skip to main content

Unveiling the interactive effect of green technology innovation, employment of disabilities and sustainable energy: A new insight into inclusive sustainability

Department of Business Administration, College of Business and Economics, Qassim University, PO Box: 6640, Buraidah 51452, Saudi Arabia

Received: 25 Sep 2024; Revised: 6 Nov 2024; Accepted: 16 Nov 2024; Available online: 27 Nov 2024; Published: 1 Jan 2025.
Editor(s): H Hadiyanto
Open Access Copyright (c) 2025 The Author(s). Published by Centre of Biomass and Renewable Energy (CBIORE)
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Citation Format:
Abstract

The interaction between green technology innovation, employment of disabilities, and sustainable energy is a critical area of research that addresses the emergent need for inclusive sustainability. Nowadays, the interaction between sustainable energy and green technology innovation is considered an essential field of research that has been widely discussed in previous studies. However, the role of employment, especially of people with disabilities, on this effect is still inexistent despite its relative importance for the achievement of sustainable development goals. By unveiling the interactive effect between these factors, strategies can be defined to reduce and limit the negative impact on the environment while promoting employment.  This study aims to fill this research gap by investigating the impact of green technology innovation and employment of disability on sustainable energy in 25 OECD countries from 1994 to 2020 using a dual methodological approach that integrates a parametric analysis: the panel vector autoregression (PVAR) model and a nonparametric assessment: the local linear dummy variable method (LLDV). The findings reveal (i) a significant positive correlation between the enforcement of green technology innovation and the increase in the employment rate of people with disabilities, (ii) a limited direct effect of green technology innovation on green energy consumption, and (iii) a positive impact of the interactive effect of employment of disabilities and green technology innovation, with a higher elasticity than that recorded by a separated effect. The outcomes address environmental challenges and promote social equity in the green economy. They also offer some critical recommendations for policymakers and researchers on sustainable energy.

Fulltext View|Download
Keywords: Employment of people with disabilities; green technology innovation; clean energy consumption; inclusive sustainability; Panel vector autoregression (PVAR) model

Article Metrics:

