MyMedR

Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 342 in total

Abstract:

Sort:

How does technological innovation moderate the environmental impacts of economic growth, natural resource rents and trade openness?

Ehigiamusoe KU, Dogan E, Ramakrishnan S, Binsaeed RH

J Environ Manage, 2024 Dec;371:123229.
PMID: 39522189 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123229

The objective of this study is to unravel the linear impacts of economic growth, technological innovation, natural resource rents and trade openness on carbon emissions in Malaysia during 1980-2021. It also unveils the moderating role of technological innovation on the impacts of economic growth, natural resource rents and trade openness on carbon emissions. It further analyses the nonlinear relationship between technological innovation and carbon emissions. It estimates the parameters with the Autoregressive Distributed Lag model technique. The results of the linear model reveal that economic growth, natural resource rents and trade openness contributes to carbon emissions while technological innovation mitigates carbon emissions. The disaggregated analysis of natural resource rents indicates that oil rents, natural gas rents and coal rents intensify carbon emissions while mineral rents and forest rents do not contribute to carbon emissions. The disaggregated analysis of trade openness shows that exports worsen carbon emissions while imports have tenuous effect. The disaggregated analysis of technological innovation indicates that innovation by non-residents mitigate carbon emissions while innovation by residents do not alleviate carbon emissions. Moreover, evidence from the interaction model reveals that technological innovation can favourably mitigate the adverse impacts of economic growth and trade openness on carbon emissions albeit it cannot alleviate the impact of natural resource rents on carbon emissions. Besides, the nonlinear model indicates a U-shaped relationship between technological innovation and carbon emissions. Unlike previous studies that typically focused on the direct impacts of these variables, this study unravels the impacts of the disaggregated components as well as provides insights into the moderating and nonlinear effects of technological innovation on carbon emissions. The implication of this study is that efforts to achieve a carbon-neutral economy should consider the direct and indirect impacts of economic growth, technological innovation, natural resource rents and trade openness. It is recommended for Malaysia to encourage technological innovation in her quest to abate the adverse environmental impacts of economic activities.
Fulltext The impact of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) rating disparities on corporate risk: The mediating role of financing constraints

Bao X, Sadiq M, Tye W, Zhang J

J Environ Manage, 2024 Dec;371:123113.
PMID: 39481154 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123113

As global concerns over climate change and sustainability grow, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors have become critical in evaluating corporate practices. In China, the increasing adoption of ESG ratings by investors has highlighted discrepancies in these ratings, which may impact corporate risk. While extensive research exists on ESG performance, the effects of ESG rating disparities on corporate risk, particularly in Chinese enterprises, remain underexplored, especially the mediating role of financing constraints. Utilizing data from Chinese A-share listed companies from 2015 to 2022, this study examines the impact of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) rating disparities on corporate risk, focusing on the mediating role of financing constraints. The findings indicate that discrepancies in ESG ratings significantly increase corporate risk, particularly in non-state-owned enterprises and heavily polluting industries, while having no significant impact on state-owned enterprises. Discrepancies in governance ratings exert the greatest impact on corporate risk, underscoring the critical role of corporate governance. Financing constraints further exacerbate the impact of rating discrepancies on corporate risk. These results provide new insights into enhancing the ESG rating system and mitigating corporate risk, offering a foundation for relevant policy-making.
Fulltext Reforestation of tropical rainforests as a negative emissions technology in Malaysia: An environmental and economic sustainability assessment

Saharudin DM, Jeswani HK, Azapagic A

J Environ Manage, 2024 Dec;371:123250.
PMID: 39547020 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123250

