Environmental Footprint of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): A Quantitative Approach to CO2 Emissions and Climate Effects

Sadia Shaikh; Muhammad Faisal Sultan; Imamuddin

doi:10.32350/jarms.42.02

Sadia Shaikh Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University Karachi https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8680-4699
Muhammad Faisal Sultan KASBIT, Karachi, Pakistan
Imamuddin Institute of Business Management, Karachi, Pakistan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32350/jarms.42.02

Keywords: CPEC, Environmental Concerns, Carbon Emissions, Carbon Footprint, Climatic Harm

Abstract

Abstract Views: 0

The current study is one of the initial and premier studies that was conducted to understand the environmental and climatic concerns related to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The base of the theory was developed on pollution heaven hypothesis and analysis of selected variables was conducted through SMART-PLS via using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The analysis indicated that environmental concerns related to CPEC are not only perceived as the major predictors for CO2 emissions, however, they are also capable to harm climate and public health as well. The findings may help to develop a concrete policy framework for ongoing and upcoming phases of CPEC development. The framework would mitigate environmental risks associated with these activities and save the communities from environmental and health hazards of CO2 emissions. A substantial framework on this aspect would not only increase the economic and social significance of the project, however, it would also be a significant step towards addressing ecological and climatic harm to the environment. Hence, the current study is one of the pervasive studies that may not only increase the knowledge and research work associated with CPEC, however, it would also aid in policy formulation to further strengthen the Pak-China relationship.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Afthanorhan, W. M. A. B. W. (2013). A comparison of partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and covariance based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) for confirmatory factor analysis. International Journal of Engineering Science and Innovative Technology, 2(5), 198–205.

Ahmad, M., Hussain, K., Nasir, J., Huang, Z., Alam, K., Liaquat, S., Wang,

P., Hussain, W., Mihaylova, L., Ali, A., & Farhan, S. B. (2022). Air quality assessment along China-Pakistan economic corridor at the confluence of Himalaya-Karakoram-Hindukush. Atmosphere, 13(12), Article e1994. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13121994

Ali, L., Mi, J., Shah, M., Shah, S. J., Khan, S., Ullah, R., & Bibi, K. (2018). Local residents’ attitude towards road and transport infrastructure (a case of China Pakistan economic corridor). Journal of Chinese Economic and Foreign Trade Studies, 11(1), 104–120. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCEFTS-08-2017-0024

Ali, M. (2018). Pakistan’s quest for coal-based energy under the China- Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): Implications for the environment. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25(32), 31935–31937. https://doi.org/10.1080/09700161.2017.1343270

Ali, Q., Khayyam, U., & Nazar, U. (2021). Energy production and CO2 emissions: The case of coal fired power plants under China Pakistan economic corridor. Journal of Cleaner Production, 281, Article e124974. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124974

Aman, J., Abbas, J., Shi, G., Ain, N. U., & Gu, L. (2022). Community wellbeing under China-Pakistan economic corridor: Role of social, economic, cultural, and educational factors in improving residents’ quality of life. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, Article e6718. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.816592

Chang, M., Cui, P., Dou, X., & Su, F. (2021). Quantitative risk assessment of landslides over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 63, Article e102441. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102441

Dadwal, S. R., & Purushothaman, C. (2017). CPEC in Pakistan’s quest for energy security. Strategic Analysis, 41(5), 515–524. https://doi.org/10.1080/09700161.2017.1343270

Durani, M. Q., & Khan, M. B. (2018). The environmental impact of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): A case study. Abasyn University Journal of Social Sciences, 11(1), 323–425. https://doi.org/10.1080/09700161.2017.1267278

Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error: Algebra and statistics. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(3), 382–388. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224378101800313

Habib, M., & Iqbal, M. (2022). Sustainable development goals: A case study with reference to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Pakistan Journal of International Affairs, 5(2), 1358–1377. https://doi.org/10.1080/09700161.2017.1343270

Hair, J. F., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2013). Partial least squares structural equation modeling: Rigorous applications, better results and higher acceptance. Long Range Planning, 46(1–2), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lrp.2013.01.001

Hamid, M. R. A., Sami, W., & Sidek, M. H. M. (2017). Discriminant validity assessment: Use of Fornell & Larcker criterion versus HTMT Criterion. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 890, Article e012163. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/890/1/012163

Hoong, C. W., Qureshi, Z. H., Sajilan, S., & Al Halbusi, H. (2019, December 14–15). A study on the factors influencing social entrepreneurial intention among undergraduates (Paper presentation). 2019 13th International Conference on Mathematics, Actuarial Science, Computer Science and Statistics (MACS). Karachi, Pakistan.

Iqbal, K. (2021). Pakistan and the BRI: Is there a shift from euphoria to pragmatism? In J. C. Liow, H. Liu, & G. Xue (Eds.), Research handbook on the Belt and Road Initiative (pp. 228–239). Edward Elgar Publishing.

