The Effects of Economic Development, International Trade, Industrial Structure and Energy Demands on Sustainable Development

The carbon footprint is the most important measure to achieve sustainable development, generating information that facilitates the establishment of sound environmental policy by policy makers. This study attempts to investigate the factors that influence the carbon footprint from a global economic perspective. The empirical analysis is conducted using panel data from 98 countries with annual observations that span from 1990 to 2007. The results show that the increase in the carbon footprint resulting from economic growth cannot be counterbalanced by technological advances in environmental protection at different stages of economic development. Furthermore, international trade, industrial structure and energy demands have significant effects on the carbon footprint. The results also indicate that the adjustment of industrial structure for a low carbon footprint economy is more important than other factors. Because the expansion of international economic activity is associated with industrial structure and energy demands, governments must re-examine their policies that affect these urgent issues in the effort to achieve low carbon footprint economies.