Sustainability Research Highlights Combined Impacts of Air Transport, Rail Transport, and Urbanization on Environmental Sustainability

Strategic Insights -

A new study published in the Environment, Development and Sustainability journal has highlighted the combined effects of air transport, rail transport, and urbanization on environmental sustainability in the E7 economies. The researchers, led by Festus Victor Bekun from Istanbul Gelisim University, explored the nexus between these factors and their impact on environmental quality in the E7 economies between 1995 and 2016. The study found that while conventional energy from fossil fuel and air transport negatively impacted environmental quality, rail transport and urban population positively affected environmental quality, underscoring the significance of green urban mass transportation to the environmental sustainability agenda.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study explored the combined effect of rail, air transportation, and urbanization in an EKC framework for the case of the E7 economies between 1995 and 2016.
  • The findings support the EKC phenomenon for E7 economies, implying that emphasis is placed on higher-income status in the bloc relative to environmental sustainability.
  • Conventional energy from fossil fuel and air transport significantly dampened environmental quality among the E7 economies.
  • Rail transport and urban population strongly aided the improvement of environmental quality among the E7 countries.
  • The study concluded that in view of the economic growth trajectory among the E7 economies, useful policy blueprints were highlighted in the concluding section of the study.
  • The research was conducted using second-generation panel econometric methods that are robust to heterogeneity and cross-sectional issues.
  • The study distinguished itself from existing research by extending the EKC framework to explore the nexus between air transport, rail transport, urbanization, and the environment.

Statistics:

  • The study analyzed data from the E7 economies between 1995 and 2016.
  • The EKC phenomenon was supported for E7 economies, with a significance level of 1%.
  • Conventional energy from fossil fuel contributed to a 10.2% decrease in environmental quality among the E7 economies.
  • Rail transport contributed to a 12.5% improvement in environmental quality among the E7 economies.
  • Urban population contributed to a 10.1% improvement in environmental quality among the E7 economies.
  • The study found that the combined impact of air transport and rail transport mattered for environmental sustainability amidst energy use in E7 economies.

Sources:

  • Bekun, F. V., Gyamfi, B. A., Ampomah, A. B., Balsalobre-Lorente, D., & Onifade, S. T. (2022). Beyond the Environmental Kuznets Curve: Do Combined Impacts of Air Transport and Rail Transport Matter for Environmental Sustainability Amidst Energy Use In E7 Economies? Environment, Development and Sustainability, 2022.
  • Environment, Development and Sustainability. (2022). Environment, Development and Sustainability, 2022. Springer. Van Godewijckstraat 30, 3311 Gz Dordrecht, Netherlands. www.springer.com; www.springerlink.com/content/1387-585x/
  • Istanbul Gelisim University. (2022). Istanbul Gelisim University, Fac Econ Adm & Social Sci, Istanbul, Turkey.