Effects of urbanization and nonrenewable energy on carbon emission in Africa

This study investigates the impact of urbanization and nonrenewable energy consumption on carbon emissions. The context of the analysis is 54 African Union countries from 1996 to 2019. For estimation, we use panel quantile regression (PQR) and fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS). Our regression results demonstrate that there is a positive correlation between urbanization and CO₂ emission. Further, our empirical results confirmed that nonrenewable energy consumption increases environmental pollution in African Union countries. The outcomes demonstrate the EKC hypothesis because at the initial stage of development, when economic growth increases, environmental pollution increases; after a threshold point, environmental pollution decreases as economic growth increases. It can find an inverted U-shaped relationship between economic growth and CO₂ emission. The findings also show that urbanization should be planned; otherwise, it can lead to environmental degradation in the long run. Africa continent takes strict action and builds a blueprint for efficient and effective energy production and consumption. The only solution to achieve green growth in Africa is to shift from fossil fuel energy supply to renewable energy supply.

     

The challenges of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution through energy sources: evidence from a panel of developed countries

The objective of the study is to investigate the long-run relationship between climatic factors (i.e., greenhouse gas emissions, agricultural methane emissions, and industrial nitrous oxide emission), air pollution (i.e., carbon dioxide emissions), and energy sources (i.e., nuclear energy; oil, gas, and coal energy; and fossil fuel energy) in the panel of 35 developed countries (including EU-15, new EU member states, G-7, and other countries) over a period of 1975–2012. In order to achieve this objective, the present study uses sophisticated panel econometric techniques including panel cointegration, panel fully modified OLS (FMOLS), and dynamic OLS (DOLS). The results show that there is a long-run relationship between the variables. Nuclear energy reduces greenhouse gases and carbon emissions; however, the other emissions, i.e., agricultural methane emissions and industrial nitrous oxide, are still to increase during the study period. Electricity production from oil, gas, and coal sources increases the greenhouse gases and carbon emissions; however, the intensity to increase emissions is far less than the intensity to increase emissions through fossil fuel. Policies that reduce emissions of greenhouse gases can simultaneously alter emissions of conventional pollutants that have deleterious effects on human health and the environment.     

The effects of economic growth and innovation on CO2 emissions in different regions

Economic growth and economic energy consumption have received greater attention due to its contribution to global CO₂ emissions in recent decades. The literature on CO₂ emissions and innovation for regional differences is very scanty as there is not enough study that considered different regions in a single analysis. We adopt a holistic approach by incorporating different regions so as to assess how innovation contributes to emission reduction. The study, therefore, examined the effects of innovation and economic growth on CO₂ emissions for 18 developed and developing countries over the period of 1990 to 2016. The study used panel technique capable of dealing with cross-section dependence effects: panel cross-sectional augmented Dickey-Fuller (CADF) unit root to determine the order of integration, Westerlund cointegration tests confirmed that the variables are co-integrated. We employed panel fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS) and panel dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS) to estimate the long-run relationship. The results show that energy consumption increases CO₂ emissions at all panel levels. However, innovation reduces CO₂ emissions in G6 while it increases emissions in the MENA and the BRICS countries. Environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis is valid for the BRICS. The pollution haven hypothesis (PHH) and pollution halo effect were confirmed at different panel levels. Based on the findings different policy recommendations are proposed.

     

Does the level of renewable energy matter in the effect of economic growth on environmental pollution? New evidence from PSTR analysis

This study investigates the relationship between environmental pollution and economic growth in the context of renewable energy in OECD countries using the panel smooth transition regression (PSTR) model for 1995–2018. The study finds the value of the threshold variable, calculated as the share of renewable energy use in total energy consumption, to be 7.825%. In this context, economic growth affects the environment negatively and increases environmental pollution when the share of renewable energy use in energy consumption is below the threshold. When this share is above the threshold, it reduces environmental pollution by affecting the environment positively. In addition, the findings reveal a non-linear inverted U-shaped relationship between the environment and economic growth in the context of renewable energy, and the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis is valid. Therefore, the widespread use of renewable energy is a solution to reducing environmental pollution. Accordingly, it is very important for policymakers to both highlight and encourage renewable energy use. Furthermore, countries need to both invest in this area and focus on R&D to increase renewable energy production.

