The role of growth, energy, and resource utilization in ecological footprints: navigating BRICS + environmental challenges

Mahmud Hasan Riaz; Montasir Alam; Ayub Ali; Zobayer Ahmed; Asif Raihan

doi:10.1007/s12076-025-00403-4

The role of growth, energy, and resource utilization in ecological footprints: navigating BRICS + environmental challenges

Mahmud Hasan Riaz^*
, Montasir Alam
, Ayub Ali
, Zobayer Ahmed
, Asif Raihan

^*Corresponding author for this work

Applied Research Center for Environment and Marine Studies

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of natural resource exploitation, renewable energy consumption, economic growth, biocapacity, and information and communication technologies (ICT) on the ecological footprint of BRICS + nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and newly joined Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and UAE) from 1991 to 2019. Using advanced econometric techniques, including FMOLS, DOLS, CCR, and GMM, the findings reveal that natural resource exploitation and economic growth exacerbate ecological degradation, whereas renewable energy and biocapacity reduce environmental pressures. ICT’s impact remains statistically insignificant in the current context. The study emphasizes the need for BRICS + nations to adopt tailored policy frameworks integrating renewable energy, promoting sustainable resource use, and enhancing biocapacity to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7, 12, and 13. The research offers critical insights for balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability in diverse and rapidly industrializing economies.

Original language	English
Article number	8
Journal	Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences
Volume	18
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s12076-025-00403-4
State	Published - Dec 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13 Climate Action
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals

Keywords

Ecological footprint
Economic growth
Natural resource
Renewable energy
Sustainable development

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Demography
Geography, Planning and Development
Urban Studies
Economics and Econometrics

Access to Document

10.1007/s12076-025-00403-4

Cite this

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title = "The role of growth, energy, and resource utilization in ecological footprints: navigating BRICS + environmental challenges",

abstract = "This study investigates the impact of natural resource exploitation, renewable energy consumption, economic growth, biocapacity, and information and communication technologies (ICT) on the ecological footprint of BRICS + nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and newly joined Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and UAE) from 1991 to 2019. Using advanced econometric techniques, including FMOLS, DOLS, CCR, and GMM, the findings reveal that natural resource exploitation and economic growth exacerbate ecological degradation, whereas renewable energy and biocapacity reduce environmental pressures. ICT{\textquoteright}s impact remains statistically insignificant in the current context. The study emphasizes the need for BRICS + nations to adopt tailored policy frameworks integrating renewable energy, promoting sustainable resource use, and enhancing biocapacity to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7, 12, and 13. The research offers critical insights for balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability in diverse and rapidly industrializing economies.",

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author = "Riaz, \{Mahmud Hasan\} and Montasir Alam and Ayub Ali and Zobayer Ahmed and Asif Raihan",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025.",

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doi = "10.1007/s12076-025-00403-4",

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AU - Riaz, Mahmud Hasan

AU - Alam, Montasir

AU - Ali, Ayub

AU - Ahmed, Zobayer

AU - Raihan, Asif

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025.

PY - 2025/12

Y1 - 2025/12

N2 - This study investigates the impact of natural resource exploitation, renewable energy consumption, economic growth, biocapacity, and information and communication technologies (ICT) on the ecological footprint of BRICS + nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and newly joined Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and UAE) from 1991 to 2019. Using advanced econometric techniques, including FMOLS, DOLS, CCR, and GMM, the findings reveal that natural resource exploitation and economic growth exacerbate ecological degradation, whereas renewable energy and biocapacity reduce environmental pressures. ICT’s impact remains statistically insignificant in the current context. The study emphasizes the need for BRICS + nations to adopt tailored policy frameworks integrating renewable energy, promoting sustainable resource use, and enhancing biocapacity to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7, 12, and 13. The research offers critical insights for balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability in diverse and rapidly industrializing economies.

AB - This study investigates the impact of natural resource exploitation, renewable energy consumption, economic growth, biocapacity, and information and communication technologies (ICT) on the ecological footprint of BRICS + nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and newly joined Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and UAE) from 1991 to 2019. Using advanced econometric techniques, including FMOLS, DOLS, CCR, and GMM, the findings reveal that natural resource exploitation and economic growth exacerbate ecological degradation, whereas renewable energy and biocapacity reduce environmental pressures. ICT’s impact remains statistically insignificant in the current context. The study emphasizes the need for BRICS + nations to adopt tailored policy frameworks integrating renewable energy, promoting sustainable resource use, and enhancing biocapacity to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7, 12, and 13. The research offers critical insights for balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability in diverse and rapidly industrializing economies.

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KW - Sustainable development

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The role of growth, energy, and resource utilization in ecological footprints: navigating BRICS + environmental challenges

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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Cite this