Greening Japan: Harnessing energy efficiency and waste reduction for environmental progress

Joshua Chukwuma Onwe; Abdul Rahim Ridzuan; Emmanuel Uche; Samrat Ray; Mohammad Ridwan; Ummara Razi

Sustainable Futures (Dec 2024)

Greening Japan: Harnessing energy efficiency and waste reduction for environmental progress

Joshua Chukwuma Onwe,
Abdul Rahim Ridzuan,
Emmanuel Uche,
Samrat Ray,
Mohammad Ridwan,
Ummara Razi

Affiliations

Joshua Chukwuma Onwe: School of General Studies, Federal Polytechnic Ohodo, Enugu State, Nigeria; Department of Applied Economics, Nnamdi Azkiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
Abdul Rahim Ridzuan: Institute for Big Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (IBDAAI), Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam Campus, Malaysia; Centre for Economic Development and Policy (CEDP), Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia; Faculty of Business and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, Malaysia; Corresponding author.
Emmanuel Uche: School of Economics, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Samrat Ray: Department of International Relations, International Institute of Management Studies, Pune, India
Mohammad Ridwan: Department of Economics, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali, Bangladesh
Ummara Razi: Department of Economic and Finance Sunway Business School, Sunway University, Subang Jaya, Malaysia; Department of Business Administration ILMA University, Karachi, Pakistan

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 8
p. 100302

Abstract

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The study explores the complex interactions between energy efficiency, municipal waste generation, and ecological footprint in Japan (1990Q2–2019Q4) using wavelet quantile correlation. Our findings reveal that energy efficiency reduces ecological footprint to varying degrees across different time horizons and quantiles. Eco-innovation has a mitigating impact on the environmental footprint, especially at lower and upper quantiles, showing significant growth and suppression trends. Meanwhile, economic growth and globalization produce asymmetric effects on Japan's ecological footprint, impacting it differently across the distribution. Municipal waste consistently drives ecological footprint across all quantiles. Policy options are discussed to address these crucial environmental challenges.

Published in Sustainable Futures

ISSN: 2666-1888 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences; Technology
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/sustainable-futures/

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