The impact of natural resources on environmental degradation: a review of ecological footprint and CO2 emissions as indicators
Ebrahim Abbas Abdullah Abbas Amer
Ebrahim Mohammed Ali Meyad2 
A. K. M. Mohsin- 1School of Economics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- 2School of Economics and Management, Chang‘an University, Xi‘an, Shaanxi, China
- 3School of Economics, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- 4Faculty of Business and Entrepreneurship, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Environmental degradation resulting from the overexploitation of natural resources has become a pressing global concern. This review paper aims to investigate the relationship between natural resources and environmental degradation, with a specific focus on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and ecological footprint (EF) as indicators. The study method involved an exhaustive search across prominent research databases, including ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scopus, and Springer, using carefully defined search terms. A total of more than 160 research papers related to the search terms were obtained from the four sources of the database during the initial search. After applying sorting, filtering, and removing duplication and repetitions, we were left with 75 research papers that had a direct link to the topic under investigation. From these 75 papers, we further applied inclusion criteria to identify the most relevant studies for our review, resulting in the final inclusion of 50 research papers. The selected papers were thoroughly assessed for their methodological robustness, relevance, and adherence to the research questions. The review encompasses studies from diverse geographical regions and periods, shedding light on both positive and negative associations between natural resources and the two key indicators of environmental degradation (CO2 emissions and EF). The review identified diverse findings in the literature, highlighting both positive and negative associations between natural resources and environmental degradation indicators (CO2 and EF). The results of this comprehensive review will contribute to a better understanding of the complex interplay between natural resources and environmental sustainability and will offer valuable insights for policymakers and researchers alike.
1 Introduction
Human activities of all kinds are considered a significant threat to the environment on this planet, as these activities contribute directly or indirectly to climate change and environmental degradation (Joshua and Bekun, 2020; Magazzino et al., 2020). The effects of climate change on the quality of the environment have become of interest to scientists and researchers because the continuation of various human activities accompanied by continuous environmental degradation describes the extent of the danger that afflicts creatures on planet Earth (Nathaniel et al., 2021a). Natural resources are the primary source of human activities in terms of providing services and raw materials necessary to develop and improve economic activities. Therefore, depletion, extraction, processing, and mining of natural resources degrade the environment and affect ecological systems by diminishing environmental quality, causing air, water, land pollution, desertification, soil and rock destabilization, landscape degradation, climate change, and carbon dioxide emissions (Gutti and Aji, 2012). But natural resources, on the other hand, work on improving ecological quality in terms of helping to recycle waste and emissions from human activities (Kongbuamai et al., 2020). Where agricultural land, grazing land, and forests (as one of the most essential natural resources) reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by human activities, while other types of natural resources such as coal, natural gas, and petroleum are degrading the environment (Danish and Khan, 2020; Ahmed, 2021a). Although the expansion in the consumption and use of natural resources leads to an increase in income, it is accompanied by an increase in the ecological footprint and a decrease in biological capacity. The accessibility of natural resources in any piece of the earth is viewed as a vital pointer of the national strength of this country, as well as one of the main determinants of economic improvement in the modern era (Ahmad, 2021b)
Because of the growing global concern about environmental degradation, many studies used different indicators to measure the quality of the environment, such as SO2, PM10, coal consumption, biological oxygen demand, and environmental pressure, (Akbostanci et al., 2009; Thompson, 2012; Hao et al., 2016; Zhao et al., 2016; Danish et al., 2019; Badeeb et al., 2020; Majeed, Wang, et al., 2021). But ecological footprint (EF) and carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) considered as a comprehensive measure for assessing environmental deterioration and human activity. ecological footprint has been developed by (Wackernagel and Rees, 1996), which measured the bio-productive territory required to aid a certain population. Furthermore, EF as an aggregate measurement and CO2 emission as a percentage is used to assess environmental deterioration (Destek and Sarkodie, 2019). The EF has recently become famous as a proxy for environmental deterioration (Solarin and Opeyemi Bello, 2018; Ulucak and Bilgili, 2018; Zafar, 2019). Kongbuamai et al. (2021) presented that the demand-driven of EF calculates how much humans use natural resources and how much pollution is produced as a result. Khan. (2021a); Khan and Hou (2021) determine individual’s EF by calculating how quickly nature can absorb trash and develop new resources. Global Footprint Network (2020) reported that carbon footprint, Land, forests, farmland, grazing land, and seas are the six bio-productive land use classifications included in the EF. As a result, climatic change is reflected in a broader land use pattern, deforestation, and carbon emissions in the EF (Bilgili, Ulucak, and Koçak, 2019).
