Environmental Homogenization or Heterogenization? The Effects of Globalization on Carbon Dioxide Emissions, 1970–2014

Abstract

Globalization significantly influences climate change. Ecological modernization theory and world polity theory suggest that globalization reduces carbon dioxide emissions worldwide by facilitating economic, political, social, and cultural homogenization, whereas ecological unequal exchange theory indicates that cumulative economic and political disparities lead to an uneven distribution of emissions in developed and less developed countries. This study addresses this controversy and systematically investigates the extent to which different dimensions of globalization influence carbon emissions in developed and less developed countries by treating globalization as a dynamic historical process involving economic, political, and social/cultural dimensions in a long-term, cross-national context. Drawing on data for 137 countries from 1970 to 2014, we find that while globalization, social and cultural globalization in particular, has enabled developed countries to significantly decrease their carbon emissions, it has led to more emissions in less developed countries, lending support to the ecological unequal exchange theory. Consistent with world polity theory, international political integration has contributed to carbon reductions over time. We highlight the internal tension between environmental conservation and degradation in a globalizing world and discuss the opportunities for less developed countries to reduce emissions.

Effect of Economic Growth on CO2 Emission in Africa: Do Financial Development and Globalization Matter?

“…In addition, it delivers services with reduced investment costs by applying procedures and regulations that foster economic development and thus help to reduce carbon emissions. This finding is contradict with that of Wang et al (2019) and align with those of Acheampong (2019).…”

Provincial CO2 Emission Measurement and Analysis of the Construction Industry under China’s Carbon Neutrality Target

“…Low-carbon development and environmental protection requires reducing CO 2 emissions, on the one hand, and taking into account the social and economic development, on the other hand. Wang et al analyzed the internal tension between environmental conservation and degradation in a globalizing world and discussed the opportunities for less developed countries to reduce emissions [11]. Luo et al quantified direct and indirect emissions associated with off-site construction, and the results indicated that conducting a well-articulated assessment was important to assist with decision making on environmental impact reduction [12].…”

Impact of Environmental Innovation Strategy on Green Competitiveness: Evidence from China

“…Mandatory government environmental laws and regulations and competitive pressures have a significant positive effect on enterprise green practices, while enterprise green practices have a significant positive effect on environmental performance [32]. A study that analyzed data from 1970 to 2014 for 137 countries found that international political integration helped reduce carbon emissions, and discussed opportunities for less developed countries to reduce their emissions [33]. In a study based on panel data of 108 cities in the Yangtze River Economic Zone from 2003-2017, technological innovation was evidenced to have a significant positive effect in promoting green development, showing a U-shaped nonlinear relationship, and this relationship varied by region [34].…”