The impact of geopolitical risk, institutional governance and green finance on attaining net-zero carbon emission.

This research investigates the impact of geopolitical risk, institutional governance and green finance on environmental outcomes, specifically focusing on carbon emissions and ecological footprint. Utilizing the dynamic CS-ARDL method and aggregated mean group analysis on a panel dataset covering 21 nations from 2000 to 2021, our findings reveal that heightened geopolitical risk leads to both short and long run increases in carbon emissions and the ecological footprint. Our study finds both a direct as well as indirect connection between governance, green finance and environmental outcomes in both the short and long run, highlighting the nuanced impact of governance on the formulation of environmental policies and regulatory frameworks. The results emphasize the need for targeted strategies, including focused investments and incentives for sustainable finance, particularly in conflict-affected regions. Furthermore, our research underscores the enduring impact of historical events, such as wars, on contemporary environmental indicators, emphasizing the importance of proactive conflict prevention measures. Our research suggests that policymakers should adopt comprehensive strategies that prioritize emission reduction during short-run spikes in geopolitical risk while maintaining a steadfast commitment to long-run sustainability.

Ca(H2PO4)2 and MgSO4 activated nitrogen-related bacteria and genes in thermophilic stage of compost.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Ca(H2PO4)2 and MgSO4 on the bacterial community and nitrogen metabolism genes in the aerobic composting of pig manure. The experimental treatments were set up as control (C), 1% Ca(H2PO4)2 + 2% MgSO4 (CaPM1), and 1.5% Ca(H2PO4)2 + 3% MgSO4 (CaPM2), which were used at the end of composting for potting trials. The results showed that Ca(H2PO4)2 and MgSO4 played an excellent role in retaining nitrogen and increasing the alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), and available potassium (AK) contents of the composts. Adding Ca(H2PO4)2 and MgSO4 changed the microbial community structure of the compost. The microorganisms associated with nitrogen retention were activated. The complexity of the microbial network was enhanced. Genetic prediction analysis showed that the addition of Ca(H2PO4)2 and MgSO4 reduced the accumulation of nitroso-nitrogen and the process of denitrification. At the same time, despite the reduction of genes related to nitrogen fixation, the conversion of ammonia to nitrogenous organic compounds was promoted and the stability of nitrogen was increased. Mantel test analysis showed that Ca(H2PO4)2 and MgSO4 can affect nitrogen transformation-related bacteria and thus indirectly affect nitrogen metabolism genes by influencing the temperature, pH, and organic matter (OM) of the compost and also directly affected nitrogen metabolism genes through PO43- and Mg2+. The pot experiment showed that composting with 1.5% Ca(H2PO4)2 + 3% MgSO4 produced the compost product that improved the growth yield and nutrient content of cilantro and increased the fertility of the soil. In conclusion, Ca(H2PO4)2 and MgSO4 reduces the loss of nitrogen from compost, activates nitrogen-related bacteria and genes in the thermophilic phase of composting, and improves the fertilizer efficiency of compost products. KEY POINTS: • Ca(H2PO4)2 and MgSO4 reduced the nitrogen loss and improved the compost effect • Activated nitrogen-related bacteria and altered nitrogen metabolism genes • Improved the yield and quality of cilantro and fertility of soil.

Effect of nitrogen retention composite additives Ca(H2PO4)2 and MgSO4 on the degradation of lignocellulose, compost maturation, and fungal communities in compost.

This study investigated the effects of the nitrogen retention composite additives Ca(H2PO4)2 and MgSO4 on lignocellulose degradation, maturation, and fungal communities in composts. The study included control (C, without Ca(H2PO4)2 and MgSO4), 1% Ca(H2PO4)2 + 2% MgSO4 (CaPM1), 1.5% Ca(H2PO4)2 + 3% MgSO4 (CaPM2). The results showed that Ca(H2PO4)2 and MgSO4 enhanced the degradation of total organic carbon (TOC) and promoted the degradation of lignocellulose in compost, with CaPM2 showing the highest TOC and lignocellulose degradation. Changes in the three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy (3D-EEM) of dissolved organic matter (DOM) components in compost indicated that the treatment group with the addition of Ca(H2PO4)2 and MgSO4 promoted the production of humic acids (HAs) and increased the degree of compost decomposition, with CaPM2 demonstrating the highest degree of decomposition. The addition of Ca(H2PO4)2 and MgSO4 modified the composition of the fungal community. Ca(H2PO4)2 and MgSO4 increased the relative abundance of Ascomycota, decreased unclassified_Fungi, and Glomeromycota, and activated the fungal genera Thermomyces and Aspergillus, which can degrade lignin and cellulose during the thermophilic stage of composting. Ca(H2PO4)2 and MgSO4 also increased the abundance of Saprotroph, particularly undefined Saprotroph. In conclusion, the addition of Ca(H2PO4)2 and MgSO4 in composting activated fungal communities involved in lignocellulose degradation, promoted the degradation of lignocellulose, and enhanced the maturation degree of compost.