Balsalobre-Lorente et al. (2018) Concluded in the study he conducted on five European countries; the natural resources positively impact carbon dioxide emissions and other gases harmful to nature. This means that countries with abundant natural resources are working to decrease their imports of unclean energy sources. He pointed out that econometrics outcomes provision the idea that the natural resources diminish carbon dioxide emissions per capita in the five European Union (EU) countries. Communities in the five EU nations with rich natural resources may decrease fossil fuel imports, helping to limit carbon emissions. Danish et al. (2019) carried out in the BRICS countries reveal that in Brazil, China, and India, the wealth of natural resources has minimal impact on carbon dioxide emissions. On the contrary, the plenty of natural resources in Russia aids in the reduction of pollution owing to the abundance of natural resources. He also discovered that because of the excessive use of natural resources in South Africa, natural resources are not environmentally friendly. Badeeb et al. (2020) concluded that there is no direct positive effect of dependence on natural resources on environmental deterioration. The outcomes of the study on five provinces in China show that natural resources are closely related to environmental deterioration in three regions. This degradation effect is significant in Xinjiang, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces. This association is adverse but not significant for Ningxia Province (Ahmed et al., 2020a). The extraction and use of natural resources might positively impact the environmental quality in some provinces. Ahmad. (2021b) indicated that the significant and negative Qinghai Province’s coefficient leads to the conclusion that the availability of natural resources in this province improves the quality of the environment and reduces the productions of CO2 and further unwanted gases.
The significance of our study lies in its direct alignment with the pressing global imperative of achieving environmental sustainability within the framework of sustainable development, a paramount objective for policymakers worldwide. As such, there is a critical need to consolidate and synthesize the extensive body of empirical research addressing the intricate relationship between natural resources and key environmental indicators, namely, ecological footprint (EF) and carbon dioxide emissions (CO2). By focusing specifically on these indicators, our review distinguishes itself from broader environmental studies, offering a targeted analysis that delves deep into the nexus between natural resource utilization and environmental degradation.
What sets our review apart is its nuanced examination of contextual and regional variations in findings, recognizing the diverse and sometimes contradictory nature of this relationship. By providing a comprehensive synthesis of existing literature, we not only lay the groundwork for future research but also offer valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders striving towards sustainable development. In addition, by consolidating and summarizing the vast body of empirical research in this area, our study serves as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders alike. By distilling complex findings into accessible insights, we aim to facilitate informed decision-making and promote evidence-based interventions that prioritize environmental sustainability.
Our paper makes several notable contributions to the field. Firstly, it fills a crucial gap by providing the first comprehensive summary of research on the relationship between natural resources and environmental quality. This original focus sets our study apart from previous reviews. Secondly, by concentrating on EF and CO2 emissions as primary indicators, we ensure a thorough exploration of the most globally significant metrics for assessing environmental health. By centering our analysis on these indicators, we not only contribute to a more thorough understanding of environmental degradation but also provide a basis for comparison and benchmarking across different regions and contexts. Through these contributions, our study aims to provide a clear and comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay between natural resources and environmental quality, thus guiding future research endeavors towards more informed and impactful interventions.
We have dedicated the second part of this paper to a detailed explanation of this paper’s methods. We devoted the third section to a detailed explanation of this paper’s results. The fourth section reports the discussions related to this paper. Finally, the fifth section talks about the conclusions and suggestions that illuminate the way for future studies.
2 Study methodology
The search methodology for this paper consists of three main stages. The first stage is the search Infrastructure, which includes the search questions and strategy, as search strategy includes search terms and the search source. The second stage is screening and filtering. finally, the third stage includes the inclusion and exclusion. Figure 1 shows study methodology protocol for this paper.
FIGURE 1. Flowchart illustrating the stages of the study methodology.
