The three pillars of decarbonizing the EU's core economies: Sustainable industry, rule of law, and environmental policy
Journal of Cleaner Production, cilt.572, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 572
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148909
- Dergi Adı: Journal of Cleaner Production
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Chimica, Compendex, INSPEC, Public Affairs Index, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Business Source Ultimate (EBSCO), Engineering Source (EBSCO)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Carbon dioxide emissions, Environmental policy stringency, EU core economies, Rule of law, Sustainable industrial performance
- Atatürk Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
This study examines the challenge of reconciling industrial growth with ecological sustainability in the European Union's five largest economies: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands (EU-5). Despite ambitious climate policies and substantial financial commitments under frameworks such as the European Green Deal, deep decarbonization remains uncertain. The study focuses on three interrelated dimensions that are central to the decarbonization trajectory of the EU-5: sustainable industrial performance, which reflects the qualitative transformation of industry; the rule of law, which captures the credibility of governance and policy implementation; and environmental policy stringency, which reflects regulatory ambition. Integrating the Green Kaldorian Framework and the Porter Hypothesis, the analysis examines how sustainable industrial performance, rule of law, and environmental policy stringency are associated with carbon dioxide emissions from 2000 to 2024, while controlling for energy transition and economic growth. Using a second-generation panel model, the findings provide new evidence on the structural, institutional, and regulatory relationships associated with decarbonization in the EU-5. The study offers policy-relevant insights for policymakers seeking to align industrial competitiveness, governance quality, and regulatory design with climate objectives. In addition, the findings have implications for SDGs 7, 8, 9, and 13.