Achieving Environmental Policy Objectives through the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals. The Case for European Union Countries

Krzysztof Kluza, Magdalena Zioło, Iwona Bąk and Anna Spoz
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Krzysztof Kluza: Department of Quantitative Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, Al. Niepodleglosci 162, 02-554 Warsaw, Poland
Magdalena Zioło: Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Szczecin, 71-101 Szczecin, Poland
Iwona Bąk: Faculty of Economics, West Pomeranian University of Technology, 71-270 Szczecin, Poland
Anna Spoz: Institute of Economics and Finance, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, Poland

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 8, 1-22

Abstract: One of the key challenges for climate policies is the identification of strategies that will effectively support the implementation of environmental goals. Environmental policies are connected with other development policies carried out by governments. In order to comprehensively shape environmental policy, it is important to understand the interactions between sustainable development goals (SDGs) as well as their impact on environmental goals. Employing econometric modeling based on the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) method and full-factorial analysis, the authors identify a number of statistically significant relationships between the implementation of sustainable development goals and the environmental variable represented by greenhouse gas emissions. Analysis reveals that implementation of particular sustainable development goals, namely SDG4 (Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities) and SDG17 (Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development), explicitly facilitate the achievement of environmental policies. In addition, other SDGs exert an indirect influence on environmental goals through their reinforcing interactions with SDG4 and SDG17 variables. These are: SDG1 (End poverty), SDG3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being), SDG8 (Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and productive employment) and SDG15 (Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests and halt biodiversity loss). These findings have important implications for proper identification of effective government policy instruments which indirectly support the achievement of environmental goals.

Keywords: sustainable development goals; environmental policy; greenhouse gas emissions; education; poverty; health; policy implementation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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