2.1 Search infrastructure
2.1.1 Search questions
As shown in Table 1, the search questions focus on knowing whether the abundance of natural resources has a bad or good effect on the environment in terms of increasing or decreasing both carbon dioxide and the ecological footprint. The questions are posed in an uncluttered manner as they can be presented simultaneously.
TABLE 1. Research questions and descriptions of the search process.
2.1.2 Search strategy
This stage consists of search sources and search terms. This paper relies on the most famous search databases, namely, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scopus, and Springer to search for all articles related to natural resources and the environment. Through the topic that this paper seeks to investigate, we have defined the search terms, which are natural resources, environmental quality, carbon dioxide and ecological footprint, where the final form of the search terms was as follows: [‘natural resources’ OR ‘Abundance of natural resources’ OR ‘extraction of natural resources’]; [‘Environment’ OR ‘environmental quality’ OR ‘environmental degradation’ OR ‘carbon dioxide emissions’ OR ‘CO2’ OR ‘Ecological footprint’].
2.2 Screening and filtering
By searching the four sources of the database, more than 160 papers related to the search terms were obtained. The sorting and filtering process was carried out by scanning the titles and abstracts and then reading the full text to ensure its relevance with the topic under study, thus excluding all articles not directly related to this study. After removing duplication and repetitions, and then applying some quality criteria to these articles, 75 papers with a direct link to the topic under investigation were selected. From these 75 papers, we further applied inclusion criteria to identify the most relevant studies for our review, resulting in the final inclusion of 50 papers. Figure 2 shows the results of the search in numbers, then sorting and filtering until reaching the last number of scientific papers related to this work.
FIGURE 2. Diagram presenting the search results of the study.
2.3 Inclusion and exclusion criteria
This stage includes some criteria that have been applied to all articles so that articles do not meet these criteria are excluded and papers that meet these criteria are included. First, only papers written in the English language were relied upon. Secondly, articles published in any of the four databases that had been identified in advance were selected. Thirdly, papers that examined the relationship between natural resources, carbon dioxide or the ecological footprint were selected as the main indicators of environmental quality, thus excluding studies which examines the relationship between natural resources and other indicators of the environment. Tables 2, 3 shows the most important inclusion and exclusion criteria that were adopted in this paper. As shown in Table 4, which shows the most important quality standards that were adopted during reading the full text from the filtering process to exclude some papers that do not meet these standards.
TABLE 2. Criteria for inclusion and exclusion of studies.
TABLE 3. Checklist for assessing the quality of papers included in the review.
TABLE 4. Summary of previous studies investigating the relationship between NR, EF, and CO2 emissions.
3 Study results
3.1 Positive relationship between natural resources and ecological footprint
Some studies have demonstrated the positive relationship between natural resources and the EF. For example, Ahmed et al. (2020b) utilized the ARDL approach to study the impact of economic growth, urbanization, human capital, and natural resources on the EF in China for the period 1970–2016. Their findings show that natural resources and EF are positively associated. M. Ahmad et al. (2020) utilized the CS-ARDL and AMG approaches to study the impact of natural resources, economic growth, and technology progress on the EF in emerging countries for the period 1978–2016, their findings show that natural resources positively associated with EF. Wang et al. (2020)’s results also showed that natural resources increase the EF in the G7 countries. Erdoğan et al. (2021) used the Cup-BC and Cup-FM long-run techniques to investigate the relationship between natural resources and the environmental quality in the Saharan Africa countries from 1980–2016. This study found that abundance of natural resources led to an decrease in environmental sustainability in this period, which means that there is a positive correlation between the abundance of natural resources and ecological footprint in the long run. Nathaniel et al. (2021a) investigated the impact of natural resources and renewable energy on the EF in 13 MENA countries using the FMOLS and DOLS models, this study found that natural resources positively correlate with MENA’s EF. Using the ARDL, FMOLS, DOLS, and CCR methods, Nathaniel. (2021a) concluded in their study result on South Africa countries that natural resources increase the EF from 1970–2016. Nathaniel et al. (2020) In their study of ten most visited countries, they concluded that natural resources and the EF have a positive relationship in China, France, Spain, Britain, and Germany. Using the BH cointegration and causality method, Ahmed et al. (2020a) concluded in their study result on China that natural resources increase the EF. Langnel et al. (2021) also concluded the same outcome on ECOWAS countries that natural resources increase the EF in Cameroon and Nigeria. Using AMG and DOLS methods, Solomon Prince Nathaniel (2021a) concluded in his study result on ASEAN countries that natural resources increase the EF from 1990–2016. M. K. Khan et al. (2021b), In their research on Malaysia using the ARDL model, proved that natural resources have a positive impact on the EF during the study period 1980–2019.
