Pricing, Green Investment and Job Carbon Quality in Eight Leading Energy-Transitioning Economies: Implications for Employment, Health, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Addressing climate change and improving population welfare remain central pillars of the global sustainability agenda. Motivated by Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 (Good Health), 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and 13 (Climate Action), this study examines how carbon pricing, green investment, and job quality influence employment and community health across eight leading energy-transitioning economies, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Spain, and the United States. Using panel data from 2013–2023, covering the pre-COVID period (2013–2019) and the COVID-period (2020–2023), we apply multiple estimators (PCSE, FGLS, fractional probit, pooled regression, and two-way fixed effects). Findings show that while carbon pricing and green investment are essential for long-term decarbonization, they exert short-run labour-market pressures, with carbon pricing significantly reducing employment in both periods. Green investment also shows a negative short-term effect on employment, reflecting early-stage capital intensity of renewable energy transitions. Job quality has limited effects on employment but significantly improves life expectancy, underscoring its importance for SDG 3. Carbon pricing positively influences life expectancy, confirming key health co-benefits of climate policy. Results emphasize the need for inclusive green-transition policies, especially labour-market protections and reskilling systems that ensure climate action aligns effectively with SDGs 3, 7, 8, and 13.