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Due to their limited capacity for adaptation and dependence on natural resources for economic growth, developing countries (DCs) tend to be more prone to climate change. It is argued that climate finance (CF) is a significant financial innovation to mitigate the negative effects of climate variation. However, the heterogeneous impacts of CF on environmental sustainability (ES) and social welfare (SW) have been masked. Thus, this study aims to investigate the heterogeneous effects of CF on ES and SW in 80 CF receipt DCs from 2002 to 2018. This study also aims to investigate the effects of CF on ES and SW based on population size, income heterogeneity and the type of CF.

The method of moments quantile regression (MMQR) with fixed effects is utilized. Alternatively, the fully modified least square (FMOLS) and dynamic least square (DOLS) estimators are used for the robustness test.

The findings revealed that DCs with the lowest and middle quantiles of EF, carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and human development exhibit large beneficial impacts of CF on ES and SW. In contrast, the positive effects of CF on ES breakdown for countries with the largest distributions of EF and CO₂ emissions. Besides, the impacts of CF on ES and SW depend on income heterogeneity, population size and the type of CF.

This study calls for a framework to integrate CF into all economic development decisions to strengthen climate-resilient SW and ES in DCs.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the effects of CF on ES and SW in a wide range of DCs. Thus, it complements existing related literature focusing on the effects of CF on ES and SW.

This study aims to examine the impact of economic policy uncertainty and bank competition on the financial stability of the Chinese banking industry. This study answers two fundamental questions. First, does economic policy uncertainty (EPU) affects the financial stability of banks in China? Second, does competition affect the financial stability of the Chinese banking sector?

The sample includes all commercial banks to provide a full picture of the Chinese banking sector. This study covers the time between 2011 and 2019. The sample period captures different EPU spikes and key policy changes. This study used different econometric methodologies such as the generalized method of moments and the fixed effect and ordinary least square estimation models. Furthermore, this study used the Instrumental Variable model to solve endogeneity, autocorrelation and unobserved heterogeneity concerns. Besides, alternative EPU and financial stability measures were used. Moreover, this study reestimates the model after dropping the big five state-owned banks.

This study found that both EPU and competition reduce financial stability. This implies that EPU has a negative impact on financial stability. This shows that uncertainty distorts resource allocation efficiency and creates confusion, leading to financial instability in the banking sector. Besides, this study found that competition negatively affects financial stability. This result implies that high competition pushes banks toward riskier activities that ultimately lead to increased financial instability.

This study is the first of its kind that examines the impact of EPU and competition on the financial stability of the Chinese banking sector. This study conducted several robustness tests such as the instrumental variable model, alternative measurement and sample construction methods. This study brings policy implications and lessons for the banking sector.

This study examines the effects of COVID-19 on trade, production and environmental quality and provides policy implications on green recovery.

The two-step Heckman method is applied to estimate the structural gravity specification of trade. Besides, the two-step system GMM model is used to estimate the effects of COVID-19 on production and environmental quality. Additionally, descriptive analysis and literature review have been used.

The findings disclose that COVID-19 adversely affected the trade performance of the countries. The results further imply that the regional trade agreements (RTAs) can play a key mediating role in the post-COVID-19 trade recovery. Besides, the impact of COVID-19 on the output is substantially negative. However, the effect of COVID-19 on environmental quality is significantly positive.

It is the first study of its kind to examine the effects of COVID-19 on trade, production and CO₂ emissions covering panel countries. Second, it provides a detailed analysis of firms planning to engage in the export sector. Moreover, it offers policy suggestions to consider environmental quality and green recovery. Besides, it examines the mediating role of RTAs in the relationship between trade and the pandemic.

This study is aimed to examine the effects of the economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. It further aimed to investigate the moderating role of institutional quality on the impacts of EPU on CO₂ emissions.

The authors apply the two-step system-generalized method of moments (GMM) for 112 emerging economies and low-income developing countries (hereafter, developing countries) for the period 2000–2019.

The findings reveal that the effects of EPU on CO₂ emissions are positive. Specifically, a percent increase in EPU results in a 0.047% increase in CO₂ emissions in developing countries. However, the effects of institutional quality on CO₂ emissions are negative, certifying that strong institutional quality reduces emissions. Also, the results confirm that the positive effect of EPU on CO₂ emissions is weaker in countries with relatively strong institutional quality.

Policymakers should be more vigilant while designing and implementing economic policies. Also, the government should support firms investing in environment-friendly innovations during high EPU. Besides, developing countries should improve institutional quality to mitigate the effect of EPU on CO₂ emissions.

This study is the first in its kind to examine the impacts of EPU on CO₂ emissions in developing countries. It also provides a different viewpoint on the EPU–CO₂ relationship and reinterprets it through the moderating role of institutional quality.