3.2 Negative relationship between natural resources and ecological footprint
On the contrary, other studies confirmed the negative connection between natural resources and the EF. For example, Zafar, (2019) used the ARDL technique to investigate the relationship between natural resources and the ecological footprint in the United States. This study found a negative link between natural resources and EF in the long run. Hassan et al. (2019a) investigated the impact of natural resources on the EF in Pakistan using the ARDL models. This study found that natural resources have a long-term positive influence on Pakistan’s EF. Using the ARDL model, Zhang et al. (2021) investigated the impact of natural resources, economic growth, and human capital on the EF in Pakistan, they found that natural resources negatively connected with Pakistan’s EF. Khan. (2021c) used the GMM, GLM, and RLS techniques to investigate the relationship between natural resources, energy consumption, biocapacity, population, and the ecological footprint in the United States. This study found a negative link between natural resources and EF. Solomon Prince Nathaniel (2021b) studied the dynamic links between human capital, natural resources, globalization, and EF in 11 ASEAN countries from 1990 to 2016. Used the AMG, CS-ARDL, and PCSE models; this study outcome support that natural resource has a positive impact on environmental quality. Danish et al. (2020) relied on the DOLS and FMOLS models to investigate the impacts of economic growth and natural resource on EF in the BRICS from 1992 to 2016. According to the findings, Natural resources are negatively connected with EF. By using Wasteland’s panel cointegration to examine the influence of natural resources, energy transitions, Urbanization, and energy consumption on the EF of OECD nations, I. Khan, (2021a) outcome presented that natural resources improve the environment throw decrease the EF. Kongbuamai et al. (2020) used the Driscoll-Kraay panel regression model to investigate the relationship between tourism, natural resources, and the EF in ASEAN countries. This study result showed a negative association between natural resources and ASEAN’s EF. Using the FMOLS and DOLS models, Danish et al. (2020) concluded in their study on the BRICS countries that natural resources reduce the EF. Nathaniel et al. (2021d) used the Westerlund’s cointegration, CUP-FM, and CUP-BC techniques to investigate the relationship between natural resources tourism, energy intensity, urbanization, and the ecological footprint in the top ten tourist destinations, this study found a negative connection between natural resources and EF in the period of 1995–2016. Nathaniel et al. (2020) In their study of ten most visited countries, they concluded that natural resources and the EF have a negative relationship in Thailand, Italy, Turkey, Mexico, and America.
3.3 Positive relationship between natural resources and CO2 emissions
In this section, we will seek to list and summarize the existing empirical studies that discussed the association between natural resources and CO2 emissions as indicator for environmental deterioration. Some of these studies have demonstrated the positive relationship between natural resources and the CO2 emissions. For example, Shen et al. (2021) utilized the ARDL approach to study the impact of natural resources on the CO2 emissions in China for the period 1995–2017. Their findings confirms a positive relationship between natural resources and carbon dioxide emissions, which means that natural resources increase the rate of carbon dioxide emissions in this period. Ulucak and Bilgili, (2018) investigated the impact of natural resources on the CO2 emissions in OECD countries using the AMG model from 1980–2016. This study states that the extraction of natural resources in these countries contributes significantly to increased CO2 emissions. Khan, (2021c) studied the dynamic links between natural resources and CO2 emissions in Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) countries from 1990 to 2016. Used the GMM model; this study found a positive link between natural resources and CO2 emissions. Using the FMOLS method Ahmad et al. (2020) In their study of northwestern China for the period 1995–2017, they concluded that natural resources and the CO2 emissions have a positive relationship in three provinces Gansu, Xinjiang, and Shaanxi, while they have a negative association in Ningxia and Qinghai Province. Using the (PMG) techniques, Bekun et al. (2019) concluded in their study result on sixteen EU economies that the abundance of natural resources led to the deterioration of the environmental quality of the EU countries from 1996–2014.
