Exploring the Spatial Patterns of Ecological Footprints from the Perspective of Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy Use

"This study investigates the issue of energy dependency and its ecological impact in the context of the economic evolution of the 21st century. The research aims to strike a balance between economic growth and environmental protection by distinguishing between sustainable and non-sustainable energy use and exploring their spatial impact on the environment. To ensure statistical robustness, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to eliminate multicollinearity, and a Spatially Lagged X Model (SLX) was employed to identify the significant factors influencing a country's ecological footprint. The results of the SLX regression demonstrate that the Green Economic Development and Unsustainable Urbanization factors have a significant effect on a country's ecological footprint. An increase in the Green Economic Development factor indicates that countries with rapid economic growth tend to overuse natural resources. Conversely, the Unsustainable Urbanization factor emphasizes the significance of population density and consumption of traditional energy sources in addressing environmental degradation. Additionally, the spatial dependency analysis underscores the importance of taking into account a country's neighbors' policies and actions alongside its own. This finding emphasizes the need for regional and global cooperation in addressing environmental challenges and achieving sustainable development goals. Overall, the research findings offer valuable insights for shaping policies and initiatives aimed at advancing sustainable development and mitigating environmental degradation. "