Natural resources, renewable energy, and governance: A path towards sustainable development

Every energy generation technology, including hydropower, has its own strengths and shortcomings. We carried out vulnerability assessment (VA) applying a bottom‐up multi‐disciplinary indicator‐based method considering people's perception of five dimensions of a storage type (ST) “national pride” hydropower project–1200 MW Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project (BGHP) in Nepal. We also examined how ST projects can contribute to sustainable development goals (SDGs) overcoming the vulnerabilities. Primary data on people's perception were collected through focus group discussions and 200 household questionnaire surveys conducted within the most vulnerable areas. People perceived the “Physical” dimension as the most impactful. The local community is optimistic about some infrastructure development, but issues related to compensation, resettlement and physical stressors were found to be very sensitive for the effective implementation of the project. Expectations of the local people and proposed plans by the government are concurrent in some issues but not in all. Our analysis shows that the BGHP has the potential to be multi‐dimensionally beneficial (to eight SDGs) for Nepal, provided that supportive policies are formulated and implemented stringently. Extending the project as multi‐purpose, pumped storage and other improvements such as floatovoltaics are some of the plausible recommendations for harnessing maximum benefits from this important project while minimizing threats. Moreover, the methodological framework can be conveniently replicated for conducting VA of hydropower projects under comparable physical and socio‐economic conditions.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attaining multiple sustainable development goals through storage hydropower development amidst community vulnerabilities

Bhattarai

Devkota

Maraseni

et al. 2023

“…The authors found that resource‐rich countries experience deterioration in environmental sustainability compared to non‐resource countries in SSA. Related studies by Nchofoung & Ojong, (2023) focused on the pathway toward sustainable development by examining the role of governance in mediating the effects of natural resources on renewable energy. They found that African countries with efficient management of resources improved the development of renewable energy, depending on the type of natural resource used.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This, in turn, will help reduce child mortality and enhance the development of human capital. Another important aspect is the financing of renewable energy, which must be given greater attention to promote sustainable development in Africa (Byaro et al, 2023; Kirikkaleli & Adebayo, 2021; Nchofoung & Ojong, 2023). Employing the revenue from natural resources into the provision of renewable energy will contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Nchofoung & Ojong, 2023), which focuses on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Another important aspect is the financing of renewable energy, which must be given greater attention to promote sustainable development in Africa (Byaro et al, 2023; Kirikkaleli & Adebayo, 2021; Nchofoung & Ojong, 2023). Employing the revenue from natural resources into the provision of renewable energy will contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Nchofoung & Ojong, 2023), which focuses on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. Therefore, with proper policies and institutions for environmental sustainability (PIES), resources can be utilized in ways that not only support economic development but also promote environmentally friendly and sustainable practices.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Another strand in the literature is that most studies have focused on economic and political institutions as moderation variables while neglecting PIES which is cardinal to achieving sustainable development (Asiamah et al, 2022; Nchofoung & Ojong, 2023). Although economic and political institutions are essential and can significantly contribute to African development, they do not directly address how well natural resources are utilized and how effectively environmental pollution is managed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Natural resource dependence, policy and institutions for environmental sustainability and African welfare

Mpuure,

Mengba

2023

In developing countries, particularly in Africa, dependence on natural resources poses a threat to development, leading to poor health, reduced productivity, and increased poverty among nations. This raises significant concerns for the prospects and welfare of Africa, given the rising environmental pollution. However, the literature on the mitigating effect of policies and institutions for environmental sustainability (PIES) on resource‐dependent countries in Africa is scarce. As a result, this study explores the effects of natural resource dependence and the mediating effect of PIES on under‐five mortality and human development in Africa. This novel hypothesis may contribute to the divergent differences in African welfare. Using a panel of 30 resource‐dependent countries spanning 2005 to 2021 and employing the two‐step dynamic generalized method of moments, the study provides evidence in support of the novel hypothesis. The findings show that dependence on natural resources can be either a blessing or a curse for African countries, depending on the degree to which environmental sustainability is embraced. Furthermore, a heterogeneous analysis demonstrates significant support for countries with high policies and institutions for environmental sustainability in mitigating the negative impacts of natural resource dependence on welfare. The study concludes that dependence on natural resources without environmental sustainability cannot guarantee a balance between the well‐being of the economy and the environment. Therefore, environmental management should not be politically motivated so as to sustainably improve human well‐ being in Africa.

Sustainable development goals: Sustainability reporting challenges in the United Arab Emirates context

Elrazaz,

Shaker Samaan,

Elmassri

2023

Drawing on legitimacy theory, this study examines the extent of corporate engagement with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) through assessing the corporate disclosure quality of SDG‐related information in a mandated setting environment, focusing on the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Based on corporate sustainability reports for 132 UAE publicly listed companies in years 2020 and 20,221, we use a scoring methodology incorporating the GRI standards related to the economic, environmental and social impacts of corporate operations. Results of the study reveal that UAE companies use mandatory sustainability reports as a legitimacy tool through a symbolic action superficially integrating SDGs targets into their corporate operations and activities. However, in year 2021 the results show that some companies act substantively by adopting substantive organizational structural changes to integrate SDGs in their business operations and reporting behavior. Unlike previous studies, the paper contributes to the literature and practice by examining the corporate disclosure quality of SDGs in a mandated setting environment. This mandatory context offers an opportunity for a comprehensive analysis of company endeavors regarding their symbolic execution aimed at projecting a surface display of commitment to SDGs, versus their substantive implementation, which leads to significant enhancements in corporate sustainability reports. The findings of this study offer valuable practical implications for regulators and policymakers regarding the implementation of mandatory sustainability reporting. While such reporting may not necessarily result in significant changes in terms of integrating SDGs targets into business strategies and operations, it could potentially lead to the adoption of “SDG‐washing” practices by companies.