Using AMG model for the period 1990–2015, Danish et al. (2019) also concluded the same outcome on their paper of BRICS countries that natural resources increase the CO2 emissions in Brazil, China, and India. On the same time, the natural resources help reduce pollution in Russia because of the large number of resources. Using the STIRPAT model, Li et al. (2022) In their study of China for the period 2003–2014, they concluded that the increased use of natural resources leads to environmental pollution in China. Using the ARDL model, Joshua and Bekun. (2020) In their study of South Africa for the period 1970–2017, they concluded that the increased use of natural resources leads to increase CO2 emissions. Using the ARDL and VECM models, Hassan et al. (2019b) In their study of Pakistan for the period 1971–2017, they also concluded that the increased use of natural resources leads to increase CO2 emissions. Kwakwa et al. (2019) studied the dynamic links between natural resources and CO2 emissions in Ghana from 1971 to 2013. Used the STIRPAT model; this study found a positive link between natural resources and CO2 emissions. Nathaniel et al. (2021e) found a positive connection between natural resources and CO2 emissions.
3.4 Negative relationship between natural resources and CO2 emissions
On the contrary, other studies confirmed the negative connection between natural resources and the CO2 emissions. For example, Dong et al. (2017) used the AMG long-run techniques to investigate the relationship between gas natural resources and the environmental quality in BRICS countries from 1985–2016. This study found that abundance of renewable-gas natural resources led to an increase in environmental sustainability in this period, which means that there is a negative correlation between renewable-gas natural resources and CO2 emissions in the long run. Khan, (2021a) investigated the impact of natural resources on the environmental degradation in United States using the GMM models. This study showed that the abundance of natural resources leads to increased environmental sustainability from 1971–2016. Badeeb et al. (2020) relied on the ARDL model to investigate the impacts of natural resource on CO2 emissions in Malaysia from 1970–2016. This study tested the hypothesis that reliance on natural resources has a direct positive impact on environmental degradation. However, the experimental results of this study did not support this theory and thus showed the negative relationship between natural resources and environmental degradation during the study period. By using Slacks-Based Measure with windows analysis approach to examine the influence of natural resources on the CO2 emissions of China from 2003–2016, Wang et al. (2019) outcome presented a negative relationship between the abundance of natural resources and the efficiency of CO2 emissions. Thus, they concluded that the greater the plenty of natural resources, the lower the efficiency of CO2 emissions.
Balsalobre-Lorente et al. (2018) explored the association between GDP and CO2 emissions in the so-called European Union 5 (EU-5) countries to investigate the EKC phenomenon from 1985–2016. This study result showed a negative relationship between the abundance of natural resources and the quality of the environment, meaning that the abundance of natural resources reduces CO2 emissions in the five European Union countries. Because societies that enjoy abundant natural resources can reduce their imports of fossil fuels and thus control CO2 emissions. Yu et al. (2016), In their research on 30 Chinese provinces by adopting a bio-perspective method-emergy analysis for the period 2007–2015, proved that Renewable natural resources play a prominent role in mitigating the negative impact of CO2 emissions and other greenhouse gases in some Chinese provinces. For example, Qinghai Province ranks first in resource sustainability, which is one of the least developed provinces. Majeed et al. (2021) discussed the association between natural resources and CO2 emission in the GCC countries. The outcome of this study presented a negative relationship between natural resources and CO2 emissions. Thus, they concluded that the greater the plenty of natural resources, the lower the efficiency of CO2 emissions. Zhang et al. (2021) investigated the impact of natural resources on the environmental degradation in Pakistan using the ARDL models. This study showed that the abundance of natural resources leads to decrease CO2 emissions from 1985–2018.
4 Discussion
As shown in Table 4, 27 empirical studies on different countries containing more than 24 econometrics models and methods, proved in their results that natural resources are positively correlated with the ecological footprint. That is, the increase in the extraction of natural resources leads to an increase in the ecological footprint. On the contrary, the results of 16 empirical studies on different countries containing more than 20 econometrics models and methods proved that natural resources are negatively correlated with the ecological footprint. That is, the increase in the extraction and use of natural resources leads to a decrease in the ecological footprint.