     

Indoor air pollution from solid fuel on children pneumonia in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

An updated systematic review was conducted to assessing on the association between indoor air pollution caused by household energy consumption and childhood pneumonia in low- and middle-income countries. We performed a meta-analysis from the electronic databases of PubMed, Cochrane library, Web of Science, EMBASE. Studies were selected when they reported childhood pneumonia or ALRI in relation to indoor air pollution resulted from solid fuel. Studies must provide results on exposure prevalence of children aged below 5 years from Asia or Africa. We devoted ourselves to identifying randomized controlled experiments and observational epidemiological researches, which revealed the relation between household usage of solid fuel and childhood pneumonia. Among 1954 articles, 276 were reviewed thoroughly and 16 conduced to such a meta-analysis. It was found that there is a significant relationship between the solid fuel combustion and increasing risk of childhood pneumonia (OR?=?1.66, 95%CI 1.36–2.02). The summary odds ratios from biomass use and mixed fuel use were, respectively, 1.86 (95%CI 1.15–3.02) and 1.58 (95%CI 1.38–1.81), with substantial between study heterogeneity (I²?=?87.2% and 29.2%, respectively). According to the subgroup analysis along with the meta-regression analysis, the risk of using solid fuel in Asian regions is higher than that in African regions. Studies based on non-hospital participates (I²?=?49.5%) may also a source of heterogeneity. We found that indoor air pollution generated by the usage of solid fuel might be a significant risk factor for pneumonia in children and suggested improving the indoor air quality by promoting cleaner fuel will be important in undeveloped countries.

     

Air pollution reduction via use of green energy sources for electricity and hydrogen production

The implementation of renewable wind and solar energy sources instead of fossil fuels to produce such energy carriers as electricity and hydrogen facilitates reductions in air pollution emissions. Unlike from traditional fossil fuel technologies, air pollution emissions from renewable technologies are associated mainly with the construction of facilities. With present costs of wind and solar electricity, it is shown that, when electricity from renewable sources replaces electricity from natural gas, the cost of air pollution emission abatement is more than ten times less than the cost if hydrogen from renewable sources replaces hydrogen produced from natural gas. When renewable-based hydrogen is used instead of gasoline in a fuel cell vehicle, the cost of air pollution emissions reduction approaches the same value as for renewable-based electricity only if the fuel cell vehicle efficiency exceeds significantly (i.e., by about two times) that of an internal combustion vehicle. The results provide the basis for a useful approach to an optimal strategy for air pollution mitigation.     

Modeling the non-linear relationship between financial development and energy consumption: statistical experience from OECD countries

The linkage between financial development and energy consumption is widely investigated in the literature. However, the non-linear relationship between financial development and energy demand is still under debate. Therefore, this study aims to examine the non-linear relationship between financial development, economic growth, and energy consumption in OECD countries. The study uses the Driscoll–Kraay standard errors panel regression model for spanning from 1980 to 2016. The empirical findings indicate that an inverted U-shape relationship exists between financial development and energy consumption as well as between economic growth and energy consumption. Moreover, the feedback hypothesis is found between financial development and energy use. Additionally, income and energy use granger cause each other. The innovative findings contribute to extant literature, which is of special interest to the country’s policymakers regarding energy efficiency.

     

Interaction between air pollution and meteorological parameters in Erzurum, Turkey

In recent years, the rapid increase in population density has caused increases in the consumption of fuel, and the outdoor air quality has deteriorated in the crowded urban areas of Turkey. Erzurum, a city in the eastern part of Turkey, is influenced by air pollutants such as SO₂ and suspended particles. It is known that, in general, the air pollution concentrations have a close relationship with meteorological factors. In this study, the relationship between outdoor air quality data and meteorological factors, such as wind speed, rainfall, temperature, sunshine hours and relative humidity, is statistically analysed, using the code SPSS. According to the results obtained through multiple linear regression analysis, there are moderate levels of correlation between SO₂ and particle concentrations and meteorological factors in Erzurum.     

