironmentalsustainabilityintheeu
AT cristianatudor exploringtheimpactofglobalizationandeconomicenergydynamicsonenvironmentalsustainabilityintheeu
AT gabrielrobertsaiu exploringtheimpactofglobalizationandeconomicenergydynamicsonenvironmentalsustainabilityintheeu
AT danieldumitruguse exploringtheimpactofglobalizationandeconomicenergydynamicsonenvironmentalsustainabilityintheeu