IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/natres/v50y2026i1p38-63.html

The nexus of foreign aid, institutional quality, and climate‐related financial policies: Evidence from the global database

Author

Listed:
  • Le Thanh Ha

Abstract

This article represents the first endeavor to establish a connection between foreign aid and climate‐related financial policies (CRFPs) within the European region. The findings are critical to suggest policy implications for governments in making capital flow effective, especially in mitigating environmental degradation. CRFPs represent the count of climate‐related financial policies implemented by 28 European countries annually from 2010 to 2021. We utilize four distinct indicators to capture foreign aid, namely net foreign aid, net Official Development Assistance (ODA) received development index, net ODA received share, and net ODA received per capita. Our research reveals that foreign aid has an adverse effect on CRFPs, as evidenced across all four measures of foreign aid. Notably, the net ODA received share demonstrates a nonlinear relationship with CRFPs. Additionally, we conducted a study to examine how institutional quality moderates the association between financial aid and the implementation of CRFPs. The findings suggest that good institutional quality amplifies the impact of foreign aid on CRFPs.

Suggested Citation

  • Le Thanh Ha, 2026. "The nexus of foreign aid, institutional quality, and climate‐related financial policies: Evidence from the global database," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 50(1), pages 38-63, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:natres:v:50:y:2026:i:1:p:38-63
    DOI: 10.1111/1477-8947.12553
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/1477-8947.12553
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/1477-8947.12553?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chi‐Chur Chao & Shih‐Wen Hu & Ching‐Chong Lai & Meng‐Yi Tai, 2012. "Foreign Aid, Government Spending, and the Environment," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 16(1), pages 62-71, February.
    2. Sweet, Cassandra Mehlig & Eterovic Maggio, Dalibor Sacha, 2015. "Do Stronger Intellectual Property Rights Increase Innovation?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 665-677.
    3. Olimpia Neagu & Mircea Constantin Teodoru, 2019. "The Relationship between Economic Complexity, Energy Consumption Structure and Greenhouse Gas Emission: Heterogeneous Panel Evidence from the EU Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-29, January.
    4. Graham Bird & Yongseok Choi, 2020. "The effects of remittances, foreign direct investment, and foreign aid on economic growth: An empirical analysis," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(1), pages 1-30, February.
    5. Marcoux, Christopher & Parks, Bradley C. & Peratsakis, Christian M. & Roberts, J. Timmons & Tierney, Michael J., 2013. "Environmental and Climate Finance in a New World: How Past Environmental Aid Allocation Impacts Future Climate Aid," WIDER Working Paper Series 128, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    6. Christopher Marcoux & Bradley C. Parks & Christian M. Peratsakis & Timmons Roberts & Michael J. Tierney, 2013. "Environmental and Climate Finance in a New World: How Past Environmental Aid Allocation Impacts Future Climate Aid," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2013-128, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    7. Michaelowa, Axel & Michaelowa, Katharina, 2011. "Coding Error or Statistical Embellishment? The Political Economy of Reporting Climate Aid," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 39(11), pages 2010-2020.
    8. Michael Hübler, 2017. "The Future of Foreign Aid in a Globalizing World with Climate Change," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 8(1), pages 41-51, February.
    9. Huong, Tran Thi Lan & Ha, Le Thanh, 2023. "A comprehensive analysis of the correlation between foreign aid and energy security in emerging countries: Does institutional quality matter?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 952-968.
    10. Beck, Nathaniel & Katz, Jonathan N., 1995. "What To Do (and Not to Do) with Time-Series Cross-Section Data," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 89(3), pages 634-647, September.
    11. Tefera, Mamo G & Odhiambo, Nicholas M, 2022. "The impact of foreign aid on economic growth in Africa: Empirical evidence from low-income countries," Working Papers 29830, University of South Africa, Department of Economics.
    12. Hiau LooiKee & Alessandro Nicita & Marcelo Olarreaga, 2009. "Estimating Trade Restrictiveness Indices," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 119(534), pages 172-199, January.
    13. David Victor, 2013. "Foreign Aid for Capacity-Building to Address Climate Change: Insights and Applications," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2013-084, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    14. Ahmad Bathaei & Dalia Štreimikienė, 2023. "Renewable Energy and Sustainable Agriculture: Review of Indicators," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-24, September.
    15. Im, Kyung So & Pesaran, M. Hashem & Shin, Yongcheol, 2003. "Testing for unit roots in heterogeneous panels," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 115(1), pages 53-74, July.
    16. Johan Eyckmans & Sam Fankhauser & Snorre Kverndokk, 2016. "Development Aid and Climate Finance," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 63(2), pages 429-450, February.
    17. Opeskin, Brian R., 1996. "The moral foundations of foreign aid," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 24(1), pages 21-44, January.
    18. Kamguia, Brice & Tadadjeu, Sosson & Miamo, Clovis & Njangang, Henri, 2022. "Does foreign aid impede economic complexity in developing countries?," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 71-88.
    19. Neera Chandhoke, 2013. "The Great Global Poverty Debate: Is Something Missing?," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 4(4), pages 420-424, November.
    20. Tierney, Michael J. & Nielson, Daniel L. & Hawkins, Darren G. & Roberts, J. Timmons & Findley, Michael G. & Powers, Ryan M. & Parks, Bradley & Wilson, Sven E. & Hicks, Robert L., 2011. "More Dollars than Sense: Refining Our Knowledge of Development Finance Using AidData," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 39(11), pages 1891-1906.