Current and future perspectives on energy use and environmental impact

Energy consumption throughout the world contributes to pollution, environmental deterioration, and greenhouse gas emissions. Increases in energy consumption are usually driven by population growth and economic development that tends to increase energy use per capita. Thus, the projected increase in population in the near future, and the economic development that is likely in many countries, have serious implications for the environment. Since the early 1980s the relationship between energy use and environmental impact has received attention, and a number of activities have focused on this topic. In this paper, four important areas related to current and future patterns of environmental impact are introduced and discussed in detail: environmental impact, energy consumption, energy efficiency and conservation, and fuel substitution. We conclude that further political, economic and institutional changes from the standpoint of environmental impact appear to be necessary for future energy policies. To this end, energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy resources can play important roles in controlling and reducing environmental impact.     

Energy use and emissions from marine vessels: a total fuel life cycle approach

Regional and global air pollution from marine transportation is a growing concern. In discerning the sources of such pollution, researchers have become interested in tracking where along the total fuel life cycle these emissions occur. In addition, new efforts to introduce alternative fuels in marine vessels have raised questions about the energy use and environmental impacts of such fuels. To address these issues, this paper presents the Total Energy and Emissions Analysis for Marine Systems (TEAMS) model. TEAMS can be used to analyze total fuel life cycle emissions and energy use from marine vessels. TEAMS captures "well-to-hull" emissions, that is, emissions along the entire fuel pathway, including extraction, processing, distribution, and use in vessels. TEAMS conducts analyses for six fuel pathways: (1) petroleum to residual oil, (2) petroleum to conventional diesel, (3) petroleum to low-sulfur diesel, (4) natural gas to compressed natural gas, (5) natural gas to Fischer-Tropsch diesel, and (6) soybeans to biodiesel. TEAMS calculates total fuel-cycle emissions of three greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane) and five criteria pollutants (volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters of 10 microm or less, and sulfur oxides). TEAMS also calculates total energy consumption, fossil fuel consumption, and petroleum consumption associated with each of its six fuel cycles. TEAMS can be used to study emissions from a variety of user-defined vessels. This paper presents TEAMS and provides example modeling results for three case studies using alternative fuels: a passenger ferry, a tanker vessel, and a container ship.     

The impact of environment degrading factors and remittances on health expenditure: an asymmetric ARDL and dynamic simulated ARDL approach

This paper investigates the impact of CO₂ emissions, air pollution (PM2.5) exposure, foreign remittances, energy consumption, renewable energy consumption, trade openness, and gross domestic product per capita on health expenditure in a panel of the 27 highest emitting countries from 2000 to 2019. Focusing on objectives, panel ARDL, and dynamic simulated ARDL models are used to examine the short-run and long-run impact of the variables on health expenditure. An asymmetric or nonlinear ARDL model is used to test the asymmetric effect of CO₂ emissions, air pollution exposure, and foreign remittance inflows on health expenditure. The results show that environment-degrading factors, remittances, and GDP per capita significantly impact health expenditure. There is an asymmetric effect of remittances, CO₂ emissions, and air pollution (PM2.5) exposure on health expenditure. Based on the results, the study suggests policymakers should make policies regarding environment-degrading elements as these factors cause huge increases in health spending in a country. Consumption of renewable energy helps reduce health expenditure as it does not cause environmental degradation, irrespective of other forms of energy, and it is suggested that policies relating to foreign remittance inflows should be encouraged and made efficient.

     

An assessment of spatial and temporal variation of sulfur dioxide levels over Istanbul, Turkey

Sulfur dioxide concentration levels are investigated in Istanbul to assess air pollution during the heating seasons in which the concentration of air pollutants reach high levels due to the consumption of low-quality fossil fuels. Results reveal that in the 1985-91 period there is an increasing trend in the concentrations of air pollutants. One reason for this increase is found to be the switching to use of low-quality fossil fuels instead of cleaner ones; the consumption ratio of coal/fuel-oil increased drastically in the 1980s from the ratio of 0.62 during 1980 to 3.09 by 1990. Linear regression analysis also indicated the similar variability of sulfur dioxide and particulate matter curves with a correlation coefficient R2=0.87. An optimum interpolation technique, kriging, is used to obtain the spatial distribution of sulfur dioxide over the area. Results indicated that the maximum concentration regions over the European side, exceeding 300 microg/m(3) monthly averages, are found to be the Fatih-Gaziosmanpa?a-Bayrampa?a, Beyo?lu-Si?li, and Emin?nü areas. On the Asian side, the G?ztepe-Kadik?y area received a major threat from sulfur dioxide pollution. Results also indicated that there was a considerable decrease in air pollution levels over Istanbul in the 1995-96 season compared with the previous two seasons. This can be explained by (1) the increase in ventilation, (2) switching to natural gas as a home and business heating fuel, and (3) treatment of coal before its entrance to the city. The variability in weather conditions is explained by the adoption of a ventilation index, which is the product of wind speed and inversion height.     

