"Spatial Nexus: Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy Consumption
and CO2 Emissions"
Dr. Mingze Li
University of New Brunswick
Friday Sep 11 ¨ 4:00-5:15pm ¨ MULH 3022
Abstract:
Extensive research has explored the relationship between energy consumption, GDP per capita, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per capita. Building upon this substantial body of literature, our study employs a dataset of 127 globally selected countries spanning from 1995 to 2022, using a spatial Durbin model to revisit this nexus from a spatial perspective, emphasizing interdependencies of the economies and spatial dynamics of CO2 emissions. First, our results uncover the spillover effects of CO2 emissions among geographical, institutional, and economic neighbors. Second, the direct effects of renewable energy consumption suggest that increasing renewable energy consumption in a country reduces its CO2 emissions. The indirect effects of renewable energy consumption indicate that increasing renewable energy consumption in one country also reduces CO2 emissions in neighboring countries. Third, most of the direct effects of non renewable energy consumption suggest that increasing non-renewable energy consumption in a country increases its CO2 emissions. Similarly, the indirect effects show that increasing non-renewable energy consumption in one country leads to an increase in CO2 emissions in neighboring countries. Thus, international environmental policies are critical in addressing global climate change and achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
