The Role of Carbon Pricing Mechanisms and Renewable Energy Technologies in Reducing Carbon Emissions: Evidence from the International Economy

Abstract

The international community now places significant emphasis on achieving zero carbon emissions, requiring both new researchers and experienced policymakers to prioritise this goal. This article examines the effects of carbon taxes, carbon cap and trade, renewable energy (RE) production and consumption, and economic growth (EG) on carbon emission reduction in the United States, Japan, Canada, and Australia. The study collected secondary data from the World Development Indicators (WDI) secondary source spanning the years 1991 to 2022. The study examines the relationship between variables using the cross-sectionally augmented autoregressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) approach. The findings indicate that carbon taxes, carbon cap and trade, RE production, RE consumption, and EG are all associated with a reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the United States, Japan, Canada, and Australia. The study provides guidance to regulators in developing regulations aimed at achieving zero carbon emissions. This includes implementing an efficient carbon tax system, effectively applying restrictions on carbon cap and trade, and maximising the use of renewable energy sources.