• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.59-86
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• 2013

We analyzed the correlation among the GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emission, energy consumption and economic growth for the 6 specific regions in Korea by using Panel approaches with the test of the EKC hypothesis. We also analyzed the effects of environmental regulation on GHG and economic growth. The results show that by testing of the EKC (Environmental Kuznets Curve) hypothesis model,the effects of the environmental regulation and the structure of industries on GHC emission have a significant result on the regional analysis for SOx. For the NOx and TSP, only TK region passed the turning point of the EKC among the 6 specific regions. And, for the Co, the Central, Honam and the PUKN region passed the turning point of the EKC. This is because GHG emissions by the environment regulation had a weak path effect and also regional industry structures had a weak relation with regional GHG emissions.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.571-595
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• 2010

This research applies an panel data stationarity and stochastic convergence test developed by Carrion-i-Silvestre et al. (2005), which has the advantage of considering multiple structural breaks and the presence of cross-section dependence in order to investigate the hypothesis that relative emission $CO_2$ per capita stochastically converge for 11 Asian countries from 1971~2007. We find that relative emission $CO_2$ per capita is stationary after the structural breaks and cross-section dependence are introduced into the model. We also investigate whether Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis exists in 11 Asian countries. For EKC test, using the panel cointegration tests of Banerjee and Carrion-i-Silvestre (2006) and Westerlund and Edgerton(2007), we find that relative emission $CO_2$ per capita and relative GDP per capita are cointegrated. However EKC hypothesis in 11 Asian countries is not supported.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.667-688
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• 2014

This research tested the EKC (Environment Kuznets Curve) Hypothesis using the $CO_2$ Emissions by region and GRDP. We built the panel data set on the 15 local government region from 1990 to 2010 for this analysis. GRDP, population and total factor productivity was considered as the factors influencing on the regional $CO_2$ Emissions. Analysis method in this research is panel GLS model as Lantz and Feng (2006). The results show that the EKC hypothesis did not hold in Korea but there is inverted U relationship between the $CO_2$ Emissions and total factor productivity. As the total factor productivity grows, the $CO_2$ increased but decreased after a certain level.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.587-594
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• 2023

This study investigates the impacts of nuclear energy consumption on environmental quality from a different perspective by focusing on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, ecological footprint, and load capacity factor. In this context, the South Korea case, which is a leading country producing and consuming nuclear energy, is investigated by considering also economic growth, and the 1997 Asian crisis from 1977 to 2018. To this end, the study employs the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach. Different from previous literature, this study proposes a load capacity curve (LCC) and tests the LCC and environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypotheses simultaneously. The analysis results reveal that (i) the LCC and EKC hypotheses are valid in South Korea; (ii) nuclear energy has an improving effect on the environmental quality; (iii) renewable energy does not have a significant long-term impact on the environment; (iv) the 1997 Asian crisis had an increasing effect on the load capacity factor; (v) South Korea has not yet reached the turning point, identified as $55,411, where per capita income improves environmental quality. Overall, the results show the validity of the LCC and EKC hypotheses and prove the positive contribution of nuclear energy to South Korea's green development strategies.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.3-37
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• 2011

This paper investigates the existence of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) for carbon dioxide $CO_2$ emissions and its causal relationships with economic growth and openness by using time series data (1971-2006) from China (an emerging market), Korea (a newly industrialized country), and Japan (a developed country). The sample countries span a whole range of development stages from industrialized to newly industrialized and emerging market economies. The environmental consequences according to openness and economic growth do not show uniform results across the countries. Depending on the national characteristics, the estimated EKC show different temporal patterns. China shows an N-shaped curve while Japan has a U-shaped curve. Such dissimilarities are also found in the relationship between $CO_2$ emissions and openness. In the case of Korea, and Japan it represents an inverted U-shaped curve while China shows a U-shaped curve. We also analyze the dynamic relationships between the variables by adopting a vector auto regression or vector error correction model. These models through the impulse response functions allow for analysis of the causal variable's influence on the dynamic response of emission variables, and it adopts a variance decomposition to explain the magnitude of the forecast error variance determined by the shocks to each of the causal variables over time. Results show evidence of large heterogeneity among the countries and variables impacts.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.2056-2065
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• 2021

