Convergence of Environmental Technologies: The Case of OECD

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 10 Sayı: 2, 1 - 12

Mehmet Fırat Olgun

Öz

This study examines the convergence of environmental technologies. Analysis was conducted using Fractional Fourier Unit Root Tests using data from 1992 to 2022. Stochastic convergence was used, and 31 OECD countries were included in the analysis. The findings indicate that patents related to environmental technologies converge to the OECD average in 23 countries. Convergence is not observed in 8 countries. Given that convergence exists in approximately 75% of countries, it can be said that pursuing a common policy could yield positive results. However, considering the 8 countries where convergence is not present, it would be beneficial for these countries to develop additional, country-specific policies alongside common strategies

Anahtar Kelimeler

Environmental economics , climate change , patents , environmental technologies , stochastic convergence.

Çevre Teknolojileri Yakınsaması: OECD Üzerine Ampirik Uygulama

Öz

Bu çalışmanın amacı, çevre teknolojileri yakınsamasını stokastik yakınsama ile incelemektir. Analiz, 1992-2022 yılları arasındaki veriler kullanılarak Kesirli Fourier Birim Kök Testi ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Analize 31 OECD ülkesi dahil edilmiştir. Bulgular, çevre teknolojileriyle ilgili patentlerin 23 ülkede OECD ortalamasına yakınsadığını göstermektedir. 8 ülkede yakınsama görülmemektedir. Ülkelerin yaklaşık %75'inde yakınsama olduğu göz önüne alındığında, ortak bir politika izlenmesinin olumlu sonuçlar verebileceği söylenebilir. Ancak yakınsamanın olmadığı 8 ülke göz önüne alındığında, bu ülkelerin ortak stratejilerin yanı sıra ek, ülkeye özgü politikalar geliştirmeleri yararlı olacaktır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

çevre ekonomisi , iklim değişikliği , patent , çevre teknolojileri , stokastik yakınsama