Kakar, A., Shabbir, M., & Mustafa, G. (2021). Addressing regional environmental impacts of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Pakistan Journal of International Affairs, 4(4), 412–425. https://doi.org/10.52337/pjia.v4i4.319

Kanwal, S., Chong, R., & Pitafi, A. H. (2019). Support for China–Pakistan Economic Corridor development in Pakistan: A local community perspective using the social exchange theory. Journal of Public Affairs, 19(2), e1908. https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.1908

Khalid, I., Ahmad, T., & Ullah, S. (2021). Environmental impact assessment of CPEC: A way forward for sustainable development. International Journal of Development Issues, 21(1), 159–171. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijdi-08-2021-0154

Khalil, I. U., Hena, S., Ghani, U., Ullah, R., Jan, I., Rauf, A., Rehman, A., Abbas, A., & Jingdong, L. (2021). Development and sustainability of rural economy of Pakistan through local community support for CPEC. Sustainability, 13(2), Article e686. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13020686

Khan, M. I., & Xu, Q. (2021). An assessment of environmental policy implications under the China-Pakistan economic corridor: A perspective of environmental laws and sustainable development. Sustainability, 13(20), Article e11223. https://doi.org/10.1080/09700161.2017.1343270

Kothari, C. R. (2004). Research methodology: Methods and techniques.

New Age International

Kouser, S., & Subhan, A. (2020). Uncovering Pakistan’s environmental risks and remedies under the China-Pakistan economic corridor. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27(5), 4661– 4663. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-07428-5

Lashari, A. H., Li, W., Hassan, M., Nabi, G., Mabey, P. T., Islam, M. M., Rashid, W., Ujjan, S. A., & Memon, K. H. (2021). Biodiversity governance and management in Pakistan: A way forward through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 30(3), 2589–2596.

Malik, A., Hussain, E., Baig, S., & Khokhar, M. F. (2020). Forecasting CO2 emissions from energy consumption in Pakistan under different scenarios: The China–Pakistan Economic Corridor. Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, 10(2), 380–389. https://doi.org/10.1002/ghg.1968

Nazir, S., & Yu, Z. (2023). Sustainable Belt and Road (OBOR) development: A case of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. In M. Waqas, S. A. R. Khan, & A. Q. Al-Amin (Eds.), Emerging trends in

sustainable supply chain management and green logistics (pp. 229– 266). IGI Global

Sander, T., & Teh, P. L. (2014, May 8–10). SmartPLS for the human resources field to evaluate a model (Paper presentation). New challenges of economic and business development. Riga, Latvia.

Saunders, M. N. K., Lewis, P. Thornhill, A., & Bristow,

A. (2015). Understanding research philosophy and approaches to theory development. In M. N. K. Saunders, P. Lewis, & A. Thornhill (Eds), Research methods for business students (pp. 122–161). Pearson Education.

Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2009). Research methods for business students. Pearson Education.

Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2016). Research methods for business: A skill building approach. John Wiley & Sons.

Sijtsma, K. (2008). On the use, the misuse, and the very limited usefulness of Cronbach’s Alpha. Psychometrika, 74(1), 107–120. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11336-008-9101-0

Silaparasetti, V., Srinivasarao, G., & Khan, F. R. (2017). Structural equation modeling analysis using smart pls to assess the occupational health and safety (OHS) factors on workers’ behavior. Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews, 5(2), 88–97. https://doi.org/10.18510/hssr.2017.524

Sultan, M. F., Baig, M. K., & Ghayas, S. A. (2021). Relationship of energy projects in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) with public health: A mediating role of climatic change. VFAST Transaction on Education and Social Sciences, 9(4), 16–27. https://doi.org/10.21015/vtess.v9i4.770

Trianasari, E., Yuniwati, I., & Suryantini, M. D. (2022, June 30). SEM-PLS analysis of factors affecting the effectiveness of English course online learning during Covid-19 pandemic. Journal of English Language Teaching, 9(1), 83–94. https://doi.org/10.33394/jo-elt.v9i1.5228

Vijayabanu, C., & Arunkumar, S. (2018). Strengthening the team performance through personality and emotional intelligence: Smart PLS approach. Scientific Annals of Economics and Business, 65(3), 303–316.

Wong, K. K. K. (2013). Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) techniques using SmartPLS. Marketing Bulletin, 24(1), 1– 32.

Xiaolong, T., Gull, N., Iqbal, S., Asghar, M., Nawaz, A., Albasher, G., Hameed, J., & Maqsoom, A. (2021). Exploring and validating the effects of mega projects on infrastructure development influencing sustainable environment and project management. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, Article e66319. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.663199

Yaacob, N. A., Latif, Z. A., Mutalib, A. A., & Ismail, Z. (2021). Farmers’ intention in applying food waste as fertilizer: Reliability and validity using Smart-PLS. Asian Journal of Vocational Education and Humanities, 2(2), 27–34. https://doi.org/10.53797/ajvah.v2i2.5.2021

Younis, M., Shah, N. H., Gul, R., Khan, H., & Malik, R. (2021). Impact of change of government in Pakistan on CPEC and Pak-China relations. PalArch's Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology, 18(10), 3054–3067.

Zubedi, A., Jianqiu, Z., Arain, Q. A., Memon, I., Khan, S., Khan, M. S., & Zhang, Y. (2018). Sustaining low-carbon emission development: An energy efficient transportation plan for CPEC. Journal of Information Processing Systems, 14(2), 322–345. https://doi.org/10.1109/cc.2017.7927579

Žukauskas, P., Vveinhardt, J., & Andriukaitienė, R. (2018). Philosophy and paradigm of scientific research. In P. Žukauskas, J. Vveinhardt, & R. Andriukaitienė (Eds.), Management culture and corporate social responsibility (pp. 121–140). Book on Demand.