Also as shown in Table 4, 15 empirical studies on different countries containing more than 15 models and methods of econometrics, proved in their results that natural resources are positively correlated with the CO2 emissions. That is, the increase in the extraction of natural resources leads to an increase in the CO2 emissions. On the contrary, the results of 11 empirical studies on different countries containing more than 14 models and methods of econometrics proved that natural resources are negatively correlated with the CO2 emissions. That is, the increase in the extraction and use of natural resources leads to a decrease in the CO2 emissions.
Surprisingly, and which should be noted in this study, there are many studies analyzed the same area, but they show contradictory results. For example, each of the studies (Awosusi et al., 2022 from 1992–2018; Nathaniel et al., 2021f from 1990–2016; Adebayo, 2023 from 1990–2018) analyzed the BRICS region, and they concluded, through the using of FMOLS, DOLS, FE-OLS, AMG, CCEMG, PMG, ARDL and EMG models, that the increase in the extraction and use of natural resources leads to an increase in the ecological footprint, while Danish et al. (2020)’s study on this same region, by using FMOLS and DOLS models from 1992–2016, concluded that the increase in the extraction and use of natural resources leads to a decrease in the ecological footprint. The study of (Nathaniel et al. (2021g) from 1990–2016) analyzed the ASEAN region, through the using of DOLS and AMG models, this study concluded that natural resources are positively correlated with the ecological footprint, while Kongbuamai et al. (2020) from 1995–2016 and Nathaniel et al. (2021d) from 1990–2016 studied on this same region, by using AMG, D-K Model, CS-ARDL, PCSE, and D-H causality test models, concluded that natural resources are negatively correlated with the ecological footprint. We also obtained contradictory results for each of the two studies (Wang et al. (2020) from 1980–2016; Liu et al. (2023) from 1992–2018) which were studied on G7 countries. There are many other studies whose results indicate different opinions, although they all deal with the same area. Therefore, the dispute associated with these studies must be removed by presenting them to international reviewers, weighting the strongest from the weakest, and resolving this dispute.
See Table 5, which indicates the most important studies that discussed the same area, but reached difference results. Based on our analysis of these papers, which reached different results for the same countries, we see that the most important reasons for the difference in results are: First, the different methods of estimating the parameters in the long term. There is no doubt that the different methods of estimation lead to different results, even if the data are the same in all methods. Secondly, the control variables are different. There is no doubt that increasing or decreasing one variable in the model would change the result upside down, let alone the different control variables for these studies. Third, the different analysis periods for these studies. Although the data analysis periods for these studies are close, there is no doubt that the increase or decrease of 1 year’s data is enough to change the results upside down. Finally, the nature of the analyzed data. Some studies analyze the data after converting it to logarithm, and some studies analyze the original data without converting it to logarithm, and this is sufficient to change the results from one study to another on the same countries.
TABLE 5. Overview of studies with conflicting findings on the relationship between NR, EF, and CO2 emissions in specific areas.
In conclusion, the literature reviewed in this paper suggests that there is no unanimous consensus on the relationship between natural resources and environmental degradation indicators like EF and CO2 emissions. While some studies found positive associations between natural resources and EF/CO2 emissions, others reported negative or mixed relationships. These diverse findings could be attributed to differences in methodologies, regional contexts, and varying levels of natural resource management and utilization across different countries. Further research is needed to understand the complex interplay between natural resources and environmental degradation comprehensively.
5 Conclusion
5.1 Summary and policy implication
This review on “The Impact of Natural Resources on Environmental Degradation: A Review of Ecological Footprint and CO2 Emissions as Indicators” has provided valuable insights into the complex relationship between natural resources and environmental sustainability. The review identified diverse findings in the literature, highlighting both positive and negative associations between natural resources and environmental degradation indicators. Several studies demonstrated a positive correlation between natural resources and Ecological Footprint (EF), natural resources and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, indicating that the abundance of natural resources can contribute to increased EF and CO2 emissions in various contexts. On the contrary, some studies revealed a negative connection, suggesting that an abundance of natural resources may mitigate CO2 emissions and EF. These mixed findings underscore the importance of considering regional and contextual variations when assessing the impact of natural resources on environmental degradation.
