Editorial Material
Environmental Studies
Yixian Sun, Joanna I. Lewis, Johannes Urpelainen
Summary: On the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), this symposium aims to enhance understanding of China's environmental governance in its overseas engagements. Despite China's significant investments worldwide, the attention from environmental politics scholars has been insufficient. Moreover, while China is increasingly proactive in promoting green development, there is limited research on relevant governance initiatives. Contributors to the symposium provide rigorous analysis on institutional interactions and new governance initiatives aiming to green the BRI.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS
(2023)
Article
Business, Finance
Yun Zhang, Yun Liu, Yifei Zhang, Xin Chen
Summary: This paper investigates the response of households' Fintech borrowings to a country's globalization initiative, using China's One Belt One Road initiative as a case study. The study finds that borrowers from China's OBOR node-cities, especially those who are financially constrained, increase their Fintech loans immediately after the policy announcement. The effects are more pronounced for borrowers in infrastructure-related industries, state-owned enterprises, and silk-belt (land-based) node-cities. The analysis also shows that the default rate of borrowers from the OBOR node-cities is significantly lower, indicating a perceived positive externality of the policy initiative.
INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF ECONOMICS & FINANCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yao Hu, Yueyue Li, Jun Sun, Yun Zhu, Jinzhe Chai, Bei Liu
Summary: The Belt and Road Initiative has significantly increased the Green Total Factor Productivity (GTFP) of cities along its domestic route. This is achieved through improvements in science and technology innovation, increased foreign direct investment, and enhanced trade cooperation. Inland cities along the route experience a higher GTFP promotion effect compared to coastal cities, and cities with stronger environmental concerns see a more significant enhancement effect. The Initiative also has a positive linkage effect with the Free Trade Zone construction, and it not only increases the GTFP of cities along the route but also radiates the growth to neighboring cities.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Economics
Qichuan Jiang, Xuejiao Ma, Yun Wang
Summary: This study found that the One Belt One Road (OBOR) Initiative has significant energy-saving and emissions-reduction effects, with developing countries benefiting more. Technology spillover plays a key role in reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Baoxi Li, Jiemei Hu, Guo Chen, De Xiao, Shixiong Cheng
Summary: This study uses China's Belt and Road Initiative as a case to examine the impact of regional economic cooperation on environmental quality. The results show that the BRI has a negative effect on environmental quality in countries along the Belt and Road, with the improving effects being smaller than in non-BRI countries. However, the Green BRI has a positive impact on environmental quality. The study also discusses the mechanism of the BRI on environmental quality through foreign direct investment (FDI).
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Tiantian Zhai
Summary: China's Belt and Road Initiative is a massive project aimed at improving connectivity and economic development, but it also comes with environmental challenges. By implementing strict environmental norms, enhancing cooperation, and establishing an efficient environmental dispute settlement system, the goal of a green BRI can be achieved.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Muhammad Awais Anwar, Samia Nasreen, Aviral Kumar Tiwari
Summary: The study found that increasing renewable energy consumption and forest area among partner economies of the Belt and Road Initiative can help reduce CO2 emissions. It highlights the importance of investing in renewable energy projects and forest management in these economies.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kai Fang, Siqi Wang, Jianjian He, Junnian Song, Chuanglin Fang, Xiaoping Jia
Summary: The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) proposed by China has contributed to the growth of cross-border trade, but has also led to burden shifting of resource extractions and environmental emissions to less developed countries. Research shows strong spatial heterogeneity in the environmental footprints of BRI nations, with some countries being net exporters on the global scale. The findings highlight the importance of a global perspective in addressing environmental challenges and achieving Sustainable Development Goals throughout the BRI countries by 2030.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Meihui Zhang, Chi Zhang, Fenghua Li, Ziyu Liu
Summary: This study fills the research gap between China's green finance regulations and the sustainability of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and provides policy suggestions to improve the BRI's sustainability by addressing the existing legal and regulatory deficiencies.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yiming Liu, Sunhee Suk
Summary: This paper explores the development strategy of sustainable tourism cooperation between Azerbaijan and China under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) using a hybrid model of SWOT and AHP. By constructing a strategic quadrilateral and calculating the azimuth of the strategy type, the paper draws a type and intensity map of the tourism cooperation development strategy. The research concludes that the development strategy of tourism cooperation between Azerbaijan and China is pioneering and provides suggestions for future development.