Forest carbon sequestration is a promising negative emissions technology as it is relatively simple and inexpensive. Its potential for climate mitigation could be particularly high in tropical rainforests as they can store more carbon at a faster rate. However, the understanding of its sustainability is limited due to the scarcity of studies. Focusing on reforestation, this work is the first to present an extensive environmental and economic assessment of forest CO2 sequestration in a tropical rainforest country such as Malaysia. Life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC) are combined to evaluate the sustainability of reforestation with four tropical tree species: keruing (Dipterocarpus spp.), meranti (Shorea leprosula), rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) and kapok (Ceiba Pentandra). Considering the horizon of 60 years, the system boundaries comprise site infrastructure, land clearing, tree planting and growing, and forest management. The dynamics of greenhouse gas (GHG) and other air emissions are also considered over the period, including carbon sequestration and land use change, nitrous oxide and ethylene emissions. All tree species lead to a net-negative GHG emissions, ranging from -558 to -808 kg CO2 eq./t CO2 removed, with kapok having the highest and rubber the lowest sequestration potential. The latter has the highest values in 13 other impact categories considered, while keruing is the best option for 12 impacts. The main environmental hotspot for all species is the forest management stage. The LCC range from -US$17 to US$12/t CO2 removed. Reforestation on lands available in Malaysia could remove 105.9-473.3 Mt CO2 over 60 years, or 1.8-7.9 Mt CO2/yr, equivalent to 7.4-33 % of the agricultural emissions. Rubber and kapok could generate US$640 M and US$8.06 bn in profits over 60 years from latex and fibre, respectively. Therefore, reforestation has a significant potential to help tropical countries, such as Malaysia, achieve net-negative emissions, while at the same time boosting the economy.
Industrialization meets sustainability: Analysing the role of technological innovations, energy efficiency and urbanisation for major industrialized economies

Onwe JC, Ullah E, Ansari MA, Sahoo M, Dhayal KS

J Environ Manage, 2024 Dec;372:123297.
PMID: 39561453 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123297

Considering how crucial environmental quality is to development, production often takes precedence over the development process when certain macroeconomic policies are being implemented. This phenomenon has been the subject of several studies conducted in various regions and nations. In this context, the recent article explores the nonlinear effects of industrial output, renewable energy, technological innovations, energy efficiency, and urbanization on CO2 emissions in the top ten industrialized countries. It recommends contradictory policy approaches due to its reported conflicting outcomes, opening up new research directions. To this end, the study relies on advanced econometric tools such as panel QARDL (Quantile Autoregressive Distributed Lag) and the nonparametric quantile Granger causality (NPQGC) test to attain robust results. The findings suggest that industrial output and urbanization significantly deteriorate environmental quality by increasing CO2 emissions across various time horizons. However, renewable energy, technological innovations, and energy efficiency have a significant influence towards enhancing environmental quality. Notably, industrialization and urbanization become environmentally friendly when energy efficiency is integrated with these variables. Additionally, the NPQGC test supports the main results by confirming the Granger causality between the modelled series. Based on the outcomes, the study suggests that the integration of energy efficiency with industrialization and urbanization can significantly contribute to achieving a sustainable environment.
Do stock returns respond to physical and transition climate risks? Evidence from emerging BRICS economies

Saqib A, Hussain I, Mefteh-Wali S

J Environ Manage, 2024 Dec;372:123303.
PMID: 39561456 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123303

This study examines how stock market returns in emerging BRICS economies respond to growing physical and transition climate risks. To capture the physical climate risk, we use the frequency of natural disasters, the number of people affected by natural disasters, temperature anomaly, and precipitation anomaly. For transition risk, we included two climate-policy uncertainty measures. First, we conduct a panel-level analysis using a cross-sectionally augmented autoregressive distributed lag model. Second, for country-level analysis, we applied the augmented autoregressive distributed lag model to the monthly dataset from January-2000 to March-2023. The empirical results show that an increase in transition climate risk causes a significant and negative shock to stock returns, both in the short- and long-term in the panel and across each BRICS country. Second, we find that physical climate risk indicators have a significant and negative impact on stock returns in China, India, and South Africa, but not in Brazil or Russia. We conclude that the impact of physical climate risk on stock returns is country-specific, and that the impact of transition climate risk is widespread. These findings provide important insights for investors, regulators, hedgers, portfolio managers, and policymakers regarding policy formulation and future investment strategies.
Tradeoffs among yield, cadmium bioavailability, nitrous oxide emission and bacterial community stability: Effects of iron-modified woody peat and nitrification inhibitors on soil-vegetable systems

Cao X, Hu X, Efrizal E, Hayati I, Yang J, Tan C, et al.

