Heterogeneous Analysis of Pollution Abatement via Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy: Lessons from Investment in G20 Nations

Abstract This study analyses the role of renewable and non-renewable energy in pollution reduction through the capital investment channel in G20 economies between 1990 and 2017. We consider cross-sectional dependence since the countries are heterogeneous and cross-sectionally dependent using the pooled mean group approach. Findings reveal that renewable energy negatively impacts carbon emissions in both the short- and long-run, while non-renewable energy positively affects carbon emissions in both the short- and long-run. Again, results show that capital investment lowers pollution in the short-run but increases it in the long-run. Lastly, we find that capital investment interacts with renewable energy to reduce pollution in both short- and long-run, while its interaction with non-renewable energy expands pollution in both short- and long-run. We, therefore, conclude that capital investment provides an important channel to reduce pollution in G20 nations and recommend that if energy consumption is to work through the capital investment channel to lower pollution in the G20, the proportion of renewable energy must increase relative to non-renewable energy in their energy mix.JEL Classification: Q41; Q42; Q53; F23; O50.