Mitigating degradation and emissions in China: The role of environmental sustainability, human capital and renewable energy

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2020-06, Vol.719, p.137530-137530, Article 137530
• Main Authors: Sarkodie, Samuel Asumadu, Adams, Samuel, Owusu, Phebe Asantewaa, Leirvik, Thomas, Ozturk, Ilhan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: China; Climate change; Dynamic ARDL simulations; EKC hypothesis; Environmental sustainability; Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400; Mathematics and natural science: 400; VDP
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137530

China's carbon-embedded growth trajectory is gradually becoming a burden to environmental sustainability, hence, requires much attention. The complexity of human capital attributed emissions coupled with fossil fuel inclined energy utilization for industrialization underscores the failure of China to meet its mitigation target. We developed a policy-driven conceptual tool based on disaggregate energy utilization, human capital, trade, income level and natural resource exploitation in a carbon and environmental degradation function. Using a battery of statistics and econometric techniques such as neural network, SIMPLS, U test, dynamic ARDL Simulations, and Prais-Winsten first-order autoregressive [AR(1)] regression with robust standard errors, we examined the theme based on a data spanning 1961–2016. The study demonstrates that fossil fuel energy consumption and human capital are conducive catalysts for climate change. The instantaneous increase in renewable energy, environmental sustainability and income level has a diminishing effect on emissions and environmental degradation. The environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis is validated in both emissions and degradation function — at a turning point of US$ 5469.79 and US$ 5863.70, respectively. The study highlights that the over-dependence on fossil fuel energy and natural resources for economic development, carbon-intensive trade and carbon-embedded human capital, thwart efforts to mitigating climate change and its impacts. Thus, the onus of responsibility for achieving a cleaner environment in China depends majorly on governmental policies that favour or dampens environmental sustainability. [Display omitted] •We developed conceptual tools for mitigating climate change and its impacts.•Fossil fuel energy spurs environmental degradation by 1.93% and emissions by 1.58%.•The penetration of renewables in the energy mix declines emissions by 0.38% and degradation by 0.21%.•Increasing human capital is conducive for the escalation of emissions and environmental degradation.•The study shows that the Chinese economy is sustained through pollution-embedded trade.