J Environ Manage, 2024 Dec;372:123379.
PMID: 39550941 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123379

Cadmium (Cd) pollution leads to soil degradation, decreases crop yield and affects human health through the food chain. Iron-modified woody peat (IMP) is an organic passivation material that significantly affects the migration of heavy metals in soil. Nitrification inhibitors are widely used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This study investigated the effects of the IMP and nitrification inhibitors dicyandiamide (DCD) and 3, 4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate on Cd content and form, crop yield, nitrous oxide (N2O) emission and bacterial communities in soil-lettuce systems. The simultaneous additions of IMP and DCD substantially reduced the soil available Cd content by 22.6 % and significantly promoted the lettuce yield by 42.9 %. Lettuce yield was significantly and negatively correlated with soil available Cd (correlation coefficient = -0.52). The simultaneous applications of IMP and nitrification inhibitors stimulated N2O emission risk by enhancing the soil NH4+-N contents and the relative abundances of Firmicutes, which could also decrease soil bacterial community stabilities. Therefore, tradeoffs among yield, Cd bioavailability, N2O emission and bacterial community stability should be comprehensively considered when evaluating the combined performances of IMP and nitrification inhibitors.
Harnessing bio and (Photo)catalysts for microplastics degradation and remediation in soil environment

Adamu H, Bello U, IbrahimTafida U, Garba ZN, Galadima A, Lawan MM, et al.

J Environ Manage, 2024 Nov;370:122543.
PMID: 39305881 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122543

Soil pollution by microplastics (MPs) is an escalating environmental crisis with far-reaching consequences. However, current research on the degradation and/or remediation of MPs has mainly focused on water-simulated environments, with little attention given to soil MPs. Therefore, the review explores such terrestrial territory, exploring the potential of biodegradation and novel photocatalytic technologies for MPs degradation/remediation in soil. This review comprehensively investigates the potential of biological and photocatalytic approaches for soil MPs degradation and remediation. A temporal analysis of research from 2004 to 2024 highlights the increasing focus on this critical issue. The review explores the biocatalytic roles of diverse enzymes, including cutinase, PETase, MHETase, hydrolase, lipase, laccase, lignin peroxidase, and Mn-peroxidase, in MPs degradation. Strategies for enzyme engineering, such as protein engineering and immobilization, are explored to enhance catalytic efficiency. The potential for developing enzyme consortia for optimized MP degradation is also discussed. Photocatalytic remediation using TiO2, ZnO, clay, hydrogel, and other photocatalysts is examined, emphasizing their mechanisms and effectiveness. Computational modeling is proposed to deepen understanding of soil MPs-catalyst interactions, primarily aiming to develop novel catalysts tailored for soil environments for environmental safety and sustainable restoration. A comparative analysis of biological and photocatalytic approaches evaluates their environmental implications and the potential for synergistic combinations, with emphasis on soil quality protection, restoration and impact on soil ecosystems. Hence, this review accentuates the urgent need for innovative solutions to address MPs pollution in soil and provides a foundational understanding of the current knowledge gaps, as well as paves the way for future research and development.
New quality productivity and environmental innovation: The hostile moderating roles of managerial empowerment and board centralization

Yue S, Bajuri NH, Khatib SFA, Lee Y

J Environ Manage, 2024 Nov;370:122423.
PMID: 39243639 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122423

