Evaluating the role of combustible renewable and waste in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the long run in Malaysia

Abstract

Malaysia has been struggling to effectively manage waste which accounts for a substantial amount of greenhouse gases. Thus, the objective of this study was to identify whether renewable energy from combustible renewable and waste could significantly reduce the total greenhouse gas emissions in both the short and long run in Malaysia. This study applies time series estimation techniques which cover 47 years of Malaysia’s data from the year 1971–2018. The model fits VECM estimation which examines the renewable energy effect on greenhouse gas emissions in the short and long run. The empirical analysis significantly establishes that the renewable energy reduced the total greenhouse gas emissions in the long run. Statistically, a 1% increase in combustible renewable and waste (CRW) reduced the total greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 0.14% in the long run. Furthermore, arable land, methane emissions potentially reduced greenhouse gas emissions between 1971–2018. However, economic growth and carbon dioxide emissions from manufacturing industries and construction significantly increased total greenhouse gas emissions in the long run. The study concludes empirically that waste generation could be utilized to produce renewable energy through combustible renewable and waste which could slowly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.