Air Pollution Emissions from Increased Industrial Coal Use in the Northeastern United States

Evaluating the air pollution impacts of energy use in the industrial sector is difficult because of the diversity and multiplicity of sources and a general lack of systematic, up-to-date data collection mechanisms. Fuel-specific energy consumption for a multi-state region is provided by the U.S. Department of Energy PIES model for a base year (1975), together with scenarios for future years. A computer model developed in this study—the Sub-regional Energy and Emissions Model (SEEM)—is applied to disaggregate the regional industrial figures to the county level according to fuel type and industrial category at the two-digit SIC level. The resulting emissions of total suspended particulates (TSP) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) for all industrial categories are estimated at the county level by Incorporating county-specific air pollution regulations in SEEM, and are then aggregated to larger geographical regions. The model has been applied to evaluate the increased air pollution impacts of industrial energy use in the northeastern United States for two alternative 1990 scenarios: (1) the midrange/trendlong PIES projections, and (2) a Coal Replacement Scenario, which assumes a higher percentage of fuel burned in new boilers will be coal. The results are discussed in terms of implications for air pollution control policy.     

Influence of tourism,governance, and foreign direct investment on energy consumption and CO2 emissions: a panel analysis of Muslim countries

The empirical linkages from tourism, governance, and FDI have been quantified on CO₂ emission and energy use over 2002–2014 for a panel of 13 Muslim countries. To this end, we have examined the data for cross-sectional dependence (CD) and panel heterogeneity and employed panel algorithms, which account for both CD and panel heterogeneity. The results from Pedroni, Westerlund, and Kao tests supported the existence of a cointegration association between the chosen variables. In the CO₂ model, we observed that tourism positively, and governance negatively, influences the CO₂ emission. However, in the case of the energy model, the results of tourism pose a negative relationship, and governance indicates a positive relationship with energy use. The results supported the pollution haven phenomenon, finance, and energy triggered pollution in the study area. Further, the research supported a two-way causality between tourism and CO₂, where there is a unilateral causality from governance to CO₂. Similarly, a unidirectional causality was obtained from energy towards tourism. Lastly, the key policy recommendations based on the outcomes of the study are encouraging clean energy investment, enhancing good governance, and sustainable tourism development for improving environmental quality.

     

An assessment of operations of oil-exporting countries in terms of energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions from 16 oil-exporting countries are studied using Data Envelopment Analysis using indicators representing economic growth, energy consumption and emissions. The analysis for 1996 shows that Norway, Gabon and Nigeria are efficient and that Russia is inefficient. Malmquist Productivity Index analysis shows that there is progress in achieving higher values of GDP and non-fossil fuel consumption and in achieving lower values of fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions in the year 1996 when compared with 1992 for Norway, Russia, Mexico, Algeria, Libya, Gabon and Oman.     

The effects of air pollution on human mortality: does gender difference matter in African countries?

The relationship between environmental factors and human health has long been a concern among academic researchers. We use two indicators of environmental pollution, namely particulate matter (PM₁₀) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) to examine the effects of poor air quality on human mortality. This study explores an issue that has largely been ignored, particularly in the African literature, where the effect of air pollution on human mortality could be influenced by gender specification. We analyse a panel data from 35 African countries and our result suggests that the elevated levels of PM₁₀ and CO₂ have a significant effect on the increasing mortality rates in infants, under-five children and adults. Although the effect of poor air quality on adults is found to differ between genders, such difference is not statistically significant. We conclude that the air pollution effects, on average, are similar between genders in the African countries.     