As new quality productivity (NQP) emerges as a rising star of productivity that can effectively leverage technological innovation and sustainability, this study aims to explore the relationship between NQP and environmental innovation, with a particular focus on the roles of managerial empowerment and board centralization within the context of China A-share listed companies. Utilizing the entire sample of China A-share market from 2013 to 2022, the study analyses the effectiveness of various dimensions reflecting innovation engagement among Chinese listed companies. For measuring NQP, the entropy method is employed to calculate the weights. By controlling for industry and year effects, the study examines both the main and moderating effects of managerial empowerment and board centralization. Additionally, heterogeneity tests, robustness checks, and two-stage least squares (2SLS) estimation were conducted to address endogeneity concerns. The results demonstrate that NQP significantly enhances environmental innovation, with managerial empowerment supporting this positive effect and board centralization obstructing it. The positive effect of NQP is particularly evident in state-owned enterprises, while in heavily polluting industries, the anticipated positive moderating effect of top managers disappears due to strict regulatory environments. Furthermore, board centralization negatively moderates environmental innovation, especially in lightly polluting sectors where internal governance is more sensitive. The study underscores the importance for policymakers to tailor regulations that balance managerial empowerment and board centralization to enhance the transformation of NQP into environmental innovation. Future research is needed to further investigate different background settings and the mechanisms through which NQP influences sustainability.
Environmental taxes, energy transition and sustainable environmental technologies: A comparative OECD region climate change analysis

Bashir MF, Sharif A, Staniewski MW, Ma B, Zhao W

J Environ Manage, 2024 Nov;370:122304.
PMID: 39250852 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122304

The integrated economic reforms in recent years have transformed human life, however, the subsequent rise in environmental challenges necessitates sustainable development goals to ensure net-zero transformation. Within the context of modern energy, economic, and environmental transformation, we deliberate how environmental taxes, energy transition, and sustainable environmental innovation impact climate change in 38 OECD economies. Our robust empirical investigation allows us to report that environmental taxation, sustainable environmental technology, and energy transition lower but GDP and trade openness exacerbate ecological challenges. We also divide the dataset in G7 and the rest of the OECD groups to document the varying impact of environmental policies within OECD economies. Our econometric analysis helps us report novel policy frameworks to solve climate challenges under the UN SDG agenda.
Leveraging machine learning algorithms in dynamic modeling of urban expansion, surface heat islands, and carbon storage for sustainable environmental management in coastal ecosystems

Kafy AA, Dey NN, Saha M, Altuwaijri HA, Fattah MA, Rahaman ZA, et al.

J Environ Manage, 2024 Nov;370:122427.
PMID: 39305877 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122427

Climate change and rapid urbanization are dramatically altering coastal ecosystems worldwide, with significant implications for land surface temperatures (LST) and carbon stock concentration (CSC). This study investigates the impacts of day and night time LST dynamics on CSC in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, from 1996 to 2021, with future projections to 2041. Using Landsat and MODIS imagery, we found that mean daytime LST increased by 3.57 °C over the 25-year period, while nighttime LST showed a slight decrease of 0.05 °C. Concurrently, areas with no carbon storage increased by 355.78%, while high and very high CSC zones declined by 14.15% and 47.78%, respectively. The Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model estimated a 28.64 km2 reduction in high CSC areas from 1996 to 2021. Statistical analysis revealed strong negative correlations between LST and vegetation indices (R2 = -0.795 to -0.842, p 32 °C, while areas with LST <24 °C may decrease to 1.68%. These observations underscore the pressing necessity for sustainable strategies in urban planning and conservation in swiftly evolving coastal areas, especially considering the challenges posed by climate change and population growth.
Guiding clean energy transitions in rural households: Insights from China's pilot low-carbon policies

Li Z, Meng F, Wu S, Afthanorhan A, Hao Y

J Environ Manage, 2024 Nov;370:122782.
PMID: 39369521 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122782