  1. Abrigo MRM, Love I (2016) Estimation of panel vector autoregression in stata. Stata J: Promot Commun Stat Stata 16(3):778–804. https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867X1601600314
  2. Ai, X., Yang, J., Lin, Z., & Wan, X. (2021). Mental health and the role of physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in psychology, 12, 759987. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.759987
  3. Akbar, A., Gul, A., Sohail, M., Hedvicakova, M., Haider, S. A., Ahmad, S., & Iqbal, S. (2024). Impact of renewable and non-renewable energy resources on CO2 emission: Empirical evidence from SAARC. International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, 14(1), 141-149. https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.15049
  4. Andrews, D. W., & Lu, B. (2001). Consistent model and moment selection procedures for GMM estimation with application to dynamic panel data models. Journal of econometrics, 101(1), 123-164. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-4076(00)00077-4
  5. Aneja, R., Yadav, M., & Gupta, S. (2024). The dynamic impact assessment of clean energy and green innovation in realizing environmental sustainability of G‐20. Sustainable Development, 32(3), 2454-2473. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.2797
  6. Barro, R. J., & Lee, J. W. (2013). A new data set of educational attainment in the world, 1950–2010. Journal of development economics, 104, 184-198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdeveco.2012.10.001
  7. Bilderback, S. (2024). Integrating training for organizational sustainability: the application of Sustainable Development Goals globally. European Journal of Training and Development, 48(7/8), 730-748. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJTD-01-2023-0005
  8. Bricout, J., Baker, P. M., Moon, N. W., & Sharma, B. (2021). Exploring the smart future of participation: Community, inclusivity, and people with disabilities. International Journal of E-Planning Research (IJEPR), 10(2), 94-108. https://doi.org/10.4018/IJEPR.20210401.oa8
  9. Carrasco-Gutierrez, C. E., & Ehrl, P. (2023). Regional estimates of residential electricity demand in Brazil. International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, 13(1), 465-476. https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.13837
  10. Charfeddine, K. Ben Khediri, (2016), Financial development and environmental quality in UAE: cointegration with structural breaks, Renewable Sustainable Energy Review, 55 (2016) 1322e1335. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.07.059
  11. Chen, W., Zou, W., Zhong, K., & Aliyeva, A. (2023). Machine learning assessment under the development of green technology innovation: A perspective of energy transition. Renewable Energy, 214, 65-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2023.05.108
  12. Deng, N., Gong, Y., & Wang, J. (2024). Promoting blockchain technology in low-carbon management to achieve firm performance from a socio-economic perspective: Empirical evidence from China. Journal of Cleaner Production, 448, 141686. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.141686
  13. Dutta, K. D., & Saha, M. (2023). Does financial development cause sustainable development? A PVAR approach. Economic Change and Restructuring, 56(2), 879-917. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10644-022-09451-y
  14. Fang, X., Ng, D. T. K., Leung, J. K. L., & Xu, H. (2022). The applications of the ARCS model in instructional design, theoretical framework, and measurement tool: a systematic review of empirical studies. Interactive Learning Environments, 1-28. https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2023.2240867
  15. Farooq, M., Singh, S. K., Kanga, S., Meraj, G., Mushtaq, F., Đurin, B., Hunt, J. (2024). Assessing Future Agricultural Vulnerability in Kashmir Valley: Mid-and Late-Century Projections Using SSP Scenarios. Sustainability, 16(17), 7691. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177691
  16. Frączek, B. (2024). Challenges for Inclusive Organizational Behavior (IOB) in Terms of Supporting the Employment of People with Disabilities by Enhancing Remote Working. Social Indicators Research, 171(3), 1019-1041. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-023-03290-8
  17. Ghafoor, U., Sheikh, M. R., & Baqir, A. (2023). Green Growth, Environmental Quality, Energy Consumption Nexus in OECD Countries. Bulletin of Business and Economics (BBE), 12(4), 409-418. https://doi.org/10.61506/01.00140
  18. Graff, M., Carley, S., Konisky, D. M., & Memmott, T. (2021). Which households are energy insecure? An empirical analysis of race, housing conditions, and energy burdens in the United States. Energy Research & Social Science, 79, 102144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2021.102144
  19. Hailemariam, M., Bustos, T., Montgomery, B., Barajas, R., Evans, L. B., & Drahota, A. (2019). Evidence-based intervention sustainability strategies: a systematic review. Implementation Science, 14, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-019-0910-6
  20. Hariram, N. P., Mekha, K. B., Suganthan, V., & Sudhakar, K. (2023). Sustainalism: An integrated socio-economic-environmental model to address sustainable development and sustainability. Sustainability, 15(13), 10682. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310682
  21. Helena, T., Magnus, T., & Carin, S. N. (2023). People with intellectual disability and employment sustainability: A qualitative interview study. Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities, 36(1), 78-86. https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.13036
