Revisiting the asymmetric outcome of renewable and nonrenewable energy on environmental quality in South and East Asia: An application of a broad-spectrum approach

Hydropower renewable energy is known to be pro-environment: flexible and affordable. Above all, it is compatible with other energy frames and also with the policies that otherwise prove to be inimical towards its future. Where environmental stability is concerned it needs an assiduous study coupled with research by the policymakers to get around knowing the different perspectives of hydropower renewable energy. The study has taken nine different and diverse perspectives of hydropower renewable energy into account to stop the process of environmental degradation. EKC framework has been put to use in a case study of South and East Asia econo-mies. Time period has been selected from 1975 to 2020 to measure the long-term impact. GMM model has been used for the panel estimation besides getting future dynamics. The results which have come about confirmed EKC in the selected countries. Non-renewable energy (coal and gas) had an adverse impact on environmental stability. However, switching towards hydropower renewable energy can mitigate these environmental losses. Empirical findings have proved that more use of clean energy production can bring about a considerable amount of environmental stability. Insofar as East Asia economies are considered they have reached the second stage of EKC with a turning point of $13844 (per capita income). This paper, therefore, suggests that the future depends upon renewable hydropower energies in South and East Asia economies. That being said, there appears to be a dire need to undertake the role of various socioeconomic and geographic factors that influence hydropower renewable energies to check the long-term effect.

Automated summary

Hydropower renewable energy is environmentally friendly, flexible, and affordable, and it is compatible with other energy frames and policies. A study has examined nine different perspectives of hydropower renewable energy, using the EKC framework to measure the long-term impact in South and East Asia economies. The results confirm that renewable energy can mitigate environmental losses and bring about stability. Therefore, the future development of South and East Asia economies depends on the adoption of hydropower renewable energy.