Alternative energy and natural resources in determining environmental sustainability: a look at the role of government final consumption expenditures in France

The global community is concerned about several environmental changes. Climate change, desertification, destruction of tropical rainforests, erosion of coastal ecosystems, soil resource loss, overfishing, species extinction, and loss of biodiversity are all contributing factors. Many commentators contend that these issues make up a cumulative, sustained human impact on the environment that has profoundly changed the surface of the Earth. We explore the effects of alternative energy sources, natural resources, and government consumption expenditures on French environmental sustainability from 1990 through 2018 under the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) framework. We apply advanced econometric methodologies for empirical analysis. Our long-run estimates indicate that alternative and nuclear energy, natural resources, and government final consumption expenditures are negatively associated with CO2 emissions, while economic growth is positively related to CO2 emissions. CO2 emissions are negatively correlated with the square root of economic growth (EKC), thereby supporting EKC. As economic growth increases, environmental sustainability deteriorates. Eventually, EKC will make a positive contribution to environmental improvement. Future research directions, research limitations, and policy implications are discussed.

Automated summary

The global community is concerned about various environmental changes that have profoundly affected the surface of the Earth. This study examines the factors influencing environmental sustainability in France, using econometric analysis to determine the impact of alternative energy sources, natural resources, and government consumption expenditures on CO2 emissions. The findings support the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) theory, showing that as economic growth increases, environmental sustainability deteriorates initially, but eventually contributes to environmental improvement.