ABSTRACT

The ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement has laid the platform for the signatory nations to boost their respective economic growth rates, and also raised environmental concerns. So far, little is known regarding the roles of export diversification and the composite risk index in the abatement of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions for the RCEP countries. Accordingly, this study investigates the impacts of export diversification and composite risk index on CO₂ emissions for the RCEP countries between 1987 and 2017. The empirical findings indicate that lowering the composite risk index, undertaking a transition to renewable energy, and enhancing environmentally-related technological innovations help reduce CO₂ emissions in the long run. In contrast, export diversification is found to monotonically boost CO₂ emission levels. The findings also authenticate the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis to certify that the economic growth of the RCEP nations will be both an initial contributor and ultimate inhibitor of CO₂ emissions. In line with these findings, it is important to lower the country risk profiles of the RCEP nations, restructure the export diversification schemes, ensure technological advancement and expedite economic growth in an environmentally-friendly manner.

摘要

区域全面经济伙伴关系协定（RCEP）的批准为签署国提高各自经济增长率奠定了平台，同时也引发了环境问题。到目前为止，关于出口多样化和综合风险指数在减少RCEP 国家二氧化碳 (CO ₂ ) 排放方面的作用知之甚少。因此，本研究调查了 1987 年至 2017 年 RCEP 国家出口多元化和复合风险指数对 CO ₂排放的影响。技术创新有助于减少 CO ₂ 长期排放。相比之下，发现出口多样化会单调地提高 CO ₂ 排放水平。调查结果还验证了环境库兹涅茨曲线 (EKC) 假设，以证明 RCEP 国家的经济增长既是 CO ₂ 排放的最初贡献者，也是最终抑制者。根据这些发现，降低 RCEP 国家的国家风险状况、重组出口多元化计划、确保技术进步并以环境友好的方式加速经济增长非常重要。