Article
Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary
Abdul Sattar, Muhammad Noshab Hussain, Muhammad Ilyas
Summary: This study examines the impact of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on environmental degradation in participating countries. The findings show a significant effect of BRI on environmental degradation. Additionally, the study identifies a U-shaped relationship between economic growth and carbon emissions, with energy consumption and population positively affecting carbon emissions, and financial development and trade openness reducing them.
Article
Business, Finance
Xi Wu, Yanwu Si
Summary: This study finds that the Belt and Road Initiative (B&R Initiative) has a positive impact on firm innovation, particularly in non-state-owned and non-high-tech firms. The study also identifies market competition and capacity utilization as important mechanisms through which the B&R Initiative affects the technical innovation of firms.
FINANCE RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Taiba Zahid, Fouzia Gillani, Usman Ghafoor, Muhammad Raheel Bhutta
Summary: Synchromodality is the key to sustainable logistics solutions, especially in larger networks. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for sustainable transportation networks to handle disruptions in supply chains. This research proposes a mathematical model for an intermodal transportation network and examines it within the One-Belt-One-Road initiative. The study provides insights into the network and offers suggestions for improvement.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jamal Hussain, Kui Zhou
Summary: This study examines the influence of globalization, industrialization, urbanization, and financial development on energy demand and environmental quality. The findings suggest that these factors significantly contribute to increased energy demand and CO2 emissions during the study period. Additionally, causal relationships were identified, such as a one-way relationship between financial development and CO2 emissions, and a two-way relationship between urbanization and energy demand and financial development and GDP per capita.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jingru Hu, Shoubing Wang, Kai Huang, Qi Wei, Hao Chen
Summary: This study utilizes social-economic-environmental footprints and corresponding indicators to measure the spillover and feedback effects between different regions and industries in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The results highlight the importance of controlling these effects for sustainable development.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaomeng Deng, Juan Yang, Zahoor Ahmed, Muhammad Hafeez, Sultan Salem
Summary: The efficiency of financial institutions has a positive impact on green growth and environmental quality, while the efficiency of financial markets only drives green economic growth in certain countries in the long run. Additionally, the efficiency of financial institutions also significantly reduces CO2 emissions.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Wasi Ul Hassan Shah, Gang Hao, Hong Yan, Rizwana Yasmeen, Yuting Lu
Summary: This study examines the role of energy efficiency and productivity growth in the ecological improvement of South Asia, and evaluates the determinants of energy productivity change across different South Asian countries. The results show that South Asian countries have the potential to improve their energy efficiency by 27.22%. Technological change, rather than efficiency, is found to be the primary driver of energy productivity growth. The study also highlights a decline in energy efficiency and productivity in South Asia over the study period.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lei Wang, Ziwang Chen, Muhammad Tariq Mahmood, Mirza Nasir Jahan Mehdi, Sana Ullah, Muhammad Nazam, Muhammad Hafeez
Summary: This study examines the relationship between transportation taxes, energy intensity, and CO2 emissions in the BICS economies. The long-term effects of green transportation taxes are found to be negatively significant in reducing energy intensity and CO2 emissions, but the short-term effects are mixed and inconclusive.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Wasi Ul Hassan Shah, Rizwana Yasmeen, Muddassar Sarfraz, Larisa Ivascu
Summary: The paper aims to evaluate the impact of economic growth, industrialization, and foreign direct investment (FDI) on municipal solid waste (MSW) in OECD from 2000-2020. The study also examines the role of technology in managing waste activities. The results indicate that economic growth and industrialization contribute to increased waste production in OECD economies, while the impact of FDI is lower. Technological advancement plays a significant role in reducing waste generation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Muhammad Wasim Akram, Shuchun Yang, Muhammad Hafeez
Summary: In this study, the asymmetric impact of structural changes and tourism activities on economic performance and carbon emissions in selected Asian economies from 1995 to 2020 was investigated. The findings show that a positive shock in tourism significantly contributes to economic growth in China and India, while a negative shock in tourism has a positive and significant effect on India only. Moreover, positive structural changes improve economic growth in Thailand, Malaysia, and India, but surprisingly, negative structural changes also enhance economic development in Thailand and Japan. Additionally, the impact of tourism activities on CO2 emissions varies in different countries, with positive shocks reducing emissions in China, Japan, and Malaysia, and increasing emissions in India.
AIR QUALITY ATMOSPHERE AND HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Juan Yang, Mirza Nasir Jahan Mehdi, Muhammad Hafeez, Md. Abdul Kaium, Raufhon Salahodjaev
Summary: This study aims to establish the significant relationship between various green sustainable development projects and the financial effectiveness and performance of PSX and NYSX. The empirical analysis reveals that green investment, financial projects, public policies, and social green projects have insignificant effects on the financial performance of PSX, while all the green factors significantly affect the performance of NYSX except for green economic and trading projects and renewable energy projects. The index for human development also insignificantly affects the prediction of FIP-NYSX. These empirical results guide policymakers, the board of PSX and NYSX, and the management of green financing companies to reconsider their policies and objectives for successful green operations and financial performance.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Wei Yin, Zhixiao Ye, Wasi Ul Hassan Shah
Summary: A comprehensive performance estimation tool for evaluating a cricketer's overall performance is proposed. Three different estimation indices for player efficiency in batting, bowling, and fielding are introduced. The most efficient batsman, bowler, and fielder in cricketing history are determined using international cricketers' data.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Mengli Gao, Muddassar Sarfraz, Wasi Ul Hassan Shah
Summary: This study investigates the impact of personal relationships between employees at the boundary of enterprises on organizational customers' opportunistic behavior in collaborative innovation projects. It analyzes the mediating effect of relationship governance and contract governance.
Article
Agronomy
Wasi Ul Hassan Shah, Gang Hao, Rizwana Yasmeen, Hong Yan, Jintao Shen, Yuting Lu
Summary: China introduced the agricultural water conversion policy in 2012 to improve the efficiency of agricultural water usage and production technology in different regions. The study used various analysis methods to evaluate the impact of this policy, and found that agricultural water usage efficiency significantly increased after its implementation. The eastern region had better production technology compared to the western and central regions, and technological change was the main driver of productivity growth. Average productivity change showed a slight decline after the policy implementation, but the results were statistically significant.
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Rizwana Yasmeen, Xuhui Zhang, Arshian Sharif, Wasi Ul Hassan Shah, Marius Sorin Dinca
Summary: Wind energy, the second most extensively used source of renewable energy, has the potential to address climate issues and meet rising global energy demand. This study explores the factors driving wind energy consumption and emission reduction in the top-16 wind energy consumer countries from 1992 to 2020. China, the United States, and Germany have the highest shares in global wind turbine capacity. The study evaluates the mediation effect of income and foreign investment on wind energy consumption and emissions reduction.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wasi Ul Hassan Shah, Bo Wang, Rizwana Yasmeen
Summary: This study explores the relationship between banking efficiency and financial development in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) economies. The findings suggest that banking efficiency plays a crucial role in the financial development of these economies, and that reforms in the banking industry and attracting foreign direct investment can promote financial development and bridge the gaps between actual and predicted values.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Rizwana Yasmeen, Bo Wang, Wasi Ul Hassan Shah, Anwar Khan, Abid Hussain
Summary: China has addressed energy poverty by funding solar photovoltaic systems for households, which has improved living standards and reduced income inequality. This study evaluates the role of solar photovoltaic policy in narrowing the rural income gap in China, analyzing income inequality trends and the effects of solar photovoltaic and economic growth.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rizwana Yasmeen, Gang Hao, Yusen Ye, Wasi Ul Hassan Shah, Caihong Tang
Summary: This research examines the relationship between water resource agglomeration and the adoption of innovative conservation technologies in enhancing water usage efficiency in China. The study finds that some provinces have higher water usage efficiency, while others have lower efficiency. The adoption of water-saving technologies has a positive impact on water usage efficiency.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Wasi Ul Hassan Shah, Nan Zhu, Gang Hao, Hong Yan, Rizwana Yasmeen
Summary: This study utilized Slack-based measure, Meta-frontier analysis, and Malmquist-Luenberger index approaches to measure energy efficiency, production technology heterogeneity, and energy productivity variation in developed and developing G20 countries. The findings indicate that developed countries have higher energy efficiency and technological superiority, but there is a decline in energy productivity.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rizwana Yasmeen, Rui Tao, Wasi Ul Hassan Shah
Summary: This study explores the impact of economic growth on reducing energy poverty and ecological footprint, finding that the later stages of development have a positive effect. Strong political systems and environmental technology both play a significant role in reducing energy poverty and ecological footprint.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
