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Climate Change Legislations and Environmental Degradation

Author

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  • Nicolae Stef

    (CEREN EA 7477, Burgundy School of Business, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Department of Accounting, Finance & Law)

  • Sami Ben Jabeur

    (ESDES Business School of UCLyon)

Abstract

This study investigates how the enactment of regulations and laws dealing with climate change influences CO2 emissions. Using a sample of 83 countries and covering the period from 2003 to 2014, our dynamic panel analysis yields two major results. First, the enactment of new climate change regulations (i.e., amendments, decrees, orders) associated with a strong rule of law significantly diminishes CO2 emissions. This result validates the hypothesis of Gunningham (J Environ Law 23:169–201, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1093/jel/eqr006 ), which argues that the efficiency of environmental legislation must be supported by regulatory institutions that can efficiently enforce the law. Second, the enactment of new climate change laws seems to not impact emissions levels independently of institutional quality. It may be possible that private agents anticipate the entry into force of the new law(s) and must consequently adapt to the requirements of such laws, leading to a nonsignificant impact on CO2 emissions.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicolae Stef & Sami Ben Jabeur, 2020. "Climate Change Legislations and Environmental Degradation," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 77(4), pages 839-868, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:enreec:v:77:y:2020:i:4:d:10.1007_s10640-020-00520-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s10640-020-00520-2
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    2. Xinyue Yuan & Yang Nie & Liangen Zeng & Chao Lu & Tingzhang Yang, 2023. "Exploring the Impacts of Urbanization on Eco-Efficiency in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-14, March.
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    4. Khalfaoui, Rabeh & Stef, Nicolae & Wissal, Ben Arfi & Sami, Ben Jabeur, 2022. "Dynamic spillover effects and connectedness among climate change, technological innovation, and uncertainty: Evidence from a quantile VAR network and wavelet coherence," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    5. Stef, Nicolae & Başağaoğlu, Hakan & Chakraborty, Debaditya & Ben Jabeur, Sami, 2023. "Does institutional quality affect CO2 emissions? Evidence from explainable artificial intelligence models," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    6. Heri Bezić & Davor Mance & Davorin Balaž, 2022. "Panel Evidence from EU Countries on CO 2 Emission Indicators during the Fourth Industrial Revolution," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-25, October.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Legislation; Climate change; CO2 emissions; Institutional quality; Rule of law;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • P48 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - Legal Institutions; Property Rights; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Regional Studies
    • K32 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Energy, Environmental, Health, and Safety Law

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