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Environmental Assessment and Sustainable Development in the United States

Author

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  • Toshiyuki Sueyoshi

    (New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology, Department of Management, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801, USA
    Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo Tech World Research Hub Initiative, School of Environment and Society, 3-3-6 Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0023, Japan)

  • Youngbok Ryu

    (Northeastern University, College of Professional Studies, 360 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

Abstract

This study aims to overview the U.S. sustainable development by measuring the environmental performance of 50 states over the period of 2009–2018. To attain the objective, we employ data envelopment analysis for environmental assessment where we prioritize the minimization of CO 2 emissions first and the maximization of gross state product later under the concept of managerial disposability (i.e., an environment-based performance measure). Then, we examine how the state-level environmental performance measures are associated with their political and spatial contexts. For the purpose, we conduct the Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test across groups of states characterized by their political transitions in the presidential and gubernatorial elections and defined by the regions of the U.S. Economic Development Administration and Environmental Protection Agency. Based on our empirical results, we find that (a) overall environmental performance has gradually enhanced over time, (b) there are statistically significant differences in the environmental performance measures along with the political transitions, and (c) states on both coasts have outperformed those of the middle in the measurement.

Suggested Citation

  • Toshiyuki Sueyoshi & Youngbok Ryu, 2021. "Environmental Assessment and Sustainable Development in the United States," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-23, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:4:p:1180-:d:504037
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    References listed on IDEAS

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