Potential emissions reduction in road transport sector using biofuel in developing countries

Use of biofuels as transport fuel has high prospect in developing countries as most of them are facing severe energy insecurity and have strong agricultural sector to support production of biofuels from energy crops. Rapid urbanization and economic growth of developing countries have spurred air pollution especially in road transport sector. The increasing demand of petroleum based fuels and their combustion in internal combustion (IC) engines have adverse effect on air quality, human health and global warming. Air pollution causes respiratory problems, adverse effects on pulmonary function, leading to increased sickness absenteeism and induces high health care service costs, premature birth and even mortality. Production of biofuels promises substantial improvement in air quality through reducing emission from biofuel operated automotives. Some of the developing countries have started biofuel production and utilization as transport fuel in local market. This paper critically reviews the facts and prospects of biofuel production and utilization in developing countries to reduce environmental pollution and petro dependency. Expansion of biofuel industries in developing countries can create more jobs and increase productivity by non-crop marginal lands and wastelands for energy crops plantation.Contribution of India and China in biofuel industry in production and utilization can dramatically change worldwide biofuel market and leap forward in carbon cut as their automotive market is rapidly increasing with a souring proportional rise of GHG emissions.     

Energy Consumption Requirements for Air Pollution Control Equipment at An Iron Foundry

Energy consumption requirements for air pollution control equipment were studied for varying removal efficiency levels at the Tyler Pipe Industries iron foundry in Tyler, Texas, based on plant fuel consumption data, and on field test measurements of cupola carbon monoxide and particulate control equipment. Natural gas consumption for CO removal increased from 0 in 1970 to 25.4% of the plant total in 1976. Operating costs to achieve 85% CO control increased from 0 in 1970 to $1.61/ton metal in 1976. Increasing cupola incinerator temperature from 800° to 1600° F increased CO removal efficiency from 60 to 97%, but also increased natural gas consumption by 150%. Electricity consumption requirements for 95% to 97% particulate control at the foundry increased from 0.1 % of plant total in 1970 to 18.7% in 1976. Electricity consumption for particulate controls increased plant operating costs from 0.004 in 1970 to 1.693 $/ton metal in 1976 as horsepower increased from 20 to 6,272. Cost-benefit methodology is needed to evaluate trade-offs between air pollution control, energy consumption requirements and operating costs of proposed regulations. Total air pollution control system must be considered in enforcing regulations instead of the source to be controlled alone for overall impacts. Need exists for process modifications to enhance energy recovery and development of energy-effective air pollution control equipment.     

Biofuel consumption,biodiversity, and the environmental Kuznets curve: trivariate analysis in a panel of biofuel consuming countries

This study examined the relationship between biofuel consumption, forest biodiversity, and a set of national scale indicators of per capita income, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, trade openness, and population density with a panel data of 12 biofuels consuming countries for a period of 2000 to 2013. The study used Global Environmental Facility (GEF) biodiversity benefits index and forest biodiversity index in an environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) framework. The results confirmed an inverted U-shaped relationship between GEF biodiversity index and per capita income, while there is flat/no relationship between carbon emissions and economic growth, and between forest biodiversity and economic growth models. FDI inflows and trade openness both reduce carbon emissions while population density and biofuel consumption increase carbon emissions and decrease GEF biodiversity index. Trade openness supports to increases GEF biodiversity index while it decreases forest biodiversity index and biofuel consumption in a region.

     

Solubility analysis and disposal options of combustion residues from plants grown on contaminated mining area

Biomass, as a renewable energy source, is an excellent alternative for the partial replacement of fossil fuels in thermal and electric energy production. A new fuel type as biomass for energy utilisation includes ligneous plants with considerable heavy metal content. The combustion process must be controlled during the firing of significant quantities of contaminated biomass grown on brownfield lands. By implementing these measures, air pollution and further soil contamination caused by the disposal of the solid burning residue, the ash, can be prevented. For the test samples from ligneous plants grown on heavy metal-contaminated fields, an ore mine (already closed for 25 years) was chosen. With our focus on the determination of the heavy metal content, we have examined the composition of the soil, the biomass and the combustion by-products (ash, fly ash). Our results confirm that ash resulting from the combustion must be treated as toxic waste and its deposition must take place on hazardous waste disposal sites. Biomass of these characteristics can be burnt in special combustion facility that was equipped with means for the disposal of solid burning residues as well as air pollutants.