The impact of Low Carbon Pilot Policies (LCPPs) on carbon reduction and energy efficiency has been extensively studied. However, the potential of these policies to promote clean energy transition (CET) in rural households remains underexplored. This article constructed a staggered-DID model using data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) to investigate the impact and mechanisms of LCPPs on rural households' CET. The findings indicate that LCPPs significantly enhance the CET among rural households. Moreover, the effects of LCPPs vary across cities, while differences within communities and households are less pronounced. Mechanism analysis reveals that LCPPs facilitate rural households' CET through income effects, infrastructure improvements, and enhanced low-carbon awareness. Notably, the income and low-carbon awareness effects are heterogeneous. Additionally, LCPPs have increased rural households' expenditures on home-cooked meals. We estimate the average fixed cost of the CET for rural households to be approximately $404.495. These insights provide valuable empirical evidence that can guide other countries and regions in promoting CET in rural areas.
Evaluating social sustainability of urban regeneration in historic urban areas in China: The case of Xi'an

Zhao P, Md Ali Z, Nik Hashim NH, Ahmad Y, Wang H

J Environ Manage, 2024 Nov;370:122520.
PMID: 39305874 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122520

Urban regeneration involves a highly contested process of social transformation. Examples from China have shown that this process has led to poor social sustainability. Previous studies have not adequately addressed the issue of poor social sustainability. This study aims to address this gap by developing a set of valid and reliable performance indicators for assessing the social sustainability of urban regeneration initiatives in China's Historic Urban Areas (HUAs). Through an extensive literature review and a Delphi survey, critical social sustainability factors facilitating urban regeneration were identified. An assessment tool was subsequently proposed, comprising eight themes, 29 indicators, and a corresponding point-scoring system. Finally, Xi'an was selected as a case study to apply and test the applicability of the tool and to evaluate social sustainability performance to further explore improvement strategies. The results show that adequate housing, housing quality, participation in regeneration initiatives, and safe design were the most critical indicators determining the social sustainability of urban regeneration. Additionally, the results reveal indicators with limited contribution to achieving social sustainability in Xi'an. The research findings have policy implications for pushing socially sustainable urban regeneration initiatives in China.
Fulltext Scalable mesoporous biochars from bagasse waste for Cu (II) removal: Process optimisation, kinetics and techno-economic analysis

Bongosia JG, Al-Gailani A, Kolosz BW, Loy Chun Minh A, Lock SSM, Cheah KW, et al.

J Environ Manage, 2024 Nov;370:122558.
PMID: 39303585 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122558

As the world faces the brink of climatological disaster, it is crucial to utilize all available resources to facilitate environmental remediation, especially by accommodating waste streams. Lignocellulosic waste residues can be transformed into mesoporous biochar structures with substantial pore capacity. While biochars are considered a method of carbon dioxide removal (CDR), they are in fact an environmental double-edged sword that can be used to extract metal ions from water bodies. Biochars possess high chemical affinities through chemisorption pathways that are tuneable to specific pH conditions. This work demonstrates how biochars can be enhanced to maximise their surface area and porosity for the removal of Cu (II) in solution. It was found that bagasse derived mesoporous biochars operate preferentially at high pH (basic conditions), with the 1.18 mKOH/mSCB material reaching 97.85% Cu (II) removal in 5 min. This result is in stark contrast with the majority of biochar adsorbents that are only effective at low pH (acidic conditions). As a result, the biochars produced in this work can be directly applied to ancestral landfill sites and carbonate-rich mine waters which are highly basic by nature, preventing further metal infiltration and reverse sullied water supplies. Furthermore, to assess the value in the use of biochars produced and applied in this way, a techno-economic assessment was carried out to determine the true cost of biochar synthesis, with possible routes for revenue post-Cu being removed from the biochar.
Exploring the impact of industrialization and electricity use on carbon emissions: The role of green FinTech in Asian countries using an asymmetric panel quantile ARDL approach

Kakar SK, Ali J, Wang J, Wu X, Arshed N, Le Hien TT, et al.

