NEXUS OF INDUSTRIALISATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN NEWLY INDUSTRIALISED COUNTRIES

Newly Industrialised Countries (NICs) are characterised by rapid industrialisation, economic expansion, and urbanisation. These nations have undergone a transition from predominantly agrarian economies to becoming hubs of industry and manufacturing. Previous studies have shown that industrialisation intensifies environmental degradation, resulting in increased pollution, habitat loss, and resource depletion, posing urgent challenges to global sustainability. The objective of this study is to thoroughly assess the influence of industrialisation on environmental deterioration in 10 NICs (Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, and Turkiye) between 2000 and 2019. The study utilised the panel autoregressive distributed lag technique and included important control factors such as renewable energy consumption, foreign direct investments (FDIs), and urbanisation. This study aims to examine the complex relationship between industrialisation and environmental degradation by analysing yearly data. It considered various factors to provide a comprehensive understanding of the intricate dynamics that influence sustainability in emerging nations. The findings highlighted that renewable energy consumption and FDIs eradicated pollution in the short run, while FDIs, industrialisation, and urbanisation undermined environmental quality in the long term. Therefore, to mitigate and prevent the environmental degradation caused by industrialisation, this study suggests that enterprises adopt stringent environmental regulations, embrace sustainable practices, and implement pollution control measures.