Economic policy uncertainty and environmental quality: unveiling the moderating effect of green finance on sustainable environmental outcomes

Abstract Economic policy uncertainty (EPU) has become a prominent concern in recent years, especially in emerging economies, where policy shifts and regulatory volatility can have far-reaching implications for sustainable development. Environmental quality, a key indicator of long-term sustainabilit...

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Main Authors: Xinyue Sun, Yi Dong, Muhammad Nouman Shafiq, Pilar Gago-de Santos, Seemab Gillani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2025-06-01
Series:Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05212-0
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author Xinyue Sun
Yi Dong
Muhammad Nouman Shafiq
Pilar Gago-de Santos
Seemab Gillani
author_facet Xinyue Sun
Yi Dong
Muhammad Nouman Shafiq
Pilar Gago-de Santos
Seemab Gillani
author_sort Xinyue Sun
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Economic policy uncertainty (EPU) has become a prominent concern in recent years, especially in emerging economies, where policy shifts and regulatory volatility can have far-reaching implications for sustainable development. Environmental quality, a key indicator of long-term sustainability, is often vulnerable to such uncertainty, as it may lead to delayed or inconsistent environmental policies and investments. This paper inspects the effects of EPU on environmental quality in the BRICS nations from 2000 to 2023. The research demonstrates how green finance, through the application of advanced econometric methodology such as the method of moments quantile regression (MMQR), moderates the EPU-environment nexus. Findings indicate that environmental quality shows negative effects from EPU, while countries with weak environmental governance experience maximum degeneration of environmental quality. The study demonstrates that green finance operates as a substantial moderator, which enables the reduction of negative effects caused by EPU. Environmental sustainability investments in green finance serve to shelter negative economic conditions and improve ecological resilience. The study supports the argument that strengthening green financing represents an essential policy mechanism for improving environmental outcomes in unstable economic periods, particularly in developing nations.
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spelling doaj-art-2a5be60152ba4cb499d8f6285f7d375d2025-08-20T02:39:48ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922025-06-0112111210.1057/s41599-025-05212-0Economic policy uncertainty and environmental quality: unveiling the moderating effect of green finance on sustainable environmental outcomesXinyue Sun0Yi Dong1Muhammad Nouman Shafiq2Pilar Gago-de Santos3Seemab Gillani4University of Chinese Academy of SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesXi’an Jiaotong UniversityComplutense University of MadridXi’an Jiaotong UniversityAbstract Economic policy uncertainty (EPU) has become a prominent concern in recent years, especially in emerging economies, where policy shifts and regulatory volatility can have far-reaching implications for sustainable development. Environmental quality, a key indicator of long-term sustainability, is often vulnerable to such uncertainty, as it may lead to delayed or inconsistent environmental policies and investments. This paper inspects the effects of EPU on environmental quality in the BRICS nations from 2000 to 2023. The research demonstrates how green finance, through the application of advanced econometric methodology such as the method of moments quantile regression (MMQR), moderates the EPU-environment nexus. Findings indicate that environmental quality shows negative effects from EPU, while countries with weak environmental governance experience maximum degeneration of environmental quality. The study demonstrates that green finance operates as a substantial moderator, which enables the reduction of negative effects caused by EPU. Environmental sustainability investments in green finance serve to shelter negative economic conditions and improve ecological resilience. The study supports the argument that strengthening green financing represents an essential policy mechanism for improving environmental outcomes in unstable economic periods, particularly in developing nations.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05212-0
spellingShingle Xinyue Sun
Yi Dong
Muhammad Nouman Shafiq
Pilar Gago-de Santos
Seemab Gillani
Economic policy uncertainty and environmental quality: unveiling the moderating effect of green finance on sustainable environmental outcomes
Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
title Economic policy uncertainty and environmental quality: unveiling the moderating effect of green finance on sustainable environmental outcomes
title_full Economic policy uncertainty and environmental quality: unveiling the moderating effect of green finance on sustainable environmental outcomes
title_fullStr Economic policy uncertainty and environmental quality: unveiling the moderating effect of green finance on sustainable environmental outcomes
title_full_unstemmed Economic policy uncertainty and environmental quality: unveiling the moderating effect of green finance on sustainable environmental outcomes
title_short Economic policy uncertainty and environmental quality: unveiling the moderating effect of green finance on sustainable environmental outcomes
title_sort economic policy uncertainty and environmental quality unveiling the moderating effect of green finance on sustainable environmental outcomes
url https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05212-0
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