    21. To Trung Thanh & Le Thanh Ha & Hoang Phuong Dung & Tran Thi Lan Huong, 2023. "Impacts of digitalization on energy security: evidence from European countries," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(10), pages 11599-11644, October.
    22. Weiler, Florian & Klöck, Carola & Dornan, Matthew, 2018. "Vulnerability, good governance, or donor interests? The allocation of aid for climate change adaptation," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 65-77.
    23. Sebastian Galiani & Stephen Knack & Lixin Colin Xu & Ben Zou, 2017. "The effect of aid on growth: evidence from a Quasi-experiment," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 1-33, March.
    24. Axel Dreher & Jenny Simon & Justin Valasek, 2021. "Optimal decision rules in multilateral aid funds," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 689-719, July.
    25. Daniel Yuichi Kono & Gabriella R. Montinola, 2019. "Foreign Aid and Climate Change Policy: What Can(’t) the Data Tell Us?," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(2), pages 68-92.
    26. Victor, David G., 2013. "Foreign Aid for Capacity-Building to Address Climate Change: Insights and Applications," WIDER Working Paper Series 084, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    27. Nancy Qian, 2015. "Making Progress on Foreign Aid," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 7(1), pages 277-308, August.
    28. J. Timmons Roberts & Romain Weikmans, 2017. "Postface: fragmentation, failing trust and enduring tensions over what counts as climate finance," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 129-137, February.
    29. Maria João Salvador Costa & Alexandra Leitão & Rosa Silva & Vanessa Monteiro & Pedro Melo, 2022. "Climate Change Prevention through Community Actions and Empowerment: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-37, November.
    30. Daniel Yuichi Kono & Gabriella R. Montinola, 2019. "Foreign Aid and Climate Change Policy: What Can(’t) the Data Tell Us?," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(2), pages 68-92.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Thanh Ha, Le, 2025. "Gauging the level of dynamic between climate policy and foreign aid in Vietnam," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    2. Daniel Y. Kono & Gabriella R. Montinola, 2019. "Foreign aid and climate change policy: What can('t) the data tell us?," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2019-15, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    3. Huong, Tran Thi Lan & Ha, Le Thanh, 2023. "A comprehensive analysis of the correlation between foreign aid and energy security in emerging countries: Does institutional quality matter?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 952-968.
    4. Daniel Yuichi Kono & Gabriella R. Montinola, 2019. "Foreign Aid and Climate Change Policy: What Can(’t) the Data Tell Us?," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(2), pages 68-92.
    5. Dreher, Axel & Lang, Valentin & Reinsberg, Bernhard, 2024. "Aid effectiveness and donor motives," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    6. Daniel Yuichi Kono & Gabriella R. Montinola, 2019. "Foreign Aid and Climate Change Policy: What Can(’t) the Data Tell Us?," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(2), pages 68-92.
    7. Le Thanh Ha, 2024. "The nexus of financialization and circularity: Evidence from European economies," Energy & Environment, , vol. 35(2), pages 950-985, March.
    8. Juergen Bitzer & Erkan Goeren, 2018. "Foreign Aid and Subnational Development: A Grid Cell Analysis," Working Papers V-407-18, University of Oldenburg, Department of Economics, revised Mar 2018.
    9. Michael Hübler, 2017. "The Future of Foreign Aid in a Globalizing World with Climate Change," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 8(1), pages 41-51, February.
    10. Zhang, Liyunpeng & Zhuang, Yuhang & Ding, Yibing & Liu, Ziwei, 2023. "Infrastructure and poverty reduction: Assessing the dynamic impact of Chinese infrastructure investment in sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    11. Liu, Yang & Dong, Kangyin & Taghizadeh-Hesary, Farhad, 2023. "How does energy aid mitigate the recipient countries’ carbon emissions?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 359-375.
    12. Admasu Asfaw Maruta & Rajabrata Banerjee, 2024. "Socioeconomic inequalities and the role of sectoral foreign aid in developing countries," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 71(3), pages 457-491, July.
    13. Boateng, Elliot & Agbola, Frank W. & Mahmood, Amir, 2021. "Foreign aid volatility and economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa: Does institutional quality matter?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 111-127.
    14. Harrington Nyirenda, 2025. "Fiddling at the conference of the parties? Peeping into the highs and lows of the post-Kyoto climate change conferences: a review on contexts, decisions and implementation highlights," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(4), pages 8155-8185, April.
    15. Le Thanh Ha, 2025. "Circular Economy in European Countries: The Required Link for Green Foreign Financing Investment Policy," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 5(3), pages 1727-1756, June.
    16. Civelli, Andrea & Horowitz, Andrew & Teixeira, Arilton, 2018. "Foreign aid and growth: A Sp P-VAR analysis using satellite sub-national data for Uganda," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 50-67.
    17. Ha, Le Thanh, 2023. "The role of financial development in enhancing trades in environmental goods: International insights from 119 countries," Journal of Commodity Markets, Elsevier, vol. 29(C).
    18. Peterson, Lauri & Skovgaard, Jakob, 2019. "Bureaucratic politics and the allocation of climate finance," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 72-97.
    19. Meng, Chang & Ghafoori, Noorulhaq, 2024. "The economic impact of terrorism in South Asia," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    20. Fertő, Imre, 2013. "Intra-industry trade for agri-food products in the enlarged European Union," 87th Annual Conference, April 8-10, 2013, Warwick University, Coventry, UK 158846, Agricultural Economics Society.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wly:natres:v:50:y:2026:i:1:p:38-63. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://doi.org/10.1111/(ISSN)1477-8947 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.