Moreover, the comprehensive review of numerous articles sheds light on the intricate relationship between natural resources and environmental degradation. By synthesizing a breadth of studies, this review contributes to identifying patterns, trends, and inconsistencies in the existing literature, enabling a more nuanced interpretation of their relationship. The recognition of nuanced findings emphasizes the importance of tailored environmental policies that account for regional and contextual disparities. The findings of this study have important implications for several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 7, SDG 12, SDG 13, and SDG 15. Our review highlights the relationship between natural resources and environmental indicators, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and ecological footprint (EF). Understanding this relationship allows policymakers and stakeholders to make informed decisions to promote affordable and clean energy sources, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and mitigate environmental degradation (SDG 7). Additionally, the review provides insights into the effects of natural resource exploitation on EF, guiding efforts towards sustainable consumption and production patterns, waste reduction, and minimizing the environmental footprint associated with resource use (SDG 12). By identifying the associations between natural resources and CO2 emissions, the findings inform climate action strategies, mitigation efforts, and policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable resource management (SDG 13). Furthermore, the findings of the review provide insights into the impact of natural resource exploitation on terrestrial ecosystems, allowing policymakers and researchers to develop strategies for biodiversity protection, ecosystem conservation, and sustainable land use (SDG 15). These findings demonstrate the relevance of our review to these specific SDGs, providing valuable insights to guide sustainable development efforts. The identification of a positive correlation between natural resources and EF, natural resources and CO2 emissions implies that in certain contexts, the abundance of natural resources may exacerbate environmental degradation. Conversely, the revelation of a negative connection suggests that natural resource abundance can serve as a mitigating factor for CO2 emissions and EF in specific situations. These nuanced findings emphasize the need for tailored environmental policies that account for regional and contextual variations.
5.2 Future studies suggestions
While the review acknowledged the methodological rigor of many included studies, it also identified limitations, such as insufficient control of confounding variables in some cases. Addressing these limitations and enhancing methodological robustness in future research endeavors will bolster the reliability and accuracy of findings. Additionally, while the review encompassed studies from diverse geographical regions and time periods, it also revealed a notable lack of representation from certain regions. This emphasizes the imperative for more research in those areas to ensure a balanced representation and a more comprehensive global perspective. The divergent findings from the reviewed studies have important implications for policy and practice. Policymakers and stakeholders need to consider regional and contextual factors when formulating strategies to manage natural resources sustainably. Integrated policies that promote responsible natural resource management, environmental conservation, and emission reduction measures are essential to mitigate environmental degradation.
Future research should consider conducting longitudinal studies to assess the long-term impact of natural resource utilization on environmental degradation. This will help establish more robust cause-and-effect relationships and identify potential trends over time. To gain a holistic understanding of environmental degradation, future studies should explore multiple indicators beyond EF and CO2 emissions. Incorporating a broader set of environmental indicators can provide a more comprehensive assessment of the impact of natural resources on the environment. Researchers should emphasize context-specific analysis when investigating the relationship between natural resources and environmental degradation. Cultural, economic, and political factors can significantly influence the outcomes, and accounting for these contextual variations will enhance the accuracy and relevance of the findings. Given the complexity of the topic, future studies should adopt multidisciplinary approaches that integrate environmental science, economics, sociology, and policy analysis. Such interdisciplinary research can offer a more comprehensive understanding of the complex interactions between natural resources and environmental degradation.
Author contributions
EA: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing–original draft, Writing–review and editing. EM: Methodology, Writing–review and editing. AMe: Formal Analysis, Investigation, Writing–review and editing. AMo: Writing–original draft.
Funding
The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Publisher’s note
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Keywords: natural resources, environmental degradation, ecological footprint, CO2 emissions, review paper
Citation: Amer EAAA, Meyad EMA, Meyad AM and Mohsin AKM (2024) The impact of natural resources on environmental degradation: a review of ecological footprint and CO2 emissions as indicators. Front. Environ. Sci. 12:1368125. doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2024.1368125
Received: 10 January 2024; Accepted: 19 February 2024;
Published: 05 March 2024.
Edited by:
Mohammed Baalousha, University of South Carolina, United StatesReviewed by:
Justice Mensah, University of Cape Coast, GhanaHafiz Syed Mohsin Abbas, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
Crenguța-Ileana Sinisi, University of Pitești, Romania
Copyright © 2024 Amer, Meyad, Meyad and Mohsin. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Ebrahim Abbas Abdullah Abbas Amer, ebrahim2020@lzu.edu.cn