Title: Exploring the linkage of international trade and environmental pollution in Asia

Authors: Hoang Xuan Binh; Huong-Giang Pham; Nguyen Ha My; Lai Thi Huyen Trang; Nguyen Minh Tien

Addresses: Foreign Trade University, 91 Chua Lang Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi, Vietnam ' Foreign Trade University, 91 Chua Lang Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi, Vietnam ' Foreign Trade University, 91 Chua Lang Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi, Vietnam ' Foreign Trade University, 91 Chua Lang Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi, Vietnam ' Foreign Trade University, 91 Chua Lang Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi, Vietnam

Abstract: This paper utilises data from Asian countries from 2000-2020 (with consideration of the COVID-19 period) to explore the linkage between international trade and environmental pollution in this region. After controlling for heteroscedasticity and autocorrelation, results of a fixed-effect regression show that the export turnover, import turnover, GDP per capita, electricity consumption, population growth rate, and net receipt ratio of FDI to GDP have significantly improved the level of CO₂ emission in Asia. In addition, the paper also confirms the existence of the environmental Kuznets curve and that maintaining a surplus trade balance will help reduce CO₂ emissions in a country. These empirical insights are particularly interesting to policymakers since they help build sensible policies about economic growth, energy conservation, and foreign direct investment to improve environmental quality.

Keywords: international trade; environmental pollution; FEM; environmental Kuznets curve; EKC; pollution haven hypothesis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSE.2025.142959

International Journal of Sustainable Economy, 2025 Vol.17 No.1, pp.103 - 121

Received: 18 May 2023
Accepted: 22 Sep 2023
Published online: 02 Dec 2024 *

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