J Environ Manage, 2024 Nov;370:122970.
PMID: 39426172 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122970

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate how industrialization, financial development, electricity consumption, trade openness, and green FinTech affect on carbon emissions asymmetrically in Asian countries.
DESIGN: Method/Approach: The study examined 29 years of panel data from 39 Asian countries from 1995 to 2022, sourced from World Development Indicators (WDI) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The study constructs a green financial technology index using principal component analysis (PCA). The study utilizes an Asymmetric Panel Quantile Autoregressive Distributive Lag (A-QARDL) model with pooled mean group (PMG) specifications to explore effects that exhibit cross-sectional homogeneous in the long-run, but heterogeneous in the short-run effects.
FINDINGS: Industrialization and financial development have a strongly asymmetric impact on carbon emissions. Industrialization causes an increase in carbon emissions at various quantiles, while green FinTech plays a crucial role in mitigating these carbon emissions. Trade openness and domestic credit to the private sector also help reduce carbon emissions.
RESEARCH LIMITATIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The study emphasizes the significance of employing green FinTech techniques and using renewable energy sources to meet sustainable industrialization and sustainability goals in Asian countries. The policy consequences include promoting environmentally friendly industrial practices, encouraging green financial investments, and boosting government financing for private sector research and development to mitigate carbon emissions.
ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The study employs robust modeling to analyze the role of green FinTech to enhance industrial sustainability. Both Industrialization and deindustrialization have an impact on economic emissions, and the potential of green FinTech's to promote sustainability contributes to the environment protection strategy.
Toxic metal pollution and associated health risk in nonferrous metal smelting soil containing clay minerals

Cai K, Du J, Yan L, Luan Z, He Y, Shen J, et al.

J Environ Manage, 2024 Nov;370:122909.
PMID: 39405840 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122909

Given the research situation of toxic metals (TMs) pollution in farmland soil, it is very critical to study the clay influence on TMs environmental behavior to meet the aim of lowering TMs pollution. This research explores the association among clay minerals and TMs and the health risks in TMs combined polluted farmland of northern China. In this study, agricultural soil, wheat grain, and atmospheric sediments from nonferrous metal smelting (NMS) areas were collected and investigated to determine the effect of clay minerals on TMs. The results show that the content ranges of Cd (0.199 mg/kg ∼1.98 × 102 mg/kg), Pb (0.228 × 102 mg/kg ∼ 4.87 × 103 mg/kg), Cu (0.187 × 102 mg/kg ∼ 4.57 × 103 mg/kg), and Zn (0.559 × 102 mg/kg ∼ 3.04 × 103 mg/kg) in the agricultural soil. In particular, Cd has reached heavy pollution by the high pollution index (6.74). The findings indicate that Cd and Pb in wheat grain were influenced by their exchangeable fractions in soil, according to a significant relationship between Cd and Pb in soil and wheat grain. XRD-SEM suggests that TMs come from atmospheric sediments associated with NMS emissions by microsphere signatures with surface burn marks. Meanwhile, Geographical detector indicated that clay was the primary contributor to spatial distribution of Cd and Pb. In addition, XRD results showed that I/S (a mixed layer of illite and smectite), illite, chlorite, and kaolinite co-existed. Whereas the clay minerals with this ratio did not demonstrate better adsorption capacities for Cd and Pb due to the Cd percentage of the residual fraction being less than 9%. The result of negative correlation between exchangeable Cd and clay minerals implies that illite, chlorite, and kaolinite may preferentially adsorb Cd and Pb. It is similar to the relationship between Cd and Pb in wheat grain and illite, chlorite, and kaolinite. In addition, the health assessment result show that the negative correlation between clay minerals and the noncarcinogenic hazard quotient (HQ) and indicate that clay minerals could reduce the noncarcinogenic risk of Pb and Cd for children. Our findings provide a potential mechanism and application of clay minerals for the remediation of soil contaminated with TMs.
COP 28 Policy Perspectives: Achieving Environmental Sustainability through FDI, Technological Innovation Index, Trade Openness, Energy Consumption, and Economic Development in N-11 Emerging Economies

