Technology policy and environmental quality at crossroads: designing SDG policies for select Asia Pacific countries

摘要

In this study, we have revisited the technology policies of these countries, and in doing so we have tried to address the problem of environmental degradation, while addressing the issues of sustainable economic growth, clean and affordable energy, and quality education. In this pursuit, we have designed two indices for environmental degradation and technological advancement and then analysed the association between them following the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis. Following IPAT framework, and using quantile approach, over a period of 1990-2017, we have found that the turnaround points of EKCs rise with the rise in quantiles; that is, quantiles with low pollutions are having turnaround points within sample range, whereas quantiles with high pollutions are having turnaround points outside sample range. Using Rolling Window Heterogeneous Panel Causality test, unidirectional causality has been found running from technological advancement to environmental degradation. Following the results obtained from the analysis, we have tried to address the objectives of SDG 13, SDG 4, SDG 8, SDG 9, SDG 7, and SDG 10.