Poverty improvement policies and household income: Evidence from China.

The purposes of this research is to analyzed the impact of various policies on household incomes and to obtain the influential factors according to their importance. Utilizing a survey data of poor households supported by poverty improvement policies, for individual income, this research implements the traditional random forest method. To analyze the influence of strategies on the overall household earnings, we propose a novel splitting method centered on copula entropy and construct a novel choice tree. Finally, we conclude that the policies are generally effective but that levels of effectiveness are varied for people with different levels of income. We also identified the policy arrangement that has the greatest impact on household income.

Evaluating the resource curse hypothesis and the interplay of financial development, human development, and political stability in seven emerging economies.

The present study empirically confabulates the authenticity of the "resource curse hypothesis" in selected emerging nations. Furthermore, we also assessed the interconnections of three essential economic indicators with financial development, i.e., human development, political stability, and gross domestic product. To effectuate these objectives, we used annual data for the time frame 1990 to 2020 and advanced panel estimation techniques for getting the empirical outcomes. The study's empirical outcomes illustrate the existence of the "resource curse hypothesis" in sample nations. In addition, human development index and gross domestic product play an essential part in the furtherance of financial development in the long-run. The human development index is upsurging the financial development. Furthermore, political stability is also exerting a favorable influence on financial development. A similar interconnection is observed in the short-time period; nonetheless, the amplitude of the short-run impacts is smaller if we have a look at the long-run impacts. The empirical analysis offers a few pertinent policy insights for policymakers to improve the situation in the selected sample. Note: Financial development positively interconnected with human development, GDP and political stability while negatively associated with natural resources, respectively.

How do natural resources and economic growth impact load capacity factor in selected Next-11 countries? Assessing the role of digitalization and government stability.

With growing environmental concerns, everyone's attention has shifted to how we use our limited materials supplies. Rapid economic expansion is dependent on heavy resource use, decreasing biodiversity and raising the ecological footprints (EF), resulting in a reduction in the load capacity factor (LCF). Because of this, scholars and policymakers are actively looking for approaches to improve the LCF without hindering economic growth (GDP). For similar reasons, this research aims at how the selected next eleven economies improved their LCF from 1990 to 2018 by analyzing the effect of digitalization (DIG), natural resources (NAT), GDP, globalization, and governance. To account for dependence across sections and slope variation, the cross-sectional augmented ARDL model is used in this research. The long-term findings indicate that LCF was diminished by dependence on NAT, globalization, and economic growth and was bolstered by DIG and sound governance. The work recommends that financial and policy support is needed for initiatives such as zero-emission vehicle production and energy-efficient building construction. By offering a line of credit at low interest rates, renewable energy projects can attract domestic and private investors.

Achieving SDG-13 in the Era of Conflicts: The Roles of Economic Growth and Government Stability.

Establishing effective climate control and reducing the ecological footprint (EF) are necessary for pursuing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular Goal 13. In this context, it is required to enhance the understanding of various factors that can either decrease or enhance the EF. In the literature to date, limited studies on external conflicts (EX) have reported diverse results, and also the impacts of government stability (GS) on EF are less explored. This study explores the roles of external conflicts, economic growth, and government stability on EF in the context of SDG-13. The study also contributes to the literature by examining the environmental effects of government stability and external conflicts for the first time in Pakistan. This research uses time-series methodologies on data from Pakistan from 1984 to 2018 for exploring the long-run relations and causal dynamics. The results unfolded that external conflicts stimulate and Granger cause EF and therefore expand environmental deterioration. Thus, limiting conflicts is in the favor of Pakistan to achieve SDG-13. Surprisingly, government stability also poses harmful impacts on environmental quality by enhancing the EF, indicating that stable governments focus on improving economic conditions rather than environmental quality. Moreover, the study proves the validity of the environmental Kuznets curve. Policy suggestions are made to move forward in achieving SDG-13 and to evaluate the effectiveness of government environmental policies.

Transport infrastructure, economic growth, and transport CO2 emissions nexus: Does green energy consumption in the transport sector matter?

Attaining Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is important to control the adverse impacts of climate change and achieve sustainable development. Among the 17 SDGs, target 13 emphasizes enhancing urgent actions to combat climate-related changes. This target is also dependent on target 7, which advocates enhancing access to cheap alternative sustainable energy. To accomplish these targets, it is vital to curb the transport CO2 emissions (TCO2) which increased by approximately 80% from 1990 to 2019. Thus, this study assesses the role of transport renewable energy consumption (TRN) in TCO2 by taking into consideration transport fossil fuel consumption (TTF) and road infrastructure (RF) from 1970 to 2019 for the United States (US) with the intention to suggest some suitable mitigation policies. Also, this study assessed the presence of transport environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) to assess the direction of transport-induced growth. The study used the Bayer-Hanck cointegration test which utilizes four different cointegration techniques to decide cointegration along with the Gradual Shift causality test which considers structural shift and fractional integration in time series data. The long-run findings of the Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) test, which counters endogeneity and serial correlation, revealed that the transport renewable energy use mitigates as well as Granger causes TCO2. However, transport fossil fuel usage and road infrastructure enhance TCO2. Surprisingly, the transport EKC is invalid in the case of the US, and increased growth levels are harmful to the environment. The association between TCO2 and economic growth is similar to a U-shaped curve. The Spectral Causality test revealed the growth hypothesis regarding transport fossil fuel use and economic growth connection, which suggests that policymakers should be cautious while decreasing the usage of transport fossil fuels because it may hamper economic progress. These findings call for revisiting growth strategies and increasing green energy utilization in the transport sector to mitigate transport emissions.

Ecological environment pressure state and response system for coupling coordinate development: an application on china data.

This research aims to develop an ecological carrying capacity index for the ecological environment under the principle of the pressure-state-response framework model and discusses the coupling coordination of ecological environment pressure, state, and response system of the urban region in china from 2011 to 2020. Furthermore, predicated the degree of security warning for each year while establishing the ecological carrying capacity index and the urban ecological coupling model. Results specify that the coordination degree of urban ecological development in Nanchang, Jiangxi has been improved year by year, the ecological carrying capacity security index shows an upward tendency from the overall view, and the security warning degree rises from comparative insecurity to comparative security. The analysis demonstrates that in the process of national ecological civilization construction demonstration zone construction, the ecological resources and environmental policies adopted by Nanchang city have played a great role in promoting ecological security. However, the ecological security index in Nanchang is still below 0.6, far from the high-security level (0.77), and the government and the public still need to do a lot to improve ecological security.

The impact of foreign direct investment on environment: evidence from newly industrialized countries.

This research aims to investigate the effect of foreign direct investment on carbon emissions through the panel ARDL method using annual data for the 1990-2016 period for the newly industrialized countries (NICs), including China, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey, India, and Brazil. The stationarity of the series was obtained through LLC, IPS, and Fisher ADF panel unit root tests, the cointegration relationship with the panel ARDL-PMG approach, and the causality relationship with Dumitrescu and Hurlin (DH) tests. As a result of the long-term analysis, the foreign direct investment, energy consumption, and trade openness have a positive and significant impact on carbon emissions, whereas economic growth has a negative and significant impact on carbon emissions. The result shows that a percent increase in foreign direct investment increases carbon emissions by 0.03%. As a result of the short-term analysis, it was seen that the coefficient of the error correction term (ECT) was negative and statistically significant. According to DH panel causality test results, there exists a bidirectional causality relationship among energy consumption and carbon emissions, and a unidirectional causality relationship from economic growth and trade openness to carbon emissions and from carbon emissions to foreign direct investment. As policy implication, in industrialized countries especially China and India, there is a greater need to invest in green energy consumption at a larger scale to achieve future sustainable development goals.