Abbass K, Zafar MW, Khan F, Begum H, Song H

J Environ Manage, 2024 Sep 04;369:122271.
PMID: 39236618 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122271

Despite remarkable success in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) to achieve maximum economic growth, the Next-11 emerging economies grappling with an undesirable situation of environmental degradation have become a hot topic at COP28. Researchers have long focused on this connection, emphasizing the urgent need for international and national environmentalists to promote sustainable development (SD) in these rapidly growing economies under the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change action plans. As a result, this study examines the role of FDI in the N-11 emerging economies, focusing on energy usage and technological innovation within the theoretical framework of the Halo-Haven hypothesis, covering the period from 1990 to 2022. We utilize ARDL, FMOLS, and DOLS techniques to analyze both short-term dynamics and long-term equilibrium relationships, effectively managing heterogeneity, time dynamics, and cross-sectional dependence issues to produce comprehensive results. The long-term analysis supports the haven hypothesis, demonstrating an affirmative relationship between FDI, economic growth, and carbon emissions, whereas energy usage is negatively associated with carbon emissions. Furthermore, the D-H test established a reciprocal causal relationship between variables such as FDI, economic growth, trade openness, and environmental pollution. However, we found a one-way causal correspondence in the usage of green energy, the technological innovation index, and carbon emissions. Given the mixed findings, policymakers should focus on attracting FDI to the green energy sector while reinforcing regulations and implementing stringent oversight for FDI in energy-intensive industries. This approach will ensure that such investments adhere to high environmental standards, thereby benefiting future generations.
Soft information monitoring along the supply chain: Customer geographic proximity and firms' ESG performance

Cao L, Lau WY, Shaharuddin SS

J Environ Manage, 2024 Sep 02;369:122302.
PMID: 39226815 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122302

Previous research ignored the characteristics of environmental, social, and governance (ESG). ESG is soft information. Geographical proximity is important for external stakeholders to monitor firms' soft information. This study examines the impact of customer geographic proximity (CGP) on firms' ESG performance. We hand-collect data on the geographical distance of 29,111 pairs of Chinese A-share listed companies and their top-five customers from 2009 to 2022. First, we find that CGP promotes firms' ESG performance. The results still hold after considering the exogenous influence of the introduction of high-speed rail on CGP. Second, cross-sectional analysis shows that CGP exerts a more pronounced influence on firms with severe information asymmetry. Third, impact channel tests indicate that CGP promotes firms' ESG performance by increasing firms' cash flows. Fourth, the impact of CGP is more obvious when customers have stronger risk management motivation. Collectively, this study provides new insights into factors affecting firms' ESG performance.
Effective waste management through Co-pyrolysis of EFB and tire waste: Mechanistic and synergism analysis

Mong GR, Liew CS, Idris R, Woon KS, Chong WWF, Chiong MC, et al.

J Environ Manage, 2024 Sep;368:122172.
PMID: 39137640 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122172

