A team of researchers, including contributors from Near East University, has conducted a comprehensive study examining the environmental impacts of various energy consumption patterns and structural changes in India. This research aligns with the pursuit of sustainable energy, economic growth, and responsible consumption and production.

Utilizing the dynamic autoregressive distributed lag (DYNARDL) simulation method and frequency domain causality, the study, spanning from 1970 to 2017, analyzes how structural change, economic growth, hydro energy consumption, and coal energy consumption influence India’s ecological footprint. This innovative approach offers a methodological advancement in environmental studies.

The findings reveal a complex relationship between these factors and environmental quality. Institutional structural changes and hydro energy usage are shown to decrease the ecological footprint, particularly in the long term, highlighting the positive impact of transitioning to sustainable energy sources. However, economic growth and coal energy consumption are found to increase the ecological footprint, both in the short and long term, indicating the environmental costs associated with traditional energy sources and rapid economic activities.

Additionally, the study confirms the validity of the Environment Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis in India, suggesting that as India’s production level increases, so does environmental degradation due to the scale effect. This highlights the need for balancing economic development with environmental sustainability.

From a policy perspective, the research suggests that India should focus on implementing structural changes that promote sustainable energy consumption. This includes investing in hydro energy and reducing reliance on coal, aligning with global efforts to transition towards cleaner energy sources. Simultaneously, policies should aim to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, encouraging sustainable practices in production and consumption.

In conclusion, this study, with contributions from Near East University, provides critical insights into the dynamics of ecological footprint in India. It underscores the importance of integrating sustainable energy consumption and environmental considerations into economic development plans, contributing to the global agenda for sustainable development.

For further details, access the original paper from the publisher’s link:

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10668-022-02665-0