Kaynakça

• Acemoglu, D., Aghion, P., Bursztyn, L., & Hemous, D. (2012). The environment and directed technical change. American Economic Review, 102(1), 131–166.
• Akanle Eni-ibukun, T., Allan, J., Antonich, B., Appleton, A., Kosolapova, E., Kulovesi, K., & Recio, E. (2012). Summary of the Doha Climate Change Conference: 26 November–8 December 2012. International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). https://enb.iisd.org/doha-climate-change-conference-cop18/summary-report
• Aldy, J. E. (2006). Per capita carbon dioxide emissions: Convergence or divergence? Environmental and Resource Economics, 33(4), 533–555.
• Bai, C., Feng, C., Du, K., Wang, Y., & Gong, Y. (2020). Understanding spatial–temporal evolution of renewable energy technology innovation in China: Evidence from convergence analysis. Energy Policy, 143, 111570.
• Bai, R., & Lin, B. (2024). An in-depth analysis of green innovation efficiency: New evidence based on club convergence and spatial correlation network. Energy Economics, 132, 107424.
• Barassi, M. R., Cole, M. A., & Elliott, R. J. (2011). The stochastic convergence of CO₂ emissions: A long memory approach. Environmental and Resource Economics, 49(3), 367–385. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10640-010-9437-7
• Baygın, B. K. (2017). Stochastic convergence of per capita greenhouse gas emissions among G7 countries: Evidence from structural breaks. Istanbul University Econometrics and Statistics e-Journal, 26, 60–70.
• Bayraktar, Y., Koc, K., Toprak, M., Ozyılmaz, A., Olgun, M. F., Balsalobre-Lorente, D., & Soylu, O. B. (2023). Convergence of per capita ecological footprint among BRICS-T countries: Evidence from Fourier unit root test. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(22), 63022–63035.
• Bozoklu, S., Yilanci, V., & Gorus, M. S. (2020). Persistence in per capita energy consumption: A fractional integration approach with a Fourier function. Energy Economics, 91, 104926.
• Brock, W. A., & Taylor, M. S. (2010). The Green Solow model. Journal of Economic Growth, 15(2), 127–153.
• Chatzistamoulou, N., & Koundouri, P. (2022). Resource productivity and eco-innovation convergence in the service of sustainability: Evidence from the EU-28. https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/122104/
• Christopoulos, D. K., & Leon-Ledesma, M. A. (2011). International output convergence, breaks, and asymmetric adjustment. Studies in Nonlinear Dynamics & Econometrics, 15(3). https://doi.org/10.2202/1558-3708.1823
• Costantini, V., Delgado, F. J., & Presno, M. J. (2023). Environmental innovations in the EU: A club convergence analysis of the eco-innovation index and driving factors of the clusters. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 46, 100698.
• Enders, W., & Lee, J. (2012). The flexible Fourier form and Dickey–Fuller type unit root tests. Economics Letters, 117(1), 196–199.
• Fawzy, S., Osman, A. I., Doran, J., & Rooney, D. W. (2020). Strategies for mitigation of climate change: A review. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 18, 2069–2094.
• Fei, J., Pu, Z., & Tavera, C. (2024). The power of patent transfer: The impact of green technology acquisition on non-residential CO₂ emissions under the intervention of government actions. Journal of Asian Economics, 94, 101787.
• Grafström, J. (2018). Divergence of renewable energy invention efforts in Europe: An econometric analysis based on patent counts. Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, 20, 829–859.
• Grossman, G. M., & Krueger, A. B. (1991). Environmental impacts of a North American free trade agreement (NBER Working Paper No. 3914). https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w3914/w3914.pdf
• Haščič, I., Silva, J., & Johnstone, N. (2015). The use of patent statistics for international comparisons and analysis of narrow technological fields. OECD. http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/5js03z98mvr7-en
• Henriques, C., Viseu, C., & Sousa, S. (2025). Evaluating eco-innovation efficiency and club convergence trends across the European Union: A window slack-based measure approach. Sustainable Futures, 9, 100673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2025.100673
• International Energy Agency. (2019). Global patent applications for climate change mitigation technologies – A key measure of innovation – are trending down. https://www.iea.org/commentaries/global-patent-applications-for-climate-change-mitigation-technologies-a-key-measure-of-innovation-are-trending-down
• International Energy Agency. (2021). Net zero by 2050: A roadmap for the global energy sector. https://www.iea.org/reports/net-zero-by-2050
• Karman, A., Kijek, A., & Kijek, T. (2020). Eco-innovation paths: Convergence or divergence? Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 26(6), 1213–1236.
• Kasman, A., & Kasman, S. (2020). Convergence of renewable energy consumption in the EU15: Evidence from stochastic and club convergence tests. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27, 5901–5911.
• Kijek, T., Kijek, A., Bolibok, P., & Matras-Bolibok, A. (2021). The patterns of energy innovation convergence across European countries. Energies, 14(10), 2755.
• Lee, C. C., & Chang, C. P. (2008). New evidence on the convergence of per capita carbon dioxide emissions from panel SURADF tests. Energy, 33(9), 1468–1475.
• Lee, J., Yucel, A. G., & Islam, M. T. (2023). Convergence of CO₂ emissions in OECD countries. Sustainable Technology and Entrepreneurship, 2(1), 100029.
• Linnenluecke, M. K., Smith, T., & McKnight, B. (2016). Environmental finance: A research agenda for interdisciplinary finance research. Economic Modelling, 59, 124–130.
• Liu, X., & Nie, W. (2022). Study on the coupling coordination mechanism of green technology innovation, environmental regulation, and green finance. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29(47), 71796–71809.
• Lu, N., Wu, J., & Liu, Z. (2022). How does green finance reform affect enterprise green technology innovation? Evidence from China. Sustainability, 14(16), 9865.
• Luo, Y., Lu, Z., & Wu, C. (2023). Can internet development accelerate the green innovation efficiency convergence? Evidence from China. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 189, 122352.
• Lv, C., Shao, C., & Lee, C. C. (2021). Green technology innovation and financial development: Do environmental regulation and innovation output matter? Energy Economics, 98, 105237.