Driven by the need for solutions to address the global issue of waste accumulation from human activities and industries, this study investigates the thermal behaviors of empty fruit bunch (EFB), tyre waste (TW), and their blends during co-pyrolysis, exploring a potential method to convert waste into useable products. The kinetics mechanism and thermodynamics properties of EFB and TW co-pyrolysis were analysed through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The rate of mass loss for the blend of EFB:TW at a 1:3 mass ratio shows an increase of around 20% due to synergism. However, the blend's average activation energy is higher (298.64 kJ/mol) when compared with single feedstock pyrolysis (EFB = 257.29 kJ/mol and TW = 252.92 kJ/mol). The combination of EFB:TW at a 3:1 ratio does not result in synergistic effects on mass loss. However, a lower activation energy is reported, indicating the decomposition process can be initiated at a lower energy requirement. The reaction model that best describes the pyrolysis of EFB, TW and their blends can be categorised into the diffusion and power model categories. An equal mixture of EFB and TW was the preferred combination for co-management because of the synergistic effect, which significantly impacts the co-pyrolysis process. The mass loss rate experiences an inhibitive effect at an earlier stage (320 °C), followed by a promotional impact at the later stage (380 °C). The activation energy needed for a balanced mixture is the least compared to all tested feedstocks, even lower than the pyrolysis of a single feedstock. The study revealed the potential for increasing decomposition rates using lower energy input through the co-pyrolysis of both feedstocks. These findings evidenced that co-pyrolysis is a promising waste management and valorisation pathway to deal with overwhelming waste accumulation. Future works can be conducted at a larger scale to affirm the feasibility of EFB and TW co-management.
Integrated energy informatics technology on microalgae-based wastewater treatment to bioenergy production: A review

Yu KL, Ong HC, Zaman HB

J Environ Manage, 2024 Sep;368:122085.
PMID: 39142099 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122085

The production of renewable biofuel through microalgae and green technology can be a promising solution to meet future energy demands whilst reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and recovering energy for a carbon-neutral bio-economy and environmental sustainability. Recently, the integration of Energy Informatics (EI) technology as an emerging approach has ensured the feasibility and enhancement of microalgal biotechnology and bioenergy applications. Integrating EI technology such as artificial intelligence (AI), predictive modelling systems and life cycle analysis (LCA) in microalgae field applications can improve cost, efficiency, productivity and sustainability. With the approach of EI technology, data-driven insights and decision-making, resource optimization and a better understanding of the environmental impact of microalgae cultivation could be achieved, making it a crucial step in advancing this field and its applications. This review presents the conventional technologies in the microalgae-based system for wastewater treatment and bioenergy production. Furthermore, the recent integration of EI in microalgal technology from the AI application to the modelling and optimization using predictive control systems has been discussed. The LCA and techno-economic assessment (TEA) in the environmental sustainability and economic point of view are also presented. Future challenges and perspectives in the microalgae-based wastewater treatment to bioenergy production integrated with the EI approach, are also discussed in relation to the development of microalgae as the future energy source.
Fulltext Assessment of microplastics in highland rock salts of Northern Borneo

Mohan Viswanathan P, Mishra A, Singam DR, John J

J Environ Manage, 2024 Sep;368:122207.
PMID: 39180824 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122207

Mountain salts produced from the highland region in NE Sarawak have a market value and also provide basic income to the communities. During the salt-making process, microplastics (MPs) may enter into commercial table salts from various sources, which has not been explored yet. Hence, the current research investigates the presence of MPs in the rock salts produced from the highland saline water in two different locations (L1 and L2) in NE Sarawak. Among the brine water and rock salt samples analysed, the highest concentrations of MPs were detected from the salt samples. It has been revealed that both the water and salt samples have the highest concentration of MPs occurring within the size range of 1-1000 μm. Transparent MPs are the most common colour observed in both salt and water samples, followed by white, blue, red, and black. The most prevalent shapes of MPs are fibers, which account for almost 47% in water samples and 87% in salt samples. Based on the ATR-FTIR study, polyethylene (PE) is the most prevalent polymer observed in salt samples, followed by polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). In water samples, PP is the most dominating polymer, followed by PE and PS. Through SEM microphotographs, fiber-type MPs have smooth surfaces, fragment-type MPs have rough edges, and sheet-type MPs have layered surfaces. EDX analysis revealed that carbon (C) and oxygen (O) are the most abundant elements, followed by aluminium (Al) and sodium (Na) in MPs. Based on the results, it is inferred that the MPs in the rock salts are mainly sourced from the different stages of salt-making production. This preliminary study shed light on the presence and characteristics of MPs in rock salts in this region. The research outcomes could support sustainable management plans to improve the salt quality and enhance the market value.

Filters

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links