Renewable energy consumption and international trade: Does climate policy stringency matter?

IF 9.3 2区经济学 Q1 ECONOMICS

Energy Policy Pub Date : 2025-06-25 DOI:10.1016/j.enpol.2025.114728

Ridha Nouira , Leila Ben Salem , Sami Saafi , Christophe Rault

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Abstract

This study explores the connection between renewable energy consumption and international trade, with a particular focus on the influence of climate policy. We argue that this relationship is nonlinear and subject to threshold effects. Using a dynamic threshold model developed by Seo and Shin (2016), we analyze data from 1990 to 2023 for a panel of 29 developed and developing countries. Our findings reveal that climate policy plays a crucial role in shaping the renewable energy–trade nexus, with effects varying according to policy stringency and a country's development level. In developing countries, renewable energy consumption consistently enhances exports, regardless of policy stringency. In contrast, in developed countries, strict policies reduce import dependence, indicating a move toward energy independence, but they may also dampen the positive trade effects of renewable energy due to higher compliance costs and regulatory barriers. These results underscore the need for tailored policy strategies: developed countries should balance ambitious environmental goals with trade efficiency by streamlining regulations and fostering international policy harmonization, while developing countries can leverage renewable energy adoption as a tool to enhance exports, attract investment, and strengthen technological capabilities.

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可再生能源消费与国际贸易：气候政策严格与否？

本研究探讨了可再生能源消费与国际贸易之间的联系，特别关注气候政策的影响。我们认为这种关系是非线性的，并受到阈值效应的影响。使用Seo和Shin（2016）开发的动态阈值模型，我们分析了1990年至2023年29个发达国家和发展中国家的数据。我们的研究结果表明，气候政策在塑造可再生能源贸易关系方面发挥着至关重要的作用，其影响因政策的严格程度和国家的发展水平而异。在发展中国家，无论政策是否严格，可再生能源消费始终能促进出口。相比之下，在发达国家，严格的政策减少了对进口的依赖，表明能源独立的趋势，但由于更高的合规成本和监管壁垒，它们也可能抑制可再生能源的积极贸易效应。这些结果强调了制定有针对性的政策战略的必要性：发达国家应通过简化法规和促进国际政策协调来平衡雄心勃勃的环境目标与贸易效率，而发展中国家可以利用可再生能源作为增加出口、吸引投资和加强技术能力的工具。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Energy Policy 管理科学-环境科学

CiteScore

17.30

自引率

5.60%

发文量

540

审稿时长

7.9 months

期刊介绍： Energy policy is the manner in which a given entity (often governmental) has decided to address issues of energy development including energy conversion, distribution and use as well as reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in order to contribute to climate change mitigation. The attributes of energy policy may include legislation, international treaties, incentives to investment, guidelines for energy conservation, taxation and other public policy techniques. Energy policy is closely related to climate change policy because totalled worldwide the energy sector emits more greenhouse gas than other sectors.