• Meng, M., Payne, J. E., & Lee, J. (2013). Convergence in per capita energy use among OECD countries. Energy Economics, 36, 536–545.
• Misra, B. S., Kar, M., Nazlioglu, S., & Karul, C. (2024). Income convergence of Indian states in the post-reform period: Evidence from panel stationarity tests with smooth structural breaks. Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, 29(1), 424–441. https://doi.org/10.1080/13547860.2021.2022352
• Naran, B., Connolly, J., Rosane, P., Wignarajah, D., Wakaba, G., & Buchner, B. (2022). Global landscape of climate finance: A decade of data 2011–2020. Climate Policy Initiative. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/publication/global-landscape-of-climate-finance-a-decade-of-data/
• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2025). Patents on environment technologies. https://www.oecd.org/en/data/indicators/patents-on-environment-technologies.html
• Omay, T. (2015). Fractional frequency flexible Fourier form to approximate smooth breaks in unit root testing. Economics Letters, 134, 123–126.
• Pan, L., & Maslyuk-Escobedo, S. (2018). Stochastic convergence in per capita energy consumption and its catch-up rate: Evidence from 26 African countries. Applied Economics, 51(24), 2566–2590.
• Panayotou, T. (1993). Empirical tests and policy analysis of environmental degradation at different stages of economic development (Working Paper No. 238). International Labour Organization.
• Pinar, M. (2024). Convergence in renewable energy innovation and factors influencing convergence club formation. Renewable Energy, 220, 119607.
• Shahbaz, M., Akcan, A. T., Soyyiğit, S., & Kılıç, C. (2025). Are policy shocks to forest products footprint permanent or temporary? Evidence from 128 countries. Journal of Forest Research, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/13416979.2025.2475526
• Solarin, S. A., Gil-Alana, L. A., & Al-Mulali, U. (2018). Stochastic convergence of renewable energy consumption in OECD countries: A fractional integration approach. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25, 17289–17299.
• Solarin, S. A. (2019). Convergence in CO₂ emissions, carbon footprint and EF: Evidence from OECD countries. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 26(6), 6167–6181. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3993-8
• Solarin, S. A., Yilanci, V., & Gorus, M. S. (2021). Convergence of aggregate and sectoral nitrogen oxides in G7 countries for 1750–2019: Evidence from a new panel Fourier threshold unit root test. Journal of Cleaner Production, 324, 129298.
• Solarin, S. A., Kazak, H., Shahbaz, M., Akcan, A. T., & Selcuk, H. (2025). Convergence of environmental innovation in Europe with or without United Kingdom: Technological implications for the environment. Technology in Society, 103047.
• Solow, R. M. (1956). A contribution to the theory of economic growth. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 70(1), 65–94.
• Strazicich, M. C., & List, J. A. (2003). Are CO₂ emission levels converging among industrial countries? Environmental and Resource Economics, 24(3), 263–271.
• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2022). The evidence is clear: The time for action is now. We can halve emissions by 2030. https://www.ipcc.ch/2022/04/04/ipcc-ar6-wgiii-pressrelease/
• Torrecillas, C., Fernández, S., & Vides, J. C. (2024). Eco-innovation clubs of convergence: An analysis of outputs and inputs based on the EU-27. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 1–34.
• Umar, M., & Safi, A. (2023). Do green finance and innovation matter for environmental protection? A case of OECD economies. Energy Economics, 119, 106560.
• United Nations. (1992). United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/convention_text_with_annexes_english_for_posting.pdf
• United Nations Climate Change. (n.d.). What is the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change? https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/what-is-the-united-nations-framework-convention-on-climate-change
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. (1997). Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. https://unfccc.int/documents/2409
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. (2015). Adoption of the Paris Agreement. https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2015/cop21/eng/l09r01.pdf
• United Nations Treaty Collection. (2025). 7.c Doha amendment to the Kyoto Protocol. https://treaties.un.org/pages/viewdetails.aspx?src=treaty&mtdsg_no=XXVII-7-c&chapter=27&clang=_en
• Wang, Y., & Zhi, Q. (2016). The role of green finance in environmental protection: Two aspects of market mechanism and policies. Energy Procedia, 104, 311–316.
• World Intellectual Property Organization. (2023). Green technology book: Solutions for climate change mitigation. https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/wipo-pub-1080-2023-en-green-technology-book.pdf
• Yan, Z., Du, K., Yang, Z., & Deng, M. (2017). Convergence or divergence? Understanding the global development trend of low-carbon technologies. Energy Policy, 109, 499–509.
• Yang, Y., Su, X., & Yao, S. (2021). Nexus between green finance, fintech, and high-quality economic development: Empirical evidence from China. Resources Policy, 74, 102445.
• Yilanci, V., & Pata, U. K. (2020). Convergence of per capita ecological footprint among the ASEAN-5 countries: Evidence from a non-linear panel unit root test. Ecological Indicators, 113, 106178.
• Yilanci, V., Gorus, M. S., & Aydin, M. (2019). Are shocks to ecological footprint in OECD countries permanent or temporary? Journal of Cleaner Production, 212, 270–301.
• Zeng, Q., Tong, Y., & Yang, Y. (2023). Can green finance promote green technology innovation in enterprises? Empirical evidence from China. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(37), 87628–87644.
• Zhang, G., & Guo, B. (2025). The impact of green finance reform on firms’ patent quality: An empirical study from Chinese listed manufacturing firms. Economic Analysis and Policy, 86, 1695–1705.
• Zhang, Y., Jin, W., & Xu, M. (2021). Total factor efficiency and convergence analysis of renewable energy in Latin American countries. Renewable Energy, 170, 785–795. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2021.02