International Journal of Green Economics (4 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Consumers’ pro-environmental behaviour towards reducing single-use plastic bags - a moderated mediation approach  
  by Rajendran Geetha, Chandrasekaran Padmavathy 
  Abstract: Globally, the usage of single-use plastic (SUP) bags has raised significantly and has become a major threat to the environment. Reducing the consumption of SUP bags is one of the foremost agendas to achieve sustainable development goals (SDG). This study, by employing S-O-R framework, aims to test the relationships among intrinsic motivation, attitude towards bring your own bag (BYOB), and intention to reduce SUP bags. This study also tests the mediating effect of attitude between intrinsic motivation and intention. Further, this study aims to investigate the moderating roles of time pressure and lack of convenience in predicting intention to reduce SUP bags. To fulfil the objectives, data was collected in India with a sample of 909. The findings of this study reveal that attitude partially mediates the relationship between intrinsic motivation and intention. Time pressure and lack of convenience negatively moderate the mediating impact of attitude between motivation and intention. This study provides important implications to the government and policy makers.
  Keywords: single-use plastics; SUP; intrinsic motivation; attitude; sustainable development goals; SDG; bring your own bag; BYOB.
  
  
• The study of revisit intention of tourists: the case of ecotourism in Vietnam  
  by Thanh-Binh Phung, Vo Tien Dat Do 
  Abstract: The study extends the theory of planned behaviour to investigate the determinants impacting tourists’ revisit intention towards ecotourism destinations in an emerging economy, Vietnam. The authors have constructed a research model to examine tourists’ revisit intention through six constructs. Hypotheses were examined using structural equation modelling on a cohort of 276 eligible participants. The results confirm that revisit intention is affected by tourist satisfaction and trust. Both tourists’ satisfaction and green trust are influenced by green factors such as green image, perceived value, and ecotourism experience. The statistical analysis does not support a significant association between green trust and the ecotourism experience. The study provides theoretical and practical implications for stakeholders aiming to enhance revisit intention towards ecotourism destinations in Vietnam.
  Keywords: revisit intention; theory of planned behaviour; ecotourism; Vietnam.
  
  
• Consumption-based versus production-based CO2 emissions: drivers of carbon leakage between countries  
  by Margarita Robaina, Maria Inês Cunha 
  Abstract: While an increasing number of countries have adopted targets for their production-based (or territorial) emissions, very few have started to analyse their consumption-based emissions through empirical studies. This poses a challenge for policymaking if consumption emissions increase while production emissions decrease and, if emissions are effectively migrating to areas without carbon reduction targets or capabilities through carbon leakage. In order to look at these questions, this article accesses the drivers in the production and consumption emission accounts available for 101 countries, for the period between 1990 and 2017. Our results show that an increase in GDP per capita, trade balance, energy intensity, service sector share and urbanisation will increase production-based emissions more than consumption-based emissions. Conversely, an increase on imports of goods and services and a decrease of exports will increase consumption-based emissions more than production-based emissions. However, it is in urban centres, in developed countries, that there is a higher consumption, relatively to production, so it means that there is also a higher carbon import, otherwise production-based emissions would be higher. Therefore, in these regions there is evidence of carbon leakage.
  Keywords: consumption-based accounting; CBA; production-based accounting; PBA; CO2 emissions; carbon leakage; energy intensity; international trade.
  
  
• Investor reaction to the mandatory reporting of corporate ESG practices in the Indian stock market: An event study approach (2020-21)  
  by Rajesh Desai, Lakshmi Das 
  Abstract: According to the SEBI, Indian companies must report their ESG performance through the business responsibility and sustainability report (BRSR) along with annual financial disclosures. BRSR framework is based on the principles of environmental performance, corporate social responsibility, and transparent governance. The current research examines the investor reaction to the announcement of the compulsory filing of BRSR to disclose ESG practices in the Indian context. The present study is based on the top 1,000 market value firms and their daily stock return data from 1st April 2020 to 12th May 2021. Based on the analysis of daily average abnormal returns as well as cumulative average abnormal returns for different event windows, the study finds that stock market participants have responded positively and significantly to the BRSR announcement. Further, the role of carbon sensitivity has been assessed by performing separate industry-wise analyses and the findings indicate that firms operating in carbon-sensitive (non-sensitive) industries have low (high) positive reactions from equity investors. Present research delivers a significant contribution to the growing domain of sustainability research and portrays critical implications for academicians, managers, and policymakers.
  Keywords: ESG disclosure; sustainability reporting; event study; carbon sensitivity; business responsibility and sustainability report; BRSR.