Natural resources-environmental technology-ecological footprint nexus: Does natural resources rents diversification make a difference?

J Environ Manage. 2024 May:359:121036. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121036. Epub 2024 May 8.

Abstract

Researchers have shown a growing interest in investigating the environmental consequences of energy exploitation and green technologies, particularly in light of the escalating severity of climate change issues in recent times. However, these researches remain incomplete in terms of the various elements and mechanisms of impact. By assessing the novel facet of resource diversification, this study has assessed the direct and indirect effects of this feature on environmental quality. This study used the Moment quantile Regression technique to examine data from 31 OECD nations spanning the time frame of 2009-2019. The findings indicate that resource diversification has an adverse effect on environmental quality, however this effect is not homogeneously observed across all countries. Countries with favorable environmental conditions will encounter a more pronounced influence from the diversification of natural resources extraction. This study further demonstrates that expanding the variety of natural resource exploitation will amplify the negative effects of resource exploitation on environmental quality. Furthermore, the degree of environmental technology exerts a beneficial impact on environmental quality across various degrees of environmental quality. Our findings offer several insightful policies for natural resources management in the context of the ongoing industrial revolution.

Keywords: Ecological footprint; Environmental technology; Natural resources rents; Quantile regression.

MeSH terms

  • Climate Change*
  • Conservation of Natural Resources*
  • Environment
  • Natural Resources*
  • Technology