The shift toward the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015 put a global spotlight on how we manage our planet, yet the authors explain that in Southeast Asia, environmental damage is already taking a measurable toll on the region’s ability to produce food.
This study examines how agricultural productivity—a vital part of reaching those global goals—is impacted by factors like carbon emissions, deforestation, and the use of renewable energy across the ten ASEAN countries. By analyzing regional data, the researchers found that environmental degradation, specifically through CO2emissions, directly reduces agricultural productivity in the area.
Interestingly, the authors point out that both forest area and natural resource variables also show a negative effect on the sector’s productivity in this specific context, while the shift toward renewable energy sources provides a clear positive contribution.
Even though these countries are some of the most integrated in the world, the study reveals that regional cooperation has not yet managed to boost agricultural output. The researchers also confirmed a strong two-way relationship between the use of renewable energy and farming success.
Ultimately, the authors provide specific policy recommendations for governments in the region to help them improve their environmental performance and meet their 2030 sustainability targets.
Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2022.102578
Reference:
Chopra, R., Magazzino, C., Shah, M. I., Sharma, G. D., Rao, A., & Shahzad, U. (2022). The role of renewable energy and natural resources for sustainable agriculture in ASEAN countries: Do carbon emissions and deforestation affect agriculture productivity? Resources Policy, 76, 102578.
