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The Impact of Environmental Litigations on Emissions

Author

Listed:
  • Enric Cervera

    (University Jaumé I)

  • Inmaculada Martínez-Zarzoso

    (University Jaumé I & University of Goettingen)

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of environmental litigation outcomes on greenhouse gas emissions, which are the main source of global warming. The empirical analysis is based on the stochastic version of the Impact, Population, Affluence Technology model, estimated using panel data and instrumental variables methods. The data are collected for a cross-section of countries over the period from 1996 to 2018. The results show that once litigations have been decided, emissions decrease in the whole sample, including high-income and middle-income countries. The results hold when the past number of litigation claims/fillings are used as instrumental variables. The robustness checks that consist of adding proxies for environmental regulations and estimating subsamples confirm the results. These outcomes have important policy implications for global warming issues.

Suggested Citation

  • Enric Cervera & Inmaculada Martínez-Zarzoso, 2024. "The Impact of Environmental Litigations on Emissions," Working Papers 2024.16, International Network for Economic Research - INFER.
  • Handle: RePEc:inf:wpaper:2024.16
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    GHG emissions; litigation decisions; IPAT; panel data; instrumental variables;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F - International Economics

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