  22. Hong, G. Song, and S. Du, (2019). Collective causal inference with lag estimation,” Neurocomputing, 323, 299–310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neucom.2018.09.088
  23. Kamran, M., & Turzyński, M. (2024). Exploring hydrogen energy systems: A comprehensive review of technologies, applications, prevailing trends, and associated challenges. Journal of Energy Storage, 96, 112601. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2024.112601
  24. Kao, C. (1999). Spurious regression and residual-based tests for cointegration in panel data. Journal of econometrics, 90(1), 1-44. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-4076(98)00023-2
  25. Khan Z., Ali S., Umar M., Kirikkaleli D., Jiao Z. (2020). Consumptionbased carbon emissions and international trade in G7 countries: The role of environmental innovation and renewable energy. The Science of the Total Environment, 730, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138945
  26. Khan, Q. R. (2023). From industrialization to dehumanization: understanding the deriving forces of environment and implications for sustainable development. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(59), 123396-123411. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-30983-x
  27. Kosanic, A., Petzold, J., Martín-López, B., & Razanajatovo, M. (2022). An inclusive future: disabled populations in the context of climate and environmental change. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 55, 101159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2022.101159
  28. Kuang, K., Li, L., Geng, Z., Xu, L., Zhang, K., Liao, B., & Jiang, Z. (2020). Causal inference. Engineering, 6(3), 253-263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2019.08.016
  29. Liao, J., Liu, X., Zhou, X., & Tursunova, N. R. (2023). Analyzing the role of renewable energy transition and industrialization on ecological sustainability: can green innovation matter in OECD countries. Renewable Energy, 204, 141-151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2022.12.089
  30. Liao, L. C., Chang, T., & Ranjbar, O. (2024). What is the nature of responses of energy security to shocks in the E7 countries? Fresh evidence by applying unit root tests. Applied Economics, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2024.2309467
  31. Liu, H., Alharthi, M., Atil, A., Zafar, M. W., & Khan, I. (2022). A non-linear analysis of the impacts of natural resources and education on environmental quality: Green energy and its role in the future. Resources Policy, 79, 102940. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2022.102940
  32. Mamipour S., Yahoo M., Jalalvandi S. (2019). An empirical analysis of the relationship between the environment, economy, and society: Results of a PCA-VAR model for Iran. Ecological Indicators, 102, 760–769. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.03.039
  33. Marín-Palacios, C., Carrero Márquez, O., & Lohan, R. P. (2022). Review of employment and disability: bibliographic analysis. Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, 16(1), 119-145. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEC-05-2021-0074
  34. Maritz, A., & Laferriere, R. (2016). Entrepreneurship and self-employment for people with disabilities. Australian Journal of Career Development, 25(2), 45-54. https://doi.org/10.1177/1038416216658044
  35. Memmott, T., Carley, S., Graff, M., & Konisky, D. M. (2021). Sociodemographic disparities in energy insecurity among low-income households before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nature Energy, 6(2), 186-193. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-020-00763-9
  36. Mihai, L. S., Vasilescu, L., Sitnikov, C., Băndoi, A., Mănescu, L. G., & Mandache, L. (2023). A Study Regarding the Relationship between Carbon Emissions, Energy Consumption, and Economic Development in the Context of the Energy Growth Nexus. Energies, 17(17), 4526. https://doi.org/10.3390/en17174526
  37. Mitić, P., Kojić, M., Minović, J., Stevanović, S., & Radulescu, M. (2024). An EKC-based modelling of CO2 emissions, economic growth, electricity consumption and trade openness in Serbia. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 31(4), 5807-5825. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-31617-y
  38. Morris, F. (2023). Prospects for employment of persons with disabilities in the post-covid-19 era in developing countries. Disability & Society, 38(2), 267-286. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2021.1932757
  39. Nguyen, M. T. Dang, A. W. Liew, and J. C. Bezdek (2019). A weighted multiple classifier framework based on Random Projection, Information Sciences, 490, 36–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ins.2019.03.067
  40. Olutimehin, D. O., Ofodile, O. C., Ejibe, I., Odunaiya, O. G., & Soyombo, O. T. (2024). Innovations in business diversity and inclusion: case studies from the renewable energy sector. International Journal of Management & Entrepreneurship Research, 6(3), 890-909. https://doi.org/10.51594/ijmer.v6i3.961
  41. Pata, U. K., Erdogan, S., & Ozcan, B. (2023). Evaluating the role of the share and intensity of renewable energy for sustainable development in Germany. Journal of Cleaner Production, 421, 138482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.138482
  42. Ragmoun, W. (2023). Ecological footprint, natural resource rent, and industrial production in MENA region: Empirical evidence using the SDM model. Heliyon, 9(9). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20060
  43. Ragmoun, W. (2024). The impact of environmental entrepreneurship and anti-corruption on environmental degradation. Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, 14(1), 17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40497-024-00389-1
