Scholarly Articles

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3

Open Access
Drivers of carbon emissions in G7 economies: Evidence on energy use, globalisation, urbanisation, industrialisation and innovation
(Elsevier Ltd, 2026-08-26) Weerasinghe, L; Vithanage, N; Rupasinghe, D; Keesha, C; Jayathilaka, R
Rising CO2 emissions remain a major sustainability challenge, particularly in advanced economies that account for a considerable share of historical emissions. This study examines the key determinants of CO₂ emissions in G7 countries by jointly considering globalisation, energy consumption, urbanisation, industrialisation, and technological innovation. Using a balanced panel dataset for Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States over the period 1997–2023, the analysis applies panel regression techniques and country-specific multiple linear regressions to capture both common effects and heterogeneity across economies. The results indicate that energy consumption is a robust driver of CO₂ emissions across the G7. Technological innovation contributes to emission reduction at the panel level; however, its effect becomes statistically insignificant in country-specific estimations, reflecting cross-country differences in innovation structures and policy environments. Globalisation significantly increases emissions in Canada, while its influence is negligible elsewhere. Urbanisation shows a mitigating effect only in the United States, and industrialisation increases emissions in Canada and Italy but reduces emissions in Japan. Overall, the findings highlight that decarbonisation strategies in advanced economies should prioritise the transition to clean energy while strengthening innovation-oriented climate policies tailored to country-specific contexts.
Open Access
Globalisation and environmental pressure in Europe: evidence from ecological footprint dynamics
(Springer, 2026-05-12) Meegamaarachchi, C; Senavirathna, N; Perera, R; Reshini, P; Jayathilaka, R; Athalage, D
Background: Environmental degradation, as assessed by the ecological footprint, remains a significant global challenge. Although research has examined its linkages with globalisation, evidence remains fragmented and region-specific, thereby leaving uncertainties regarding global patterns and temporal causality. Methods: This study examines the predictive causal dynamics based on Granger causality between globalisation and environmental degradation across 35 European countries from 1993 to 2023, using the panel and country-level Granger causality and Wavelet Coherence analyses. Given the strong regulatory architecture of the European Union, understanding how global economic integration interacts with environmental outcomes is crucial for designing effective regional environmental governance strategies. Results: The findings demonstrate that environmental-globalisation dynamics in Europe operate through multi-scale interaction rather than uniform country-level pathways. These findings highlight the importance of supranational regulatory coordination within the European Union, where environmental governance is shaped not only by national policies but also by regional regulatory frameworks. Furthermore, the study’s findings underscore the importance of regional and country-specific policy implications. These patterns suggest potential heterogeneity across countries; however, given the statistical limitations associated with multiple testing and the small sample size. These findings should be interpreted as indicative rather than conclusive evidence of institutional differences. Time–frequency analysis reveals that globalisation intensifies ecological pressure in the short-term, while it demonstrates mitigating effects over the medium-term. This pattern is consistently observed across the empirical analysis. Conclusion: By employing the ecological footprint as a comprehensive indicator and introducing the LJC heat map visualisation, this study advances methodological and empirical understanding of the globalisation-environmental nexus, while providing targeted policy insights for SDG-aligned sustainability strategies.
Embargo
Drivers of Child Labour: Socio-Economic Insights from the 15 Worst-Affected Countries
(Springer Science and Business Media, 2025-12-12) Magammana, T; Perera, A; Bandara, A; Muthugala, H; Jayathilaka, R
Child labour remains a significant global challenge, particularly in low-income countries where socio-economic factors such as health, education, economic wealth, and globalisation play pivotal roles. This study investigates the interplay of these determinants in the 15 worst-affected countries, offering a nuanced understanding of the drivers of child labour. A secondary data analysis was conducted using panel data from 2010 to 2021 for the 15 countries with the highest child labour prevalence. The study employed Polynomial Simple Linear Regression to explore the relationships between child labour and key socio-economic variables: education, health, economic wealth, and globalisation. Descriptive statistics, scatter plots, and thematic maps were utilised to visualise trends and associations. The analysis revealed complex, non-linear relationships between socio-economic variables and child labour. Education and health demonstrated dual impacts, where improvements sometimes paradoxically increased child labour due to economic and cultural factors. Economic wealth reduced child labour in some contexts but exacerbated it in others, driven by unequal wealth distribution. Globalisation similarly showed mixed effects, depending on local regulatory and socio-economic conditions. Addressing child labour requires context-specific interventions. Education and healthcare investments must be paired with policies that tackle structural inequalities and ensure equitable economic wealth. Globalisation’s potential benefits in reducing child labour depend on robust regulatory frameworks and inclusive economic strategies.

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