Land Degradation and Development Perspective of COP27 in the View of Green Energy, Agriculture, and Water Productivity: Novel Evidence From Emerging Economies

Abstract

This study explores the interplay between land and water productivity and green energy in emerging economies' environmental degradation. Since COP27 and COP28, they have paid more attention to the appropriate land management, food security, and green energy transition to overcome the global food and energy demand and attain sustainable development without harming environmental quality. Therefore, this research tends to contribute to the ongoing research on the climatic changing factors in the group of emerging economies, including India, Mexico, Russia, Pakistan, China, and Brazil. The study deals with the panel data covering the period from 1990 to 2022. Using sophisticated second-generation panel diagnostic approaches, the research found cross-section dependence, slope heterogeneity, and the presence of long-run equilibrium relationships between stationary variables. For the long-run analysis, this research uses Driscoll–Kraay fixed effect and random effect regression models. The research concludes that economic development and agriculture, forest, and fishing, value added (referred to as land degradation) are the significant drivers of carbon emissions, which improves environmental degradation. On the other hand, the results revealed that green energy use and water productivity significantly reduce the emissions level and improve the region's environmental quality. The results are robust and are authenticated by linear regression heteroskedastic panels corrected standard errors. This research recommends further investment in research and development, green energy, and water productivity projects. However, policymakers should revise the existing policies regarding agriculture value added and economic growth norms while replacing traditional practices.