Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.8
3.3
Journals
Sustainability
Special Issues
Energy Economics and Environmental Sustainability: The Development of Green Industry
sustainability-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Sustainability Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Energy Economics and Environmental Sustainability: The Development of Green Industry

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 February 2025 | Viewed by 12874

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Ruipeng Tan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Economics, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230601, China
Interests: energy and environment policy analysis; enterprise green transformation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Mengmeng Xu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210000, China
Interests: climate change; energy economics and policy; green transition; low-carbon consumption; environmental effect assessment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues:

The intertwined challenges of climate change, energy security, and economic growth form a complex nexus that demands multifaceted solutions. As nations grapple with escalating energy demands and growing environmental concerns, the role of green industries in fostering both energy economics and environmental sustainability becomes ever more critical. This cross-disciplinary area of inquiry not only is scientifically intriguing, but also holds substantial implications for policymakers, stakeholders, and the general public.

The aim of this Special Issue, tentatively entitled "Energy Economics and Environmental Sustainability: The Development of Green Industry," is to compile cutting-edge research that explores the economic, technological, and social aspects of green industries. We seek contributions that analyze the synergies and trade-offs between energy production, economic profitability, and environmental protection. This Special Issue aims to foster discussions that could inform effective strategies for sustainable growth, directly aligning with the broader scope of our journal, which focuses on the intersection of economics, policy, and environmental studies.

We welcome empirical, theoretical, and review papers on topics that include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Economic Viability of Renewable Energy Sources: Examining the economics of solar, wind, hydro, and other renewable energy sources;
  • Green Technologies and Innovations: Evaluating the impact of green technologies on industrial development and environmental conservation;
  • Policy Frameworks for Green Industry: Comparative analyses of governmental policies that stimulate or hinder the growth of green industries;
  • Social Impacts of Green Industry: Investigating how the development of green industries affects job creation, social equity, and community resilience;
  • Resource Management for Sustainability: Approaches to managing natural resources in a manner that balances economic growth and environmental protection;
  • Market Dynamics in Green Industries: Studies on supply and demand, competition, and other market forces in green industry;
  • Sustainable Business Models: Evaluating how businesses in the green sector can achieve profitability while meeting environmental and social goals;
  • Global and Regional Case Studies: Analyses that offer lessons from specific geographies regarding the development of green industry;
  • Energy Transitions and Infrastructure: Studies on the shift from fossil-fuel-based systems to sustainable energy infrastructures.

We look forward to your contributions and hope that this Special Issue will serve as a platform for enriching the academic and policy debates on this crucial topic.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Ruipeng Tan
Dr. Mengmeng Xu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • green industry development
  • energy economics
  • environmental policy
  • renewable energy viability
  • sustainable business models
  • resource management
  • social equity in green industries
  • regional case studies
  • technological innovation for sustainability
  • market dynamics in renewable energy