The transition toward clean energy is an issue of great importance with growing debate in climate change mitigation. The complex nature of nuclear energy-CO₂ emissions nexus makes it difficult to predict whether or not nuclear acts as a clean energy source. Hence, we examined the relationship between nuclear energy consumption and CO₂ emissions in the context of the IPAT and Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) framework. Dynamic Auto-regressive Distributive Lag (DARDL), a newly modified econometric tool, is employed for estimation of long- and short-run dynamics by using yearly data spanning from 1971 to 2018. The empirical findings of the study revealed an instantaneous increase in nuclear energy reduces environmental pollution, which highlights that more nuclear energy power in the Indian energy system would be beneficial for climate change mitigation. The results further demonstrate that the overarching effect of population density in the IPAT equation stimulates carbon emissions. Finally, nuclear energy and population density contribute to form the EKC curve. To achieving a cleaner environment, results point out governmental policies toward the transition of nuclear energy that favours environmental sustainability.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.39-46
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• 2016

In this paper, the relationship between energy consumption in the logistics industry and economic growth of Tumen River region from 1995 to 2014 is empirically analyzed by using the EKC model theory. The results show that there is a turning point in the Kuznets curve of carbon emission in TumenRiverregion. And it has the characteristic sof "invertedU" curve, which conforms to the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis. Meanwhile it is stil lintherisingstage. According to the analysis results, it is proposed to set up the concept of low carbon logistics, optimize the energy structure, strengthen the information construction, and establish low-carbon development mechanism and so on.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.327-354
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• 2019

In this paper, we conducted panel data analysis considering spatial correlation between regions, which were not considered in previous papers in analyzing the causes of fine dust concentration in Korea. Many existing researchers implicitly assume the independence of the effects of incomes and other explanatory variables of adjoining countries(or regions). Using panel data on fine dust concentration, this paper has established that existing EKC can be established even when considering the spatial correlation of the region, and when these effects are not taken into account, it can be underestimated or overestimated on the effects and causes of fine dust concentration.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.887-908
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• 2022

In order to confirm the effects of economic growth and environmental improvement, this study analyzed the existence of environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) for SO₂ emission, greenhouse gas emission, and waste generation in OECD countries. As a result of panel analysis, the shape of the EKC were different depending on environmental pollutants. SO₂ generated peaks relatively early in economic growth, and the peak of greenhouse gas emissions was showed in higher income level. But both emissions showed the a complete inverted U-shaped curve decreasing after the peak. On the other hand, for waste, there was no environmental Kuznets curve that could confirm the peak. Therefore, this study confirmed that it is difficult to expect a voluntary reduction in all environmental pollutants, and additional global joint efforts are needed to pass the peak. In particular, since waste has a greater impact on population density and industrial structure than income level, additional policy efforts are needed to reduce generation and create a resource circulation system.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-19
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• 2022

Purpose - This paper analyzes the economic and non-economic factors that contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing CO₂ emissions, based on G20 panel data. Design/methodology - We conduct a comparative analysis of advanced and developing economies during 1995-2016. To examine the impact, an environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) model was employed, incorporating additional explanatory variables such as internet use, renewable energy, and services trade. Findings - The empirical findings show the existence of an inverted U-shaped EKC phenomenon between GDP per capita and CO₂ emissions in G20 economies, with the turning point at a per capita GDP level of US$ 38,340. Moreover, an inverted U-shape relation exists between internet use and CO₂ emissions, with the turning point at a 44% internet use rate. The comparative analysis show that the inverted U-shape curve only exits in advanced economies, with turning points of US$ 42,356 per capita GDP and 27% internet use rate, respectively. Renewable energy and services trade have a greater negative impact on CO₂ emissions in advanced economies than in developing economies. Originality/value - Renewable energy and services trade have a greater negative impact on CO₂ emissions in advanced economies than in developing economies. Overall, the results suggest the role of internet use, renewable energy and services trade in sustainable development in G20 countries.