  44. Ragmoun, W. (2024b). The Analysis of Trigger Factors of the Environmental Entrepreneurship Process in Saudi Arabia: An Innovative Approach. Economies, 12(9), 254. https://doi.org/10.3390/economies12090254
  45. Redko, K. (2024). Enabling economic empowerment: social enterprise's role in harnessing the potential of individuals with disabilities. Věda a perspektivy, 2, 33. https://doi.org/10.52058/2695-1592-2024-2(33)-26-36
  46. Saarani, P. S. N., Noor, S. N. A. M., Khalid, Z., Tharim, A. H. A., Ahmad, A. C., Rahman, N. A., & Saraf, M. H. M. (2024). Hydroponic as a Friendly Farming Technique for Persons with Disabilities (PWD). International Journal of Business and Technology Management, 6(S1), 259-269. https://doi.org/10.55057/ijbtm.2024.6.S1.23
  47. Salvatore, C., & Wolbring, G. (2022). Coverage of disabled people in environmental-education-focused academic literature. Sustainability, 14(3), 1211. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031211
  48. Saqib, N., Usman, M., Ozturk, I., & Sharif, A. (2024). Harnessing the synergistic impacts of environmental innovations, financial development, green growth, and ecological footprint through the lens of SDGs policies for countries exhibiting high ecological footprints. Energy Policy, 184, 113863. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2023.113863
  49. Setiadi, B. R., Damayanto, A., & Pratama, A. T. (2024). Green Technopreneur for People With Disability Using Technology Assistive. TEM Journal, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.18421/TEM131-56
  50. Sezgin, D., Dost, A., & Esin, M. N. (2022). Experiences and perceptions of Turkish intensive care nurses providing care to Covid‐19 patients: A qualitative study. International nursing review, 69(3), 305-317. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12740
  51. Shan, S., Ahmad, M., Tan, Z., Adebayo, T. S., Li, R. Y. M., & Kirikkaleli, D. (2021). The role of energy prices and non-linear fiscal decentralization in limiting carbon emissions: tracking environmental sustainability. Energy, 234, 121243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2021.121243
  52. Shaw, J., Wickenden, M., Thompson, S., & Mader, P. (2022). Achieving disability inclusive employment–Are the current approaches deep enough?. Journal of International Development, 34(5), 942-963. https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.3692
  53. Shen D., Li Y. (2023). Panel vector autoregression model to study the dynamic relationship between meteorological S&T and the economic development of meteorologically sensitive industries in China. International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education, 60. 3248, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231215991
  54. Sheng, J., Sinha, A., Mansoor, S., & Zafar, M. W. (2024, March). Greening the energy future: Role of energy innovation as policy driver. In Natural Resources Forum. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1111/1477-8947.12426
  55. Song, A., Rasool, Z., Nazar, R., & Anser, M. K. (2024). Towards a greener future: How green technology innovation and energy efficiency are transforming sustainability. Energy, 290, 129891. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2023.129891
  56. Sovacool, B. K., Newell, P., Carley, S., & Fanzo, J. (2022). Equity, technological innovation and sustainable behaviour in a low-carbon future. Nature human behaviour, 6(3), 326-337. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-021-01257-8
  57. Stamm, I. (2023). Ecosocial work and services for unemployed people: the challenge to integrate environmental and social sustainability. Nordic Social Work Research, 13(1), 134-147. https://doi.org/10.1080/2156857X.2021.1975154
  58. Stein, P. J., & Stein, M. A. (2022). Disability, human rights, and climate justice. Human Rights Quarterly, 44(1), 81-110. https://doi.org/10.1353/hrq.2022.0003
  59. Stein, P. J., Stein, M. A., Groce, N., Kett, M., Akyeampong, E. K., Alford, W. P., ... & Van Susteren, L. (2024). Advancing disability-inclusive climate research and action, climate justice, and climate-resilient development. The Lancet Planetary Health, 8(4), e242-e255. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(24)00024-X
  60. Swain Bali, R., & Yang-Wallentin, F. and Wallentin, (2019). Achieving sustainable development goals: predicaments and strategies. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 27(2), 96-106. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2019.1692316
  61. Vornholt, K., Villotti, P., Muschalla, B., Bauer, J., Colella, A., Zijlstra, F., Corbière, M. (2018). Disability and employment–overview and highlights. European journal of work and organizational psychology, 27(1), 40-55. https://doi.org/10.1080/1359432X.2017.1387536
  62. Voumik, L. C., Mimi, M. B., & Raihan, A. (2023). Nexus between urbanization, industrialization, natural resources rent, and anthropogenic carbon emissions in South Asia: CS-ARDL approach. Anthropocene Science, 2(1), 48-61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44177-023-00047-3
  63. Wang, N., Wan, J., Ma, Z., Zhou, Y., & Chen, J. (2023). How digital platform capabilities improve the sustainable innovation performance of firms: The mediating role of open innovation. Journal of Business Research, 167, 114080. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.114080
  64. Zhang, Z., Luo, C., Zhang, G., Shu, Y., & Shao, S. (2024). New energy policy and green technology innovation of new energy enterprises: Evidence from China. Energy Economics, 136, 107743. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2024.107743

Last update:

No citation recorded.

Last update: 2025-02-08 07:00:25

No citation recorded.