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

21 pages, 2087 KiB  
Article
Harnessing Renewable Energy: Exploring the Dynamic Evolution of Common Prosperity in China
by Bo Wang, Xiaoxu Zhang, Jing Huang and Yang Su
Sustainability 2024, 16(23), 10423; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162310423 - 28 Nov 2024
Viewed by 749
Abstract
The transition from fossil fuels to clean energy is a pivotal challenge in global climate efforts. China’s strategy emphasizes an orderly phase-out of fossil fuels, advocating for renewable energy as a sustainable alternative. This shift is integral to China’s “common prosperity” agenda, which [...] Read more.
The transition from fossil fuels to clean energy is a pivotal challenge in global climate efforts. China’s strategy emphasizes an orderly phase-out of fossil fuels, advocating for renewable energy as a sustainable alternative. This shift is integral to China’s “common prosperity” agenda, which seeks to harmonize economic growth with social equity and environmental sustainability. However, achieving this balance presents complex challenges, particularly in decoupling economic progress from traditional energy consumption patterns. This study addresses the critical need to evaluate how renewable energy contributes to common prosperity by developing a comprehensive indicator framework. By analyzing the dynamic evolution of prosperity levels across 30 Chinese provinces from 2008 to 2020, the research highlights regional disparities and identifies key areas for policy intervention. The findings underscore the importance of integrating renewable energy initiatives with social policies to enhance living standards and promote equitable economic growth. This paper provides valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to advance sustainable development and achieve common prosperity in China, offering a foundation for more informed and effective energy and economic policies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Economics and Environmental Sustainability: The Development of Green Industry)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 277 KiB  
Article
Does Green Finance Development Enhance the Sustainability Performance of China’s Energy Companies?
by Li Guo, Fangxia Chen and Linhao Chen
Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 8052; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188052 - 14 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1194
Abstract
The achievement of China’s “dual-carbon” standard has been devoted to the green transformation and the sustainable growth of energy firms, both of which can be financed by the growth of green financing. This study aims to investigate how the development level of green [...] Read more.
The achievement of China’s “dual-carbon” standard has been devoted to the green transformation and the sustainable growth of energy firms, both of which can be financed by the growth of green financing. This study aims to investigate how the development level of green finance influences the sustainable development performance of listed energy companies in China. It seeks to delve into the underlying mechanisms connecting green finance with financing constraints and, subsequently, with sustainability performance, as well as exploring the relationship between green finance and green total factor productivity in relation to sustainability performance. Additionally, this study will provide strategies and recommendations to enhance the sustainable development capabilities of energy enterprises. This study empirically evaluates the four aspects of sustainable development performance: economic, social, environmental, and innovative performance—as well as its mechanism of action using the fixed-effects pattern with two ways and the mediated-effects pattern using unbalanced panel data from Chinese-listed energy firms spanning from 2011 to 2020. The study discovered that (1) energy firms’ performance in sustainable development is greatly enhanced by the progression of green finance; (2) the advancement of green finance effectively boosts the sustainable development performance of energy companies by reducing financing constraints and enhancing green total factor productivity; (3) a more distinct relationship is evident between the extent of green financing development and the performance of sustainable development within state-owned enterprises. While green finance development has a stronger role in innovative performance for larger energy firms, it has a noticeable proactive impact on the economic, social, and environmental performance of smaller energy enterprises. Based on the study’s findings, this paper presents recommendations for the enhancement of green financing policies and the sustainable enhancement of energy enterprises in China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Economics and Environmental Sustainability: The Development of Green Industry)
29 pages, 1888 KiB  
Article
Environmental Sustainability in BRICS Economies: The Nexus of Technology Innovation, Economic Growth, Financial Development, and Renewable Energy Consumption
by Muhammad Asif, Jian-Qiao Li, Muhammad Azam Zia, Muhammad Hashim, Uzair Aslam Bhatti, Mughair Aslam Bhatti and Ahmad Hasnain
Sustainability 2024, 16(16), 6934; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16166934 - 13 Aug 2024
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3879
Abstract
The long-term development goals of most countries face significant challenges in reducing emissions, improving environmental sustainability, and mitigating the negative effects of climate change. This study looks at how the ecological sustainability of BRICS countries is affected by economic growth, financial development, new [...] Read more.
The long-term development goals of most countries face significant challenges in reducing emissions, improving environmental sustainability, and mitigating the negative effects of climate change. This study looks at how the ecological sustainability of BRICS countries is affected by economic growth, financial development, new technologies, and renewable energy consumption with the mediating effect of trade openness. The study covers the years 2004–2023, and it was based on fixed-effect models that use static panel data. Data were collected from the World Development Indicators website. The countries and time frame for this study were selected on the basis of data availability. These findings show that the use of renewable energy sources, technological innovation, and financial development all have a significant and positive impact on environmental sustainability. Nevertheless, environmental sustainability is significantly and negatively impacted by economic growth. Furthermore, trade openness functions as a significant mediator between them. Based on empirical evidence, the paper suggests that the BRICS nations seek sustainable economic development. Moreover, government agencies need to accurately evaluate the connection between financial development and emission reduction when formulating programs to cut emissions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Economics and Environmental Sustainability: The Development of Green Industry)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

28 pages, 470 KiB  
Article
Navigating Green Innovation in High-Tech Manufacturing: The Roles of Customer Concentration and Digital Transformation
by Lijun Fan, Yang Guo, Yiwen Wang and Wei Wang
Sustainability 2024, 16(15), 6358; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16156358 - 25 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1323
Abstract
The increasingly environmental issues pose challenges to the economic development of countries, particularly hindering industrial transformation in developing nations. This study, grounded in the Resource-Based View, examines factors influencing green innovation in high-tech manufacturing firms. Market interactions and digital technologies significantly impact resource [...] Read more.
The increasingly environmental issues pose challenges to the economic development of countries, particularly hindering industrial transformation in developing nations. This study, grounded in the Resource-Based View, examines factors influencing green innovation in high-tech manufacturing firms. Market interactions and digital technologies significantly impact resource investments in green innovation. Using data from Chinese high-tech manufacturing firms from 2007 to 2021, the study reveals that customer concentration negatively affects green innovation, while digital transformation promotes it and mitigates the inhibitory effect of customer concentration. To explain this mechanism, green innovation is divided into green process innovation and green product innovation, and the effect of customer concentration is more pronounced in green product innovation. Further testing discusses the roles of the external environment, internal governance, and manager characteristics. Specifically, product market competition and political resources influence firms’ reliance on major customers, allowing digital technologies to optimize resource allocation for green innovation. In terms of internal governance, flexibility and regulatory strength alter the emphasis firms place on green innovation, with higher governance efficiency reducing dependency on major customers. Managerial characteristics, particularly managers’ rationality, determine the importance placed on digital technologies versus customer demands, leading to varied investment decisions in green innovation. Our findings provide valuable insights for optimizing resource allocation and enhancing green innovation investment, thereby effectively promoting sustainable regional economic development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Economics and Environmental Sustainability: The Development of Green Industry)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 359 KiB  
Article
Decarbonization in the Oil and Gas Sector: The Role of Power Purchase Agreements and Renewable Energy Certificates
by Stamatios K. Chrysikopoulos, Panos T. Chountalas, Dimitrios A. Georgakellos and Athanasios G. Lagodimos
Sustainability 2024, 16(15), 6339; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16156339 - 24 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2064
Abstract
This study examines the adoption of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) as strategic tools for decarbonization in the oil and gas sector. Focusing on the 21 largest oil and gas companies across Europe, North America, and South America, the [...] Read more.
This study examines the adoption of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) as strategic tools for decarbonization in the oil and gas sector. Focusing on the 21 largest oil and gas companies across Europe, North America, and South America, the analysis reveals varied adoption rates and strategic emphases between regions. European companies exhibit robust integration of PPAs and RECs to expand renewable energy capacities and reduce emissions, aligning closely with aggressive EU climate policies. In contrast, American companies show a cautious approach, focusing more on emission reduction from existing operations than on renewable expansions. The study’s findings indicate that, while both regions are advancing in their decarbonization efforts, European companies are leading with more defined renewable energy targets and comprehensive low-carbon strategies. This research contributes to understanding how different regulatory environments and market conditions influence corporate strategies towards sustainable energy transitions in traditionally hard-to-abate industries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Economics and Environmental Sustainability: The Development of Green Industry)
11 pages, 607 KiB  
Article
To What Extent Do Alternative Energy Sources Displace Coal and Oil in Electricity Generation? A Mean-Group Panel Analysis
by Brantley Liddle
Sustainability 2024, 16(13), 5319; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135319 - 22 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1124
Abstract
This paper determines by how much alternative electricity generation sources—natural gas, nuclear, hydro, and renewables—displace electricity generation from coal and oil. It does so by employing a first-difference model and a mean-group estimator applied to a panel that spans 1985–2019 for 27 high- [...] Read more.
This paper determines by how much alternative electricity generation sources—natural gas, nuclear, hydro, and renewables—displace electricity generation from coal and oil. It does so by employing a first-difference model and a mean-group estimator applied to a panel that spans 1985–2019 for 27 high- and 13 middle-income countries. As such, our approach avoids/addresses several statistical issues common in long-macro panel analyses—heterogeneity, nonstationarity, and cross-sectional dependence—that have largely been ignored/unaddressed in previous displacement studies. Ultimately, we find that the displacement effect is small and only marginally significant for nuclear, and is significant though less than unity for natural gas and hydro, whereas intermittent renewables (solar and wind) have unitary displacement effect. These results suggest a substantially greater displacement potential for alternative generation sources than typically found by the previous literature. In other words, increasing hydro and wind and solar are all impactful ways to decarbonize the electricity system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Economics and Environmental Sustainability: The Development of Green Industry)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 4351 KiB  
Article
Factors Influencing Carbon Emissions in High Carbon Industries in the Zhejiang Province and Decoupling Effect Analysis
by Yong Xiao, Cheng Yong, Wei Hu and Hanyun Wang
Sustainability 2023, 15(22), 15975; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152215975 - 15 Nov 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1548
Abstract
High-carbon emission industries are the most important source of carbon emissions in the Zhejiang Province. Due to the differences in the development level of various industries, it is necessary to adjust the carbon emission reduction strategies of various industries. As the first ecological [...] Read more.
High-carbon emission industries are the most important source of carbon emissions in the Zhejiang Province. Due to the differences in the development level of various industries, it is necessary to adjust the carbon emission reduction strategies of various industries. As the first ecological province in China, the promotion of carbon emission reduction in high-carbon industries in the Zhejiang Province plays an important leading role in the development of low-carbon economy in other industries and other provinces in China. Taking eight high-carbon industries in Zhejiang Province as the research object, this paper uses the LMDI factor decomposition model to deconstruct the influencing factors and effects of carbon emissions in eight industries in the Zhejiang Province from 2010 to 2021. On this basis, the Tapio decoupling model is applied to study the reasons and driving factors of the decoupling between economic growth and carbon emissions. The results showed that: (1) During the study period, the total carbon emissions of eight industries in the Zhejiang Province increased by 24,312,200 t, showing an overall upward trend. (2) The effect of economic growth and population size led to the rapid growth of carbon emissions in eight industries in the Zhejiang Province, and the effect of energy intensity on carbon emission reduction was the most significant; the effect of industry structure presented a trend of first promoting and then inhibiting, and the effect of carbon emission coefficient always inhibited carbon emissions. (3) The population size has restricted decoupling efforts; energy intensity has the greatest impact on the realization of industry decoupling; energy structure and industry structure decoupling efforts are small; the carbon emission coefficient has always influenced decoupling efforts. This research paper will provide suggestions and policies for the development of low-carbon economy in Zhejiang Province. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Economics and Environmental Sustainability: The Development of Green Industry)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-7
Back to TopTop