Sustainable Energy Transition Crucial for BRICS Countries

Achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) for the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) requires transitioning to low-carbon economic growth. These countries are responsible for 45.8% of global CO2 emissions. Economic complexity and renewable energy consumption are key factors in carbon efficiency, which can help achieve mutually beneficial objectives of economic growth and carbon reduction.

Key Takeaways:

• A recent study published in the Review of Development Economics examines the effect of economic complexity, energy intensity, and renewable energy on carbon efficiency in BRICS countries using panel data from 1995 to 2020.
• The study finds that economic complexity and renewable energy positively impact carbon efficiency in the long run, while energy intensity negatively impacts carbon efficiency.
• Economic growth enhances carbon efficiency, and the study's findings pass robustness assessments in agreement with the primary results.
• The research concludes that strategies implementing SDGs 7 and 13 can regulate CO2 emissions by optimizing economic structural transformation and transitioning energy sourcing technology.
• The study used 2nd generation unit root tests, the Westerlund cointegration, and long-run estimators of CS-ARDL, CS-ECM, and AMG, which supports the empirical findings.
• The research was conducted by the School of Sustainability, Xim University, and has been peer-reviewed.

Statistics:

• BRICS countries are responsible for 45.8% of global CO2 emissions.
• The study used panel data from 1995 to 2020.
• Economic complexity and renewable energy positively impact carbon efficiency in the long run.
• Energy intensity negatively impacts carbon efficiency.
• Economic growth enhances carbon efficiency.

Sources:

• Does Economic Complexity and Sustainable Energy Transition Impact Carbon Efficiency? Fresh Evidence From Brics. Review of Development Economics, 2025.
• Wiley-Blackwell - (www.wiley.com